The two Nordic Biosphere Reserves, Storkriket in Sweden and Snæfellsnes in Iceland, are among 26 new biosphere reserves, that have been designated by UNESCO. It is the eight Biosphere Reserve in Sweden and the first in Iceland.
Storkriket is a region in southern Sweden encompassing the municipalities of Lund, Eslöv, and Sjöbo. They are name for the stork which disappeared from the area and has since been reintroduced. Named for the stork, e region is known for its high biodiversity, rich cultural life, and strong research and innovation environment.
Snaefellsnes is a peninsula in Western Iceland that includes the glacier Snaefellsjökull and a National Park named after it. The national park’s territory will be the core area of the Snæfellsnes Ecopark, and the national park and Snæfellsnes Regional Park are therefore partners in the project.
785 sites
Since 1971, biosphere reserves have played a central role in UNESCO’s environmental mission. Alongside natural World Heritage sites and Global Geoparks, they contribute to protecting more than 13 million km² of terrestrial and marine ecosystems under UNESCO’s umbrella, advancing the global Kunming-Montreal target of conserving 30% of land and sea by 2030.
The World Network of Biosphere Reserves now includes 785 sites in 142 countries, with an additional one million km² of natural areas brought under protection since 2018 – equivalent to the size of Bolivia. This year, six countries, including Iceland, welcome their first biosphere reserve, while São Tomé and Príncipe becomes the first State to have its entire territory designated as a biosphere reserve.
“With nearly thirty new designations this year, our World Network of Biosphere Reserves has reached a major milestone, now protecting 5% of the planet,” says Audrey Azoulay UNESCO Director-General. “Within these reserves, new ways of balancing nature conservation with sustainable livelihoods are being forged every day. UNESCO will continue to mobilize States, scientists, civil society, and local and Indigenous communities to continue this positive momentum.”
A model of protection that’s gaining momentum
UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme has witnessed unprecedented growth in recent years: since 2018, 142 new biosphere reserves have brought an additional one million km² of additional natural areas under protection. Today, the 785 reserves cover over 8 million km² – equivalent to the size of Australia – and directly benefit the nearly 300 million people who live within these areas.
