For life, for the future - Biosphere reserves and climate change A collection of good practice case studies
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United Nations Man and
Educational, Scientific and the biosphere
Cultural Organization Programme
Para la vida, para el futuro
For life, for the future
Biosphere reserves and climate change
A collection of good practice case studies
Pour la vie, pour l’avenir
Für das Leben, für die Zukunft
Edited by the German Commission for UNESCO
For life, for the future. Biosphere reserves and climate change A collection of good practice case studies Publisher: German Commission for UNESCO (DUK), Colmantstrasse 15, 53115 Bonn, Germany With financial support from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN). Chief Editor: Dr. Lutz Möller (DUK) With support from: Benjamin Hanke, Laura Lubinski and Carolin Kollig (DUK) Special thanks go to Kremi Nikolova and Dr Peter Dogsé from UNESCO, as well to Dr Miguel Clüsener-Godt, Dr Natarajan Ishwaran and Dr Thomas Schaaf, all from UNESCO, Mr Martin Waldhausen from BMU and Mr Jörg Bruker from BfN. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the ex- pression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The Chief Editor is responsible for the choice and the presentation of the facts contained in this book and for the opinions expressed therein, which are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization. Layout: DUK based on templates by heimbüchel pr Print: Flyerpilot, Print run: 1.000 ISBN: 978-3-940785-27-5 The German National Library registers this publication in the German National Bibliography. Detailed bibliographic data may be found on the Internet under http://dnb.d-nb.de . It is permitted to copy, distribute and display the contents of this publication, with the exception of pho- tos, for non-commercial purposes on the condition that the name of the publisher is mentioned and that the original publication of the German Commission for UNESCO is referred to. In case of processing this publication, these license terms have to be notified and imposed as well to the addressees. All contents of this publication with the exception of photos for which all rights are reserved are published under Creative Commons license Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Germany CC BY-NC 3.0. All satellite images: © Google Maps Bonn 2011. This publication is printed on chlorine-free bleached paper.
Table of Contents Key message 5 Message of greeting from Martin Waldhausen 7 Message of greeting from Natarajan Ishwaran 8 UNESCO biosphere reserves 9 Climate change 11 Overview: Climate change related activites in UNESCO biosphere reserves 13 Collection of 28 good practice case studies 21
A former irrigation ditch in the Sierra Nevada biosphere reserve (© BR Sierra Nevada)
Key messages
UNESCO biosphere reserves are ideal Climate change clearly is the domi-
places to test, evaluate and imple- nant challenge to sustainable develop-
ment comprehensive climate change ment, even shaking the conceptual
policies. This publication presents a foundations of sustainable develop-
selection of case studies about good ment. However, climate change is not
practice to demonstrate what bio- the only challenge. Climate change
sphere reserves are already doing in may be the new lead vocalist in the
this policy field. choir, but it is not the solo artist. None
of the other well-known challenges to
This publication does not claim that sustainability has disappeared: pover-
the world’s most exciting pilot pro- ty, malnutrition, loss of biodiversity
jects on climate change mitigation and and ecosystem functions, demographic
adaptation can be found in biosphere change, desertification, water scarcity,
reserves. It does not claim that all or urbanization, an altered nitrogen cycle,
most UNESCO biosphere reserves are pollution etc. Any isolated policy im-
at the forefront of climate change po- plementation focusing only on climate
licy implementation. This publication change is likely to do more harm than
makes an entirely different statement: good.
4
UNESCO biosphere reserves offer two Different governance schemes will be
unique advantages: in the background, different interests
will collide. UNESCO biosphere
First, they are based on an inter- reserves are about solving intrac-
governmental definition of an area table conflicts. Another argument in
and often protected by national their favour is that most regions can
law. As such, they are governance look back on decades of ecosystem
frameworks stable in the long-term, monitoring.
with an ambitious, cross-cutting set
of objectives covering all aspects of UNESCO biosphere reserves all
sustainable development. This allows around the globe can be very suitable
for the long-term processes needed to places where new, comprehensive
policies on climate change mitiga-
tion and adaptation are tested and
implemented, in order to safeguard
their practical viability, once all other
variables need to be included into the
equation. They are the ideal places
if an implementation project is more
about long-term commitment than
about one-off intentions. Biosphere
reserves can make things work in a
comprehensive way.
This publication provides evidence on
what biosphere reserves already have
done in this regard. This does not ig-
Farmers in Kafa (S. Bender-Kaphengst)
nore that the biosphere reserves, even
those 28 presented in our case studies,
target sustainability. Sustainable de- might still do more.
velopment cannot materialize through
one-off projects. However, the responsibility to use
biosphere reserves to the extent pos-
Second, they offer an inclusive space sible is a joint one. This publication
for stakeholders and the population invites local and national governments
to jointly solve the difficult issues at as well as the international community
stake when dealing with sustainable to deploy ambitious and compre-
development. In most regions around hensive policies more often within
the globe, different answers will be biosphere reserves, in order to benefit
given to identical questions. from their unique advantages.
5
Message of greeting
Martin Waldhausen
The German Minister for the En-
vironment has invited the Interna-
tional Coordinating Council (ICC)
of the UNESCO MAB Programme
to hold its 23rd session in Germany.
This session coincides with the 40th
anniversary of the MAB Programme.
A high-level international conference
on UNESCO biosphere reserves and
climate change precedes this session.
Germany has been committed to
the objectives of MAB even before
this Programme had been created. Programme and the biosphere reser-
Germany had organized two seminars ves: Climate change as the central
preparing the UNESCO Biosphere sustainable development challenge of
Conference of 1968 and has submit- our time. For this reason, the high-
ted a resolution to the 1964 General level international conference is orga-
Conference. Both German states had nized ahead of the 23rd MAB-ICC in
founded their MAB national commit- Dresden-Radebeul; several ministers
tees in 1972, have carried out extensi- and experts from around the globe
ve international research projects over assemble to discuss why and how
the following years, and have founded we can make better use of biosphere
their first biosphere reserves in 1979 reserves as places to implement com-
and 1981, respectively. After 1995, we prehensive climate change policies.
have also transformed our pre-Seville
biosphere reserves into model regions In this publication, we would like to
for sustainable development, and have demonstrate to the conference partici-
incorporated biosphere reserves into pants and to all those unable to come
our national law. We dispose of an to Dresden that biosphere reserves
enormously committed MAB national have already much to offer. Start here
committee, have national criteria to learn about typical activities addres-
spelling out the International Frame- sing climate change already taking
work and support many cutting-edge place in biosphere reserves today. I am
international and national activities. sure you will be positively surprised.
Today, there is a new reason to get Martin Waldhausen is chairman of the
even more committed to the MAB German MAB national committee
6
Message of greeting
Natarajan Ishwaran
For four decades now, the UNESCO
Programme “Man and the Biosphere“
(MAB) has been exploring ways of
sustainably using and conserving bio-
diversity and ecosystem functions. The
MAB Programme encompasses a glo-
bal network of representative model
regions for sustainable development:
the UNESCO biosphere reserves.
Taking into account their achieve-
ments over the last decades and their
unique character as policy platforms,
it is now the moment to actively pro- representatives from international cli-
mote using biosphere reserves in an mate and nature conservation policy,
even more targeted fashion as strategic experts from scientific research, from
instruments for implementing effecti- nature conservation and practice will
ve climate change policies. More than participate.
550 sites in more than 100 coun-
tries form a unique global network This publication demonstrates that we
contributing key practical experience are not starting from zero. The “Ma-
for viable mitigation and adaptation drid Action Plan” of 2008 referred to
strategies responding to the challenges climate change as one of three central
of climate change. They have proven challenges for biosphere reserves
expertise in fields such as sustainab- during 2008-2013. Our numerous
le agriculture and forestry, regional partners in the biosphere reserves,
marketing, tourism, spatial in ministries and in academia have
planning, participation of local com- responded to this call for action. What
munities and international partner- has started to emerge is impressive as
ships. should be evident from this publica-
tion.
The achievements and potential of
biosphere reserves are highlighted in Dr Natarajan Ishwaran is the secretary of
the Dresden conference in June 2011 the UNESCO MAB Programme and the
with a view to agreeing on further director of UNESCO’s Division of Ecolo-
courses of action. The “Dresden De- gical and Earth Sciences
claration” is planned to be adopted by
the conference participants. High-level
7
More than 550 biosphere reserves form a world network (CC DUK)
UNESCO biosphere reserves
UNESCO biosphere reserves are mo- designated by an intergovernmental
del regions where innovative econo- body, the MAB International Coordi-
mic and social strategies are demonst- nating Council. In several countries,
rated of how mankind may use natural national laws provide additional rigidi-
resources in a sustainable way, and, ty. Obviously, the area remains under
at the same time, conserve precious national jurisdiction.
habitats. Historically, i.e. in the 1970’s
and 1980’s, biosphere reserves were UNESCO biosphere reserves are
places tailored to research, ecosystem rarely places of ‘wilderness’ - much
monitoring, and education. They still more often they are cultural lands-
need to be internationally representa- capes that have evolved over centuries
tive at a continental scale for special through human use. An area proposed
ecosystems. by a UNESCO member state as a
new biosphere reserve, in order to be
UNESCO biosphere reserves are the acknowledged by UNESCO, first must
only category of “protected areas” at be characteristic for a certain type of
the global level following a common ecosystem or landscape. In addition,
standard of intergovernmentally it must also implement sustainable
agreed principles and rules and are development in an exemplary fashion.
8
Finally, the inhabitants of the area tion of social cohesion, and resource
must support the application. use balancing the objectives of nature
conservation and economic income
All UNESCO biosphere reserves work generation for the local population.
together as a world network since Biosphere reserves integrate exemp-
1976. Three documents are central for lary concepts from different fields of
the daily work of biosphere reserves: social innovation: organic agriculture,
the Statutory Framework and the Se- sustainable tourism, renewable energy
ville Strategy of 1995 and the Madrid and regional economic cycles.
Action Plan of 2008. Biosphere reser-
ves exchange their experiences within Biosphere reserves are characterized
the world network: Projects are often by a special zoning pattern: Only the
small ‘core areas’ are highly protected.
The biosphere reserves as a whole
cover also the ‘buffer zone’ and the
‘transition area’ and thus are much
larger - and the objectives are more
ambitious. This zoning pattern of bio-
sphere reserves has been taken up in
nature conservation globally; the well-
known notion of ‘biological corridors’
is closely tied to this concept.
Biosphere reserves are a unique asset
of UNESCO and they play an impor-
tant role in its Climate Change Strat-
egy of 2008 and the Climate Change
Farmers‘ market (© G. Hein)
Initiative of 2009. According to these
documents, a central objective for the
implemented jointly and / or compara- next few years is to promote the reco-
tively. Research results are combined, gnition and use of biosphere reserves
practical experiences shared and tested sites as priority sites for implementing
whether they are transferable. UN-level climate change initiatives.
UNESCO biosphere reserves demons-
trate at a global scale, in a variety of
landscapes and under very different
conditions, what obstacles must be
overcome for sustainable development
and what strategies can be successful.
Model projects take on many tasks:
conservation of biodiversity, promo-
9
Planting trees in Niger to stop desertification (Flickr CC Max R - ooyooy)
Climate change
Global warming is unequivocal. Climate change is only one of several
The global average temperature has environmental challenges, in addition
warmed some 0.8 degrees since 1880. to loss of biodiversity and ecosystem
2010 was one of the three warmest services, increasing water scarcity, as
years on records; 2001-2010 having well as increasing floods and droughts,
been the warmest decade so far. Scien- desertification and land degradation,
tists assume a further heat increase intensified biogeochemical cycles as
of at least 1.8 degrees during the 21st well as different forms of pollution.
century, even if we act decisively right
now. The consequences are enormous At the same time, climate change
challenges for mankind. Mankind’s intensifies all these challenges, is
activities and the related anthropoge- causally interlinked with most of them
nic emissions of greenhouse gases, and is the one with the most rapidly
especially from fossil fuel combustion, growing significance. Sea-level has
are the main cause of climate change. already risen, the ocean is already
The emissions of today and the recent more acid, corals are bleaching, clima-
past will lead to a significant and at the te variability has increased, vegetation
same time very predictable tempera- zones are shifting, tropical diseases
ture rise during the next 30 years. have already spread.
10If current socio-economic patterns and this age. We now need to mobilise
the related emissions do not change our potential, our creativity and our
substantially within the next few de- learning capacity in this respect.
cades, the global average temperature
will rise so fast in 50 to 100 years that Climate change requires constant
the consequences will be unpredicta- adaptation to changing circumstan-
ble and very likely with extremely ne- ces and to a changing biosphere.
gative impact on mankind. Examples Interdisciplinary research on cross-
for such ‘tipping points’ are a melting cutting themes and across academic
of the Greenland ice shelf, a deserti- disciplines is needed as well as very
fication of the Amazon rainforest, a specific research on a global scale and
destabilization of the Indian monsoon, in long-term comparison. The climate
or a dysfunction of the water cycle in change-related knowledge collected so
the Atlantic Ocean. Some claim that far must be constantly reviewed and
the Arctic Sea ice has already ‘tipped’. updated. People’s awareness of clima-
te change and its consequences has to
Climate change will have profound rise significantly. This includes mutual
consequences, not only upon econo- learning between all actors. Effective
mic prosperity but also upon the most climate change mitigation and the
fundamental living conditions of all development of adaptation strategies
human beings. Climate change already are the key challenges of environment
today negatively impacts on food policy these days.
security, clean water, energy services,
on economic and social equity, and Apart from targeting agreements at the
on sustainable livelihoods in general. multilateral level, apart from testing
These impacts will be aggravated for and deploying individual measures,
the decades to come and will most we also need spaces where we ought
likely hit those the hardest that are the to combine such measures to find
most vulnerable and that have cau- comprehensive answers to climate
sally contributed the least to climate change, across policy levels and across
change. Particularly negative conse- policy fields.
quences are expected for indigenous
people in the arctic and the tropics UNESCO biosphere reserves are ideal
and of course for inhabitants of small spaces to set up and improve such
island developing states. Relatively comprehensive learning processes
small investments today may help in the context of climate change – a
avoiding dramatic poverty scenarios in challenge for all of society. Biosphere
the future. reserves exist worldwide, they have
appropriate management structures
Climate change and the development and they have appropriate mission
of adaptation strategies are the key statements. It is about time to make
challenges of environment policy in better use of this instrument.
11Mitigation through agriculture and renewable energies (Flickr CC Michael Bliefert)
Overview:
Climate change related activities in
UNESCO biosphere reserves
In the “Madrid Action Plan” of 2008, well as monitor the changes as part
the key result of the 3rd World Con- of a global network. For the Natural
gress of Biosphere Reserves, accelera- Sciences as well as other Programme
ting climate change has been referred Sectors of UNESCO, biosphere reser-
to as the first of three major challenges ves can be areas for demonstrating
for the MAB Programme to effectively adaptation measures for natural and
respond to in the period until 2013: human systems, assisting the deve-
“MAB and the World Network of lopment of resilience strategies and
Biosphere Reserves bring added value practices. Buffer zones and transition
to addressing climate change through areas of biosphere reserves may also
the integrated approach which is be used to test many mitigation tactics
generally absent elsewhere. The role and strategies. In numerous biosphere
of biosphere reserves is essential reserves, carbon can be sequestered
to rapidly seek and test solutions to as in forest and wetland systems. In
the challenges of climate change as all of them capacity can be built for
12low-carbon economies using a mix of has invited UNESCO and the MAB
technology- and labour-based social Programme’s International Coordina-
enterprises. From a social sciences ting Council to Dresden in June 2011
point of view, the political dimensions and why, in addition, a high-level
of changing lifestyles can be explored. international conference ahead of this
The range of biosphere reserves and intergovernmental meeting is orga-
the systems they represent will provide nized, specifically on the topic of bio-
valuable lessons for the rest of the sphere reserves and climate change.
world.“
In February 2011, and with a view to
Thus, in 2010/2011, UNESCO works this conference, the German Commis-
specifically on the goal Promoting sion for UNESCO in consultation with
the use of participatory approaches UNESCO and the German Federal
for biodiversity conservation, climate Agency for Nature Conservation, has
change adaptation and mitigation prepared a questionnaire and sent by
through the World Network of Bio- UNESCO to all biosphere reserves
sphere Reserves. The task is to collect worldwide. Through this survey, an
relevant case studies and to promote overview has been obtained of current
exchange of knowledge in this regard. good practice in biosphere reserves.
The MAB Programme has a clear
strategic underpinning as concerns This questionnaire asked three diffe-
climate change. rent categories of questions:
• Is there particular best practice
In parallel, there have been major related to climate change that the
initiatives of the German government biosphere reserve prides itself of?
in recent years to advance the global • Has the biosphere reserve respon-
climate change agenda. One initiative ded strategically/politically to
with particular relevance to biosphere climate change, including buil-
reserves has been a special federal ding appropriate capacities?
funding programme from 2008 until • In which of 39 topical areas in
2010 entitled “UNESCO biosphere relation to climate change is the
reserves as model regions for climate biosphere reserve active already,
change mitigation and adaptation” how large are current investments
with 9 projects in German biosphere and what is planned for the next
reserves. Another example is the “In- two years?
ternational Climate Initiative” funded
by Germany which also supports pro- As for the 39 topical areas, the first
jects in UNESCO biosphere reserves set of questions related to mitigation
and UNESCO world heritage sites. and adaptation in land-use, renewable
energies and green economy. The
These are some reasons why the second set of questions related to
German Minister for the Environment governance, research and education.
13Does the biosphere reserve administra- tural residues, grass cutting, …)?
tion or its partners implement projects • balancing conflicting interests
related to and newly competing forms of
• forestry that mitigates climate land use?
change (including reduced defo- • low-carbon macro-economic
restation and reforestation)? approaches (regional marketing,
• agriculture and/or husbandry that circular economic flows, etc.)?
mitigates climate change? • low-emission public transport?
• rehabilitation and/or preserva- • low-impact tourism?
tion of high-carbon ecosystems • creating income from local
(swamps, bogs, mangroves, etc.)? tourism-related carbon credit
• improved slash-and-burn practi- mechanisms?
ces? • implementing emissions reduc-
• improved stoves for simple solid tion trading mechanisms (CDM,
biomass (firewood, flotsam,…)? JI, LULUCF, REDD+…)?
• improving energy efficiency (e.g.
through insulating buildings)?
• adaptation to climate change in
forestry?
• adaptation to climate change in
agriculture and/or husbandry
(including revitalizing traditional
farming knowledge)?
• adaptation to climate change in
river/flood management?
• adaptation to increasing water
scarcity/droughts/desertification?
• adaptation in coastal zones (sea-
level rise, storm surges, hurrica-
nes, groundwater salinity)?
• adaptation in tourism? Gauging a solar panel (© KfW-Bildarchiv/photothek.net)
• adaptation through biological
corridors/zonation? Does the administration or its partners
• adaptation to climate change implement projects related to
through improved mosaics of • planning priorities in a participa-
natural and cultivated spaces? tory process?
• adaptation to shifting vegetation? • adapting planning, implementing
• adaptation to new (migratory and/ and evaluation processes of the
or invasive) species? management plan and its timing/
• specifically threatened (potenti- frequency?
ally emblematic) species? • involving new stakeholders,
• non-conflictual biofuels (agricul- including traditional and indi-
14genous communities, and from this questionnaire and returned it to
outside the biosphere reserve? UNESCO:
• integrating policies of several • 47 from Europe/North America,
government entities/departments/ • 34 from Latin America and the
agencies/ministries? Caribbean,
• integrating policies of several • 11 from Asia and the Pacific,
government levels (national, • 11 from Africa, and
provincial, local)? • 2 from the Arab World.
• local climate change scenarios/
predictions (also with a view to Taking into account the short deadline
improving spatial planning and which for many biosphere reserve
management)? administrations represented serious
• long-term climate change moni- problems, because such information
toring? had to be visa-ed by authorities, this
• new interdisciplinary research? ratio of returned questionnaires is
• synthetically generating new quite satisfactory.
knowledge by combining results
across projects? Grouping of biosphere
• involving political/economi- reserves according to the
cal stakeholders into research diversity of their activity
design?
• innovative climate change educa- From these 105 biosphere reserves,
tion for children and students? • 33 can be considered as already
• creating public awareness/under- intensively and diversely active
standing about climate change? in the field of climate change,
• mutual learning among stakehol- with projects in many different
ders about climate change? areas of mitigation and adaptation
• sensitizing decision-makers and (projects in at least 15 different
donors about climate change? areas).
105 biosphere reserves filled in • 28 can be considered as enter-
15taining high activity in the field exactly this integrated approach.
of climate change, with projects
across several different areas of Biosphere reserves from all continents
mitigation and adaptation (pro- can be found in all four of these “ac-
jects in at least 8 different areas). tivity clusters” respectively, approxi-
• 21 can be considered as entertai- mately corresponding to the relative
ning medium activities with some share of answered questionnaires.
projects (projects in at least 3
different areas). Strategic and political
• 23 can be considered as entertai- responses to climate change
ning little or no activities.
About half of all respondents say that
This grouping does not take into climate change is highlighted as an
account overall budgets. There are important issue in their management
some biosphere reserves which imple- plan. If this is not the case, a frequent-
ment multi-million dollar projects but ly given explanation is that the exis-
only in one specific area and are thus ting management plan is already quite
counted as having “low activities”. old and currently revised or that the
Vice versa, a biosphere reserve with management plan does not exist yet
20 small scale projects of each only because the biosphere reserve itself is
several thousand dollar value will too young.
count as one with intensive activities.
(if budgets have been stated, they are There is a specific action plan or
always at least some thousand dollars). strategy on climate change in only
about a third of all biosphere reserves.
The reason for drawing this distinction Another third has not done anything in
is that it is considered that the unique this regard.
advantage of biosphere reserve is
1617
There is a considerable number of reserve’s activities on climate change
biosphere reserves that have posi- (24% say „partially correct“).
tioned themselves specifically with
regard to climate change, by defining Most biosphere reserves (53%) do
it as a “hotspot“ or “flagship topic”. not have a specific budget related to
climate change activities. On the other
“There are references to biosphere hand, taking into account that new
reserves in the national climate change budget lines usually take many years
strategy/action plan/other policy to be created, it must also be noted
document.“: While a large number that every eighth biosphere reserve al-
of biosphere reserves can’t say, there ready has such a budget item (15% say
seem to be good preconditions to „fully correct“ or „mostly correct“).
engage biosphere reserves into climate
change policy implementation more Half of all respondents claim that their
frequently. In fact there seem to be
surprisingly many policy references
to biosphere reserves (18 % say that
this statement is fully correct, 17%
say it is mostly correct, 20% „partially
correct“). While there seem to be quite
some contradicting statements from
biosphere reserves from the same
country; the reason often is that refe-
rence is made to provincial policies.
There is quite limited knowledge
among biosphere reserves managers
about the existence of official linkages
between national MAB activities and
national climate change policy (25%
Protecting the coast (© NPA Stock)
say „don‘t know“, only 18% say „fully
correct“ or „mostly correct“). Since capacities related to climate change
this question clearly refers to the are not very specific (47% say that
national level, divergent answers from the statement „staff members have
biosphere reserve managers from the specific knowledge and capacities“ is
same country only demonstrate that „partially correct“). Only a third of all
so far most managers have not looked respondents claims to have such speci-
carefully enough into this important fic capacities (34% say „fully correct“
policy dimension. or „mostly correct“).
Some 40% report that their govern- The extent to which the biosphere
ment expressly supports the biosphere reserves participate in knowledge
18exchange about climate change is still are climate change education for
not satisfactory, both at the national children (40 biosphere reserves
(which should be easier to implement) are active in this field), rehabi-
and at the international level. 44% litation of high-C ecosystems
say that the statement „The biosphere (39), low-impact tourism (39),
reserve takes part in international and maintaining/re-establishing
knowledge exchange and/or capa- biological corridors needed to
city development related to climate facilitate climate change adapta-
change“ is „fully correct“ or „mostly tion (38).
correct“, while for international know- • Among mitigation projects, fore-
ledge exchange the respective share is stry is clearly the most frequently
only 29%. used approach (45) followed by
rehabilitation of high-C ecosys-
In which areas related to climate tems (39) and improved agricul-
change are biosphere reserves active? ture techniques (35). Mitigation
• In absolute terms, the areas approaches addressing the popu-
where most biosphere reserves lation at large is less wide-spread,
report specific projects are raising also because the approaches wi-
public awareness (50 out of 105 dely differ between the developed
biosphere reserves are active and the developing world: energy
in this field), long-term climate efficiency is the key topic in the
change monitoring (46), and mi- former, improved cooking stoves
tigating climate change through in the latter.
forest management or reforesta- • With the exception of improved
tion (45). biological corridors and endan-
• Other fields with strong activities gered species, there is less clear
19focus in the field of adaptation REDD+, etc.) – even fewer than
to climate change – but there is those that are experimenting with
a reason: the measures depend local transfer schemes. Only 7
on the geographic region. The biosphere reserves report specific
reason that only 13 out of 105 pilot projects.
report measures in coastal zone • A clear focus area in many bio-
adaptation is that most are not sphere reserves is to adapt their
located on the coast. Some have governance system, bringing in
to deal with increasing floods, new stakeholders, bridging seve-
others with increasing droughts. ral governmental levels, varying
• Surprisingly few biosphere the time-frame of the manage-
reserves so far tackle conflictual ment plan etc.
issues, i.e. cases where nature • It does not surprise that research
conservation and climate change on climate change is a clear
mitigation/adaptation seem to strength as well, with long-term
give contradictory advice. monitoring and local climate
• With the exception of low-impact change predictions being the
tourism, the economic dimension focal areas.
of climate change mitigation • Even more important is the field
(regional marketing, low-impact of education and raising public
public transport) also is not a awareness, including sensitizing
clear focus area so far. decision makers – combining
• Very few biosphere reserves so all factors, this field of activity
far are implementing internatio- is even more widely used than
nal emissions reduction trading that of climate change mitigation
schemes (CDM, JI, LULUCF, through land use.
Tree plantation in Costa Rica (© Agua y Paz BR)
20Collection of good practice
28 case studies
Photos, from upper left clockwise (all rights reserved): Flusslandschaft Elbe Brandenburg, Katunskiy BR, Grosses Walsertal
BR, Radom BR, Biosphärenreservat Mittelelbe/Mirko Pannach, Sierra Nevada BR
21Meadows around the Sonntag village (Flickr CC Wolfgang Pichler)
Renewable energies and energy efficiency
Grosses Walsertal (Austria)
This UNESCO biosphere reserve demonstrates an
integrated concept of how to sustain livelihoods in a
mountain environment. A particular focus is on using
100 percent renewable energies, energy efficiency and
low-emission transportation concepts.
22The Grosses Walsertal valley is situa- efficiency in terms of improved
ted in the western part of the Austrian heating systems, tourism and public
Alps and comprises six villages. The transport - and at the same time, raises
valley is a prime example of a living public awareness. Additional measures
cultural landscape where since the are governance reforms and working
13th century a system of highly adap- dynamically with stakeholders.
ted mountain farming, pasture and
extensive forestry has been developed. In the frame of the “e-regio”-project
(funded by Austrian funds of the pro-
Today, the mosaic of open land, gramme “energy and climate model
forests and traditional settlements is regions”), a professional and integra-
the reason for very high biodiversity. ted concept and clearly defined mea-
Some 3,500 residents live here per- sures were elaborated to reach the goal
manently and some 180,000 over- of energy self-supply. In addition, the
night stays of tourists are registered Grosses Walsertal valley will take part
annually. in the transnational LEADER-project
“cc.alps” of the European Union that
aims to implement climate response
measures (especially in the field of
mobility) in line with the principles
of sustainable development in several
alpine regions.
Since 2001 the biosphere reserve has
taken part in the Austrian certification
programme “e5 for energy-efficient
communities”. In 2008 it received the
fourth of five possible “e”s. Projects
which contributed to this success:
membership in the “climate alli-
ance”, model low-energy or passive
municipal buildings, certification of
Photovoltaics at Blonz (© Gr. Walstertal BR) all schools according to the Austrian
“Ecolabel for Schools”, buses for
One of the main objectives of this hiking tourists, biomass exploitation at
biosphere reserve is to supply 100 an impressively large and quickly ex-
percent of its energy from regional tended rate (construction of a biomass
renewable sources (currently 84 converter in Raggal), energy-saving
percent – mainly hydro power and championships, public education
photovoltaics). The biosphere reserve work, action days, etc.
has a targeted portfolio of climate
change activities. It addresses energy
23Aerial view of Agua y Paz (© Agua y Paz BR)
Piloting carbon neutrality
Agua y Paz (Costa Rica)
The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the North-East of
Costa Rica covers a territory of approximately 916,000
hectares. Much of the biosphere reserve was declared
a prototype territory for the national carbon neutrality
objective for 2021.
24The landscapes and ecosystems in the The backdrop of the activities is the
biosphere reserve range from tropical decision of the Costa Rican govern-
cloud forests around volcanoes such as ment to be a carbon neutral country by
Arenal down to the plains with alluvial 2021. Thus a process was initiated to
forests and swamps. There are eight formulate and update an inventory of
core areas composed e.g. of national emissions in the biosphere reserve in
parks. The connectivity areas are part carbon equivalents, i.e. a carbon foot-
of the national biological corridor sys- print, at the level of each municipality
tem. Some 300,000 people live in the within Agua y Paz. The biosphere
rural territory covered by the biosphe- reserve signed a protocol with pioneer
re reserve designated in 2007. companies, so that their experiences
can be transmitted to other sectors.
The biosphere reserve prides itself There have been several seminars and
of three best practices in relation to workshops led by the biosphere re-
climate change: Large parts of the serve administration aimed at climate
territory of the biosphere reserve have change issues and carbon neutrality.
been declared in a prototype fashion In financial terms, the main contribu-
tion comes from private companies
interested in changing their behaviour.
In order to generate operational funds,
the Agua y Paz Foundation has been
established.
Many other stakeholders implement
projects on a vast number of clima-
te change related topics within the
biosphere reserve, such as mitigation
through forestry or agriculture, e.g.
through the Fondo Nacional de Finan-
ciamiento Forestal together with the
NGO CODEFORSA. The environ-
mental ministry rehabilitates high-
Farmer in Agua y Paz (© Agua y Paz BR) carbon ecosystems; the cooperative for
rural electrification and the state bank
as carbon neutral. The administra- promote energy efficiency and the soil
tion identifies and co-operates with department of the agricultural ministry
companies pioneering carbon-neutral promotes a cultural landscape with
approaches. It raises awareness among rich mosaics of natural vegetation. An
local and central government, acade- education programme has been set
mic institutions, farmer and communi- up together with the UNESCO Chair
ty associations, the private sector and in Biosphere Reserves and Natural/
the general public. Mixed World Heritage from San José.
25Montane coffee forests (© Bruno D‘Amicis)
Avoiding deforestation through
Participatory Forest Management
Kafa (Ethiopia)
Kafa contains a large portion of the remaining montane
forests in Ethiopia. It is the centre of origin and genetic
diversity of wild Coffea arabica. A comprehensive strat-
egy reduces deforestation, CO² emissions and poverty.
26Kafa, 460 km southwest of Addis biosphere reserve, wild coffee marke-
Ababa, is part of the East Afromon- ting and Participatory Forest Manage-
tane Biodiversity Hotspot and hosts ment (PFM) have been supported.
a cultural identity quite distinct from PFM proved to be a key to preserve
the rest of Africa. In particular, there is the remaining pristine forests as well
a unique coffee culture that is deeply as to improve local livelihoods. It pre-
engrained in the Ethiopian economy vents greenhouse gas emissions, main-
and history. The area is home to some tains ecosystem services and reduces
800,000 people. Agriculture is by far vulnerability to climate change.
the most important economic sector,
followed by tourism, manufacturing Only 40 years ago, some 40 percent of
and trade. Key goals are protecting the the Ethiopian land surface was occu-
globally important genetic resources pied by forests; today, less than 3 per-
of Coffea arabica and its associated cent remains, a large part in the Kafa
ecosystems and promoting sustainable coffee biosphere reserve.These forests
development to alleviate poverty. contain some 25 million tons carbon
in above-ground biomass. Some
600,000 tons carbon could be removed
from the atmosphere annually through
natural forest growth – if the forest
remains intact. But the forests are
endangered due to clear-cutting for
smallholder agriculture and industrial
coffee and tea plantations.
A 3 million Euro project funded by
the German Ministry for the Envi-
ronment as part of its “International
Climate Initiative” is being implemen-
ted by NABU from 2009 until 2013.
Its major goal is to increase carbon
sequestration in the biosphere reserve
Wild coffee (© Bruno D‘Amicis) through reforestation and rehabilitati-
on of fragmented forests and degraded
The Kafa coffee biosphere reserve has areas. At the same time, community
only been designated by UNESCO plantations with fast-growing tree
in June 2010. Years earlier, a number species as fuelwood as well as 10,000
of NGOs such as NABU joined with efficient wood-burning stoves are
private and public partners in an inte- introduced. Tourism opportunities and
grative project addressing sustainable jobs are created e.g. by constructing a
development. Apart from setting the model lodge, and a microcredit system
grounds for the establishment as is set up.
27Agricultural landscape behind the dyke (© Nationalpark- und BR-Verwaltung Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer)
Coastal water management
Wadden Sea of Lower Saxony (Germany)
The Lower Saxon Wadden Sea covers tidal flats, salt
marshes, dunes and beaches between the border to the
Netherlands and the estuary of the Elbe River. The bio-
sphere reserve investigates how the land behind the
dyke can be drained in times of sea-level rise.
28There are three German biosphere centres informing tourists about the
reserves in the Wadden Sea that have sensitive ecosystem.
been designated by UNESCO. The site
is a very important nursing ground for Climate change is highlighted as an
fish and every year provides resting important issue in the management
and feeding for many millions of plan of the biosphere reserve. In fact,
birds. The Lower Saxon part includes climate change is a “flagship topic”
most parts of the East Friesian Islands. with a specific budget. Two activities
Two other large rivers, the Ems and stand out: “Storing instead of pum-
the Weser, form large estuaries. The ping” investigated alternative water
area is also a Ramsar site, a World management options in low lying
Heritage site and a National Park, and coastal areas, responding to climate
it is protected by a trilateral agreement change and its effects such as accele-
between the Netherlands, Germany rated sea level rise, changing sediment
and Denmark. The biosphere reserve structure and seasonal distribution of
has safeguarded a scientific monito- precipitation. The drainage and irriga-
ring over many decades. tion patterns of areas along the coast
will therefore need to change substan-
tially. Current drainage systems using
pumps are not sustainable once the sea
level will rise significantly.
The project identified means of storing
drainage water in the landscape. To
this end, an extensive data base on
water management infrastructure,
land use rights, tourism and nature
conservation was scientifically esta-
blished. Based on this data and local
climate scenarios, several options
are developed and discussed with
stakeholders. The focus is not on
Pumping station at Weser dyke (© Nationalpark- und BR- stand-alone measures, but on options
Verwaltung Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer)
fostering multifunctional use in favour
In the current extension, hardly any of sustainable land management.
people live in the biosphere reserve,
although several villages are conti- The project “flotsam: from trash to
guous to it. A process for extending biofuels” investigates whether vegeta-
the biosphere reserve is underway, tion material washed up along the dy-
following the periodic review of 2005. kes can sensibly be recycled in biogas
The most important human activity plants. Since first results have been
is tourism. There are many visitor inconclusive, research will continue.
29Waterfall at DingHuShan (Flickr CC alanalew)
Carbon in old forests
DingHuShan (China)
DingHuShan has had a high importance for the conser-
vation of Chinese ecosystems over the last 40 years;
also because the area is well-known as a major Asian
Buddhist centre. Climate change research focusses on
carbon cycling and accumulation in old forests.
30The biosphere reserve DingHuShan challenge. Activities implemented
was china’s first nature reserve. It is address a vast array of interventions
situated in Guangdong Province in such as improved corridors, impro-
southern China and has been designa- ved mosaics of natural and cultiva-
ted by UNESCO in 1979. This very ted spaces or adaptation to shifting
small biosphere reserve of only 1,100 vegetation patterns. Also invasive
hectares consists of hilly lands and is species are a matter of great concern.
mostly covered by subtropical forest. Considerable funds are invested on
While forests in the surrounding these projects.
region have been considerably altered
by human intervention, the biosphere Scientific research on climate change
reserve comprises rare primary forests is a specific priority: The scientists
of at least 400 years age. The DingHu working in and with DingHuShan
shrines attract up to 1 million visitors consecutively did research on the car-
per year. Managing the increasing bon cycle, the nitrogen cycle and the
tourism is both a challenge and chance water balance of forest ecosystems.
for the biosphere reserve. Significant progress has been made on
the understanding of the interaction of
carbon and nitrogen, and of their link
to species diversity and ecosystem
services.
Together with the New Phytologist
Trust, an international workshop
entitled “Carbon cycling in tropical
ecosystems” has been organized in
2011. One of the key projects of the
Chinese Natural Science Foundation
(NSFC), dealing with forest carbon
accumulation in old forests, is carried
out here. More hands-on efforts are
done as well: In March 2011, 300
DingHu shrine (Flickr CC wodnerduck) employees of the bank HSBC attended
tree-planting with the Earthwatch
Apart from several hundred seasonal Institute in DingHuShan. Adapting the
residences, there are no permanent management plan to the current needs,
inhabitants. Research has been carried alone is a comprehensive project that
out since the 1950‘s and education will cost 300,000 dollars. There are
programmes are on offer. also extensive climate change edu-
cation efforts, initiatives at regional
Today DingHuShan focuses on cli- marketing and low-impact tourism.
mate change as a central management
31Experimental site: measurement of precipitation (© ForeStClim)
Sharing a vision across borders
Vosges du Nord - Pfälzerwald (France - Germany)
This French-German area was the first transboundary
biosphere reserve in the EU and the first to be jointly
evaluated by two MAB national committees. Succesful
projects on one side, e.g. on climate change, are ac-
tively transferred to the other side of the border.
32This area was the first transboundary The project KlimLandRP has been an
biosphere reserve of the European interdisciplinary research project from
Union. Both the German part Pfäl- 2008 until end of 2011, covering wide
zerwald and the French part Vosges fields such as fresh water, soils, fore-
du Nord had been designated by stry, agriculture and biodiversity with
UNESCO before. As a connected re- the main target to determine the local
gion they have been designated since and regional impact of climate change
1998, spanning a total area of 301,800 on different sectors. This project has
hectares, of which nearly three quar- been an umbrella for many parallel
ters are covered with forests. and successive measures, each worth
several hundred thousand Euros, being
Characteristic are hundreds of castles, implemented in co-operation with
impressive red sandstone cliffs and different partners.
numerous caves. The first legally
protected transboundary nature forest Some examples: The project ForeSt-
reserve in Europe has been set up, Clim investigates the suitability of
forming a joint core area. Regularly, different tree species under changing
site conditions, as well as opportuni-
ties and challenges of short rotation
forestry. The effects of invasive tree
species and of a changing water cycle
are investigated as well. Renewable
energies including fuelwood and waste
wood utilization are implemented and
energy efficiency is promoted. Media-
tion focuses on conflicts relating to the
construction of wind power plants in
densely forested areas or to large-scale
biofuel-plants close to protected areas.
Additional buffer zones are going to
be created in order to counterbalance
the accelerating habitat-loss and shift
Biosphere house (© Biosphärenhaus) of wildlife-communities.
transboundary rural markets are or- Finally, a European Union co-funded
ganized. The winegrowing district on project deals with the implementation
the German side is nationally known of such strategies and results in the
as the ‘German wine route’; organic transboundary, French-German con-
viticulture is part of a regional quality text. The well-established transbound-
certificate network, comprising e.g. ary management of the biosphere
local food producers, gastronomy or reserve is fostered by a joint steering
local forest producers. committee and joint working groups.
33Aerial Noosa River mouth and Noosa Heads region (© Noosa Tourism)
Community adaptation
Noosa (Australia)
Noosa north of Brisbane focuses all its attention with
regard to climate change on establishing a climate
change adaptation programme that fully engages into
action the broader community living in the biosphere
reserve.
34Noosa is a UNESCO biosphere re- Most core areas are publicly owned
serve only since 2007. It is situated lands and waters managed by govern-
north of Brisbane, on the Eastern ment authorities for conservation
Australian Coast, on some 150,000 under state legislation. In the transition
hectares of marine and terrestrial area, there are productive agricultural
areas. Some 50,000 people live in lands, light industry and managed
the biosphere reserve, seasonally up forests.
to 65,000. For more than 40 years, a
very active network of community The key objective with regard to
conservation groups has shaped local climate change is to establish an
policy. At the same time, numerous adaptation programme to engage in
outstanding scientific studies have action the broader community living
been undertaken in this region. in the biosphere reserve. A partnership
has been formed to develop know-
Key drivers of the Noosa biosphere ledge and understanding of the critical
reserve are to sustainably manage issue for climate change response and
urban growth and responsibly involve adaptation. The contributors to the
partnership include the “biosphere
governance group”, Sunshine Coast
university, South East Queensland
Catchments Group, Noosa residents
and ratepayers and the Sunshine Coast
Regional Council. The partners are
working towards the development of a
robust climate change adaptation plan
and a programme of activities.
Beyond building robust mecha-
nisms for involving the community,
many different measures have been
implemented, e.g. mitigation through
improved forestry, through restoration
Climate action workshop (© Noosa BR) of high-carbon ecosystems, or through
improving energy efficiency. Adapta-
all community members into the area’s tion measures focus on the increasing
stewardship. The management orga- water scarcity and on the coastal
nisation, Noosa Biosphere Ltd, addres- zone (sea-level rise, storm surges,
ses many questions in parallel, culture, hurricanes, groundwater salinity). The
environment, social issues, education, biosphere reserve is also involved in
R&D, economy and tourism, all the regional climate change strategy
together with the community. for the Sunshine Coast.
35Brauntun burrows dunes (Flickr CC That bloke)
North-South cooperation on sea-level rise
Malindi Watamu (Kenya) - North Devon (UK)
While the two biosphere reserves are 7,500 kilometres
apart and have very different climates and ecosystems,
they share some very similar problems: Sea-level rise
and erosion are eating into their beautiful coastlines,
threatening wildlife habitats and the local economy.
36Malindi-Watamu on the Kenyan coast ment of a pebble ridge needs to be
some 100 kilometres north of Mom- re-considered. Salt marshes as flood
basa has been designated in 1979. Its defences will need to be re-created
core area is one of the best-investiga- through re-flooding farmland.
ted Kenyan reefs, the reserve includes
cliffs and sandy beaches, tidal mud The main challenge of Malindi Wata-
flats, mangrove swamps, and sea-grass mu is the preservation of mangroves
beds. The important tourist destination and beaches. Half of the original
hosts 120,000 inhabitants. mangrove forest along the Kenyan
coast, serving as fish nurseries and dis-
The Braunton Burrows–North Devon sipating wave energy, has already been
biosphere reserve was extended to lost. Corals are stressed by rising sea
350,000 hectares following a periodic temperatures and ocean acidification.
review in 2002 and community con- A 30-m strip of the beach above the
sultations. It covers the two large river mean high-water mark is legally pro-
basins on the north shore of Cornwall. tected since sea turtles nest here; this
The core area comprises large dunes strip is eroding as well, partly due to
illegal development. Climate change
adds to the effects of poverty.
In 2008, the two communities decided
to cooperate in order to learn from
one another how best to adapt to
their changing world. The Malindi
Watamu community offers a very
thorough commitment to the value
of the ecosystems and their services
– demonstrating how the community
can drive conservation. Some commu-
nity groups have even started to plant
mangroves. The North Devon partners
in turn have experiences in getting
Mangroves at Malindi (Flickr CC sallylondon) people to understand long term effects
of tiny annual sea level rise. Once the
and estuary systems; beyond that, time horizon for the impact is placed
farmland, heath, wetlands and wood- just beyond the life expectancy of
lands. About 150,000 people live here. the current community, the issue is
In the UK biosphere reserve, some depersonalised; an adaptation policy
20 percent of intertidal habitats will that the grandchildren might apprecia-
be lost to sea-level rise over the next te, becomes much more acceptable.
20 years. For example, a golf course The UK also provides Kenya means to
needs to be re-located and the manage- obtain better information and data.
37Aerial view of the Schaalsee region (© Schaalsee BR)
Adapted agriculture and bog restoration
Schaalsee (Germany)
The biosphere reserve has published an exhaustive
study in 2008 assessing climate change impacts and de-
veloping strategies for mitigation and adaptation in the
region. The priorities are implemented today, especially
climate-adapted agriculture and restoring bogs.
38The Schaalsee biosphere reserve, forecast for all of North-East Germa-
designated in the year 2000, is located ny. Localizing and concretizing this
right at the former border between forecast to the Schaalsee region has
West and East Germany. It is rather been financed by the ministry for eco-
small but covers a diverse landscape nomic affairs and private partners. The
with a variety of habitats, especially study resulted in a 180-page expert
woods, bogs and lakes. The Schaalsee report covering all areas of economic,
itself is a lake originating from one social and ecological interventions and
of the most recent glacial periods. priorities; an English-language short
Some 8,000 people in the biosphere version is available.
reserve make their living mainly
from agriculture, fishery, forestry and Five projects have been identified as
tourism. Sensitive cultivation methods future priorities: “Establish a regio-
are promoted to maintain the cultural nal greenhouse gas balance sheet”,
landscape and to reduce the eutrophi- “Increase research on the Schaalsee
cation of rivers, lakes and bogs. The water supply”, “Promote research on
production of high value foodstuffs forestry”, “Promote climate protection
in schools”, as well as “Implement
local climate round tables”.
An implementation focus is on pro-
moting “climate adapted agriculture
and fruit-growing cropping methods”.
Together with the Gülzow Research
Institute, climate friendly and energy
efficient agricultural and fruit pro-
duction practices are established, as
well as the sustainable cultivation of
renewable energies. This is imple-
mented through training for farmers
and for fruit growers during winter-
time, through demonstration plots and
Restoring a bog (©BR Vessertal-Thüringer Wald) through field guides for farmers. The
“’Bioenergy Village Neuhof” produces
creates substantially improved income electricity and heat from biomass
for farmers. Additional tourist attrac- and informs the public such that they
tions increasingly replace day-trip might copy these efforts. Several
tourists by long-term tourists and projects worth close to a million Euro
therefore add economic value. from public and private donors such
as Honda have led to the restoration of
The comprehensive 2008 study has large areas including several fens and
built on a regional climate change bogs with a high carbon storage effect.
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