How Biosphere Reserves Contribute to the Coexistence of Nature and People

November 3rd marks the International Biosphere Reserve Day, which emphasizes the significance of these territories as examples of coexistence between humans and nature. Biosphere reserves are valuable areas where biodiversity conservation, ecosystem protection, and sustainable development of local communities are simultaneously implemented.

These territories serve not only as a refuge for plant and animal species but also as a platform for scientific research, environmental education, and testing nature-friendly development methods. In a context where climate change, habitat destruction, and loss of biodiversity have become serious threats to life on Earth, biosphere reserves are gaining increasing importance, demonstrating that nature conservation and the well-being of human communities can go hand in hand.

International Biosphere Reserve Day was adopted at the 41st UNESCO General Conference in 2021 and was celebrated worldwide for the first time on November 3, 2022. This date was chosen to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, launched in 1971 to promote balanced relationships between humans and the environment, as well as to link scientific research with nature conservation and sustainable development.

Biosphere reserves were established under this program, with the first sites joining the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in 1976. They are defined by three main functions: conservation (protection of biodiversity, genetic resources, ecosystems, and natural and cultural heritage); sustainable development (promoting economic and social activities compatible with environmental protection and improving the living conditions of local communities); and scientific and educational support (conducting research, monitoring environmental changes, training, and knowledge exchange).

A key feature of biosphere reserves is their zoning into three main zones: the core zone, subject to the strictest protective regime; the buffer zone, where ecologically compatible activities are permitted; and the transition zone, where human settlements are located and sustainable development measures are carried out.

The goal of establishing this day is to raise public awareness about the importance of biosphere reserves, showcase successful nature conservation initiatives, and highlight the need for local community participation in sustainable land management. This is because environmental protection cannot be achieved solely by restricting human activity; it requires finding a balance between human needs and nature's potential.

Thanks to its rich history of nature conservation, Iran has fourteen biosphere reserves, each representing unique natural wealth. These 14 reserves include Arasbaran in the lush foothills of the northwest; Ardajan and Parishan in the southern Zagros region; Geno, known for its special climatic conditions and diverse altitudes in the south; Golestan, the jewel of the Girvan forests in the north; Hara with its remarkable mangrove forests in the Persian Gulf; Kavir with its vast and mysterious desert landscapes; Urmia Lake, one of the country's most outstanding natural sites; Miyankaleh, located on the shores of the Caspian Sea; Turan, serving as a habitat and refuge for the Asiatic cheetah; Dana, situated in the snowy heights of the Zagros Mountains; Tang-e Sayad and Sabzukh with their mountain landscapes and abundant springs; Hamun Lake in the vast eastern part of the country; Kamishlao and Dalan Kuh in the center of the central plateau; and Kopehdag in the northeast.

These outstanding landscapes, ranging from Girvan and Arasbaran forests to the majestic peaks of the Zagros and Alborz mountain ranges and renowned wetlands, provide vital habitats for a wide range of plant and animal species, as well as other components of biodiversity.

In recent years, efforts to protect this invaluable heritage have gone beyond traditional conservation approaches, increasingly including community participation, collective knowledge, and shared management. Modern technologies, such as habitat monitoring using camera traps, are combined with the restoration of damaged ecosystems based on local knowledge, helping to cope with pressure on the natural environment.

As part of efforts to strengthen these mechanisms and improve the management of the country's biosphere reserves, a draft executive decree on biosphere reserves was prepared through a fully participatory process, nearly 50 years after the creation of the country's first reserve. This draft is currently awaiting review and approval by the government's Legal and Judicial Affairs Commission.

As the first comprehensive set of specialized rules for managing biosphere reserves, this document aims to establish clear management mechanisms, enhance coordination among relevant organizations, and strengthen the participation of local communities. It also provides for the possibility of creating new biosphere reserves by the Forestry, Pasture, and Watershed Management Organization, which could potentially expand the country's capacity for biodiversity protection. Iran's fourteen biosphere reserves are more than just geographical areas on a map; they are living symbols of the country's natural heritage and a reminder that respect for nature, collective wisdom, and local population involvement can help ensure a future full of life and hope for coming generations.

Chinese efforts to conserve biodiversity demonstrate how nature can be protected outside officially designated reserves by utilizing cooperation between local communities, researchers, businesses, and government bodies, noted a Chinese environmental specialist at a UN event.

At a thematic event titled 'Strategies and Actions of Multilateral Stakeholders for Biodiversity Conservation,' held at the Chinese Pavilion during the 17th meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, a successful example of such efforts was presented—work in the wetland area of Weitou Bay in China.

Yan Baohua, Secretary-General of the Marine Conservation Foundation of China (MCF), reported that over the last three winters, more than 1% of the estimated global population of spoon-billed sandpipers overwintered in the Weitou Bay wetland in Quanzhou, Fujian Province, southeastern China. Notably, this wetland area is not a protected zone.

The spoon-billed sandpiper breeds in the Russian Far East and migrates thousands of kilometers along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, relying on coastal stops and wintering grounds. However, according to Yan's research, only about 15% of the projected suitable tidal habitats for this species are located within protected areas.

MCF and Beijing Forestry University initiated a project to conserve the spoon-billed sandpiper in 2018. Yan noted that surveys conducted in southern China from 2019 to 2026 discovered additional wintering sites, many of which are located outside protected zones, highlighting the need to expand conservation efforts beyond the existing network of protected areas.

In the Weitou Bay wetland, conservation work was long primarily carried out by local volunteers engaged in birdwatching. In March 2025, MCF partnered with local birdwatching groups and government agencies to establish a protection station to better coordinate conservation efforts. Bird enthusiast groups now conduct regular monitoring and patrolling, while local prosecutors contribute to habitat protection through public interest litigation. Local residents are also working to create their own patrol groups.

Another example of public participation is found in Sunnyan Bay in Jinzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China, where community fishermen outside the nature reserve help protect sea urchins accidentally caught in fishing nets. With support from this network, local residents established a rescue and release group in 2021 to return accidentally caught sea urchins to the sea.

Song reported that reports of declining sea urchin numbers in local fishermen's nets prompted her team and scientists to survey the area. They found that Sunnyan Bay is a habitat for adult and sub-adult sea urchins, while spawning and juvenile areas are further east, near the mouth of the Dafeng River, indicating a need to extend conservation measures beyond the bay itself.

Biodiversity conservation efforts also extend to urban spaces. At the Hongshan Zoo in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, eastern China, according to the zoo's Director of Sustainability, Wei Ye, nearly 700 species of local wildlife have been recorded, including about 130 bird species.

An artificial lake, once lined with hardened banks, underwent ecological restoration, creating more natural shorelines and improving the connection between the water surface and the riparian vegetation. Wei stated that the zoo saw the birth of Chinese waterfalls at the restored lake this year.

These examples illustrate China's commitment to exploring other effective nature-based conservation measures (OECM) that complement protected areas. These OECMs contribute to achieving Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework 2022—effectively conserving at least 30% of the world's terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine areas by 2030.

Madhu Rao, Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, stated that this target cannot be achieved solely through protected areas. She noted: 'One of the major advantages of OECMs is that they allow us to recognize nature management by non-state actors, as well demonstrated by the example from China.'

The thematic event was organized by the All-China Federation of Environmental Protection and the China Environmental Protection Fund.

According to the daily horoscope for the sign Taurus on October 29, 2026, an increase in calmness and harmony at home is expected. It is also emphasized that more time should be spent with family.

On this day, matters related to real estate may advance, and an important conversation with significant people will take place. Additionally, an improvement in general health is predicted.