UNESCO
BolomaBijagós Biosphere Reserve
The MAB Programme
- The Man and the Biosphere Programme
- Goal: to set a scientific basis underlying the improvement of the relationships between people worldwide and the global environment.
- Seeks to address scientific, environmental, societal, and development issues surrounding biodiversity loss.
- Activities focus on reducing biodiversity loss in specific ecosystems: mountains; drylands; tropical forests; urban systems; wetlands; marine, island, and coastal.
- Implementation through the World Network of Biosphere Reserves and similar partnerships and networks.
- There are currently 564 biosphere reserve sites in 109 different countries.
World Network of Biosphere Reserves since 2009
Boloma Bijagós Biosphere Reserve
- Location: 11°40' to 14°43'N; 15°20' to 17°00'W covering an area of 101,230 hectares
- Designated in 1996, MAB recognized that this marine archipelago was home to an astounding diversity of ecosystems: palm forests; mangroves with intertidal zones; secondary and degraded forests; dry and semi-dry forests; coastal savanna; sand banks; aquatic zones.
- The area is known for its pivotal sea turtle, monkey, crocodile, and hippopotamus habitats. It is also rich with many species of fish and birds.
- Due to its unique geography, isolation, and relative autonomy, the Bijagós Archipelago is considered a unique site of rich biodiversity that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.
- UNESCO hopes to maintain the existing ecosystem and mitigate ecological loss by supporting environmental research partnerships and programs that work to educate the people inhabiting the islands.
photos courtesy of IUCN/Guinea-Bissau
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