Latest news

Unesco declaration pledges to protect world's biospheres

A United Nations' declaration has backed the preservation of the world's biospheres, saying they can help the planet adapt to climate change.

Biospheres are the global ecological systems in which life exists. The UN has a world network of 531 biosphere reserves spread over 105 countries.

The Madrid Declaration protecting them was adopted following week-long deliberations led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).

Over 800 delegates attended the conference, including representatives from biosphere reserves, private and state institutions and civil society organisations.

The declaration calls for capitalisation of "the potential for action of biosphere reserves to address new challenges" including the loss of traditional knowledge, loss of arable land and climate change.

It says that to achieve this, effective partnerships need to be built between the government, private sector, indigenous and local communities and education centres.

Delegates also adopted the Madrid action plan, which maps out the Man and Biosphere programme's strategy for the next five years.

This plan consists of 31 goals and 62 actions that seek to use biosphere reserves as places to demonstrate effective responses to such challenges as climate change and growing urbanisation.

Find out how the Energy Saving Trust can help you