Maarg Manthan · Topic 8.11

Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme and the World Network of Biosphere Reserves

Environment & Ecology › Protected Area Network and Species-Based Conservation Programmes · Topic 8.11

The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme is an intergovernmental scientific programme launched by UNESCO in 1971 to establish a scientific basis for improving the relationship between people and their environments. Its main tool is the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR), which started in 1976 and now includes over 700 sites in about 130 countries, including transboundary reserves; check the latest UNESCO list. A biosphere reserve is designated by UNESCO at the request of the country, and remains under national sovereignty and law. Each has three interlinked functions: conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation; sustainable economic and human development; and logistic support for research, monitoring, education and training. The Seville Strategy (1995) and the Statutory Framework of the WNBR set the rules, followed by the Madrid Action Plan (2008-2013) and the Lima Action Plan (2016-2025). India's reserves in the network include Nilgiri, Gulf of Mannar, Sundarbans, Nanda Devi, Nokrek, Pachmarhi, Simlipal, Achanakmar-Amarkantak, Great Nicobar, Agasthyamala, Khangchendzonga and Panna.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Environment & Ecology · Protected Area Network and Species-Based Conservation Programmes

At a Glance

Body UNESCO
MAB began 1971
Network began 1976
Key strategy Seville 1995
Current plan Lima 2016-2025
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Environment & Ecology: Protected Area Network and Species-Based Conservation Programmes

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the account of coastal and marine areas. It returns to the global side of biosphere reserves, which Indian reserves belong to, and leads into the last topic on the global state of protected areas. Previous topic: Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas. Next topic: State of Protected Areas Globally.

What Is the MAB Programme and How Is the World Network Run?

Feature	Details
Launch	1971 by UNESCO; an intergovernmental programme for science and sustainable use of the biosphere
World Network	Started 1976 with the first designations; now over 700 biosphere reserves in about 130 countries, including transboundary sites; check the latest
Designation	The International Co-ordinating Council of MAB approves nominations made by national governments
Governance	MAB National Committees in each country; the sites remain under national laws
Three functions	Conservation, development, and logistic support
Three zones	Core area, buffer zone and transition area
Review	Every ten years each reserve is reviewed by the country and the Council

Which Strategies Guide the Network and What Are Indian Entries?

Seville Strategy (1995): set aims for biosphere reserves in the twenty-first century and the Statutory Framework
Madrid Action Plan (2008-2013): focused on climate and urban areas
MAB Strategy 2015-2025 and Lima Action Plan 2016-2025: aims at model regions for sustainable development
Transboundary reserves: such as those shared between European countries
Indian entries: Nilgiri (2000), Gulf of Mannar (2001), Sundarbans (2001), Nanda Devi (2004), Nokrek (2009), Pachmarhi (2009), Simlipal (2009), Achanakmar-Amarkantak (2012), Great Nicobar (2013), Agasthyamala (2016), Khangchendzonga (2018) and Panna (2020)
Indian MAB Committee: at the environment ministry, with a Biosphere Reserve Management Scheme for funding
Difference from legal parks: biosphere reserves are designations, not legal categories
Learning sites: act as sites for testing sustainable practices

What Else Should You Remember?

UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
International Co-ordinating Council: 34 member states elected to run MAB
Transboundary example: Danube Delta (Romania and Ukraine) and the Mura-Drava-Danube across five countries
MAB youth: an international network of young scientists
World Heritage and MAB overlap: Sundarbans and Nanda Devi hold both
Ramsar overlap: Sundarbans also a Ramsar site
Withdrawal: countries may withdraw sites
Biosphere reserve uses: local products and branding such as Nilgiri tea
Eco-tourism: a key income source
Community role: local people are part of management
Gap: many reserves lack funds and strong management
Climate link: reserves provide long-term ecological monitoring
India’s coverage: 18 reserves in total, about 5 percent of India’s land
Gulf of Mannar: first coastal biosphere reserve in South and Southeast Asia
Sundarbans: largest mangrove biosphere reserve
Pachmarhi: Satpura range reserve
Link to previous: see Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas
Link to next: see State of Protected Areas Globally
Link to reserves: see Biosphere Reserves, Sacred Forests, Sacred Lakes
Caution: the number of reserves and countries rises with every annual council meeting; verify
Exam hint: learn the three zones, the three functions and the 1971, 1976 and 1995 dates
Statutory Framework: the 1995 document sets criteria for a biosphere reserve: a range of ecosystems, significance for biodiversity, scope for sustainable development and appropriate size for the three zones
Nomination steps: a country submits a nomination form with maps and management plan, the MAB Council reviews it each year, and UNESCO informs the country of the decision
Periodic review: if a site no longer meets criteria, the council can ask the country to correct it, and a site can be removed from the network
Biosphere reserve in Africa and Asia: many reserves in the developing world work with indigenous people on forest products and tourism
Reserve examples abroad: Galapagos, Serengeti-Ngorongoro and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta are well known biosphere reserves
MAB youth forum: young scientists meet to share ideas on sustainability
Research links: long-term data from reserves help study climate change, pollution and land use
Women and livelihoods: many reserves support self-help groups for crafts, honey and herbal products
Sustainable development goals: reserves are called learning places for the Sustainable Development Goals

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Years: 1971, 1976, 1995
Functions: three
Zones: three
Current affairs link: new UNESCO designations
Common errors: treating biosphere reserves as national legal areas

As an analytical point, biosphere reserves bring science, development and conservation together under a global label, but real results depend on funding and local trust. The network is useful as a learning tool for sustainable land use.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Body UNESCO
Function Three
Status Designation

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the state of protected areas globally. Next topic: State of Protected Areas Globally.

Key People and Terms

MAB Man and the Biosphere
WNBR World Network of Biosphere Reserves
Seville Strategy 1995 plan
Lima Action Plan 2016-2025 plan
Transboundary reserve Reserve across borders
ICC International Co-ordinating Council

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

MAB: 1971, network: 1976.
Seville Strategy: 1995.
Plan: Lima 2016-2025.
Three functions, three zones.
Nilgiri entered network in 2000.

Do Not Confuse With

MAB and Ramsar Biosphere versus wetland convention
WNBR and World Heritage list Reserve network versus heritage list
Designation and law UNESCO label versus national legal status

Memory Hook

Seventy-one begins, seventy-six networks, ninety-five Seville, Lima leads on.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for years and functions. These points help.

Aim Balance
Structure Zones
India Entries

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Explain the UNESCO MAB Programme and the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, and assess its relevance for India.”

How to Answer

Aim Balance.
Network Reserves.
Plans Seville, Lima.
India Entries.

GS Relevance

Prelims: year, body, zones, strategies, Indian entries. GS Paper 3: international programmes on conservation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Man and the Biosphere Programme?

The Man and the Biosphere Programme is an intergovernmental scientific programme of UNESCO, started in 1971, which aims to improve the relationship between people and their environment. It runs the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, where conservation, sustainable development and research are tested together.

What are the three functions of a biosphere reserve?

A biosphere reserve has three functions: a conservation function to protect landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation; a development function to promote sustainable economic and human development; and a logistic function to support demonstration projects, education, training and research related to local, national and global issues.

What is the Seville Strategy?

The Seville Strategy is a plan adopted in 1995 at an international conference in Seville, Spain, which set out goals for the development of biosphere reserves in the twenty-first century. The Statutory Framework of the World Network, with the criteria and procedures for designation and review, was adopted along with it.

Who designates a biosphere reserve?

Biosphere reserves are nominated by national governments and designated by the International Co-ordinating Council of the MAB Programme of UNESCO. They remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the state where they are located, and must meet the conditions of the Statutory Framework and be reviewed every ten years.

Which Indian biosphere reserves are in the UNESCO World Network?

India's reserves in the World Network include Nilgiri, Gulf of Mannar, Sundarbans, Nanda Devi, Nokrek, Pachmarhi, Simlipal, Achanakmar-Amarkantak, Great Nicobar, Agasthyamala, Khangchendzonga and Panna. The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve was the first Indian site included, in 2000, and new additions should be checked on the UNESCO list.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The MAB Programme was launched by UNESCO in 1971.

True

Along with the later network.

2 The Seville Strategy was adopted in 2008.

False

In 1995.

3 Biosphere reserves remain under national sovereignty.