Lessons from Biosphere Reserves in the Asia-Pacific Region, and a Way Forward

This report provides the results of a quantitative and qualitative review of the biosphere reserves in Asia and the Pacific through the UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme.

The main objectives and critical questions that this review addressed focused on three topics:
• Achievement of biosphere reserve functions: Have biosphere reserves been an effective agent in carrying out the three functions of biosphere reserves?
• Climate Change: To what extent have biosphere reserves been the focus of climate change discussions?
• Sustainable development: The effectiveness of biosphere reserves in catalysing new initiatives concerning sustainable development.

The MAB Programme has been in existence for 35 years and in the Asia-Pacific region, leading to the establishment of 105 biosphere reserves in 28 countries, while additional reserves are being developed. There is therefore significant accumulated wisdom and experience in the region, providing good opportunities for lessons learned, identification of successes and failures, and assessments of common problems and solutions. This review aims to identify these common knowledge factors in the region, with a specific aim to galvanize and focus the accumulated acquired knowledge and experience in a well organized effort across the region and bring it to bear on the MAB program going forward.