The Challenges of the Anthropocene for Biosphere Reserves

Stoll-Kleeman, Susanne; O’Riordan, Tim

doi:10.2305/iucn.ch.2017.parks-23-1ss-k.en

Cited by 28 publications

(19 citation statements)

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“…However, its application is without any specific strategies for designation of urban BRs [72] and is arising from the expansion of nearby urban settlements as highlighted in a case study [73] and inward migration toward cities within the EU. The analysis identified a subset of BRs (Appendix A) located in archipelagos that would seem to support the assertions of isolationism [71] in sites designated as BRs and contradict the view that biospheres "are not islands" [35]. Such disparities in the BR network illustrate the diverging views on designation of BRs, and perhaps of PAs generally, within the EU.…”

Section: Distribution Of Unesco Biosphere Reserves Within the Europeamentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Urbanisation refers to the process by which rural areas take on urban characteristics and also refers to increased concentration of people in human settlements [33,34]. It is an important feature of the Anthropocene [35]. Urbanisation is one of the main threats to biodiversity globally [36] and within the EU where cities continue to expand [37].…”

Section: Urbanisation Processes and Protected Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Urbanisation of Protected Areas within the European Union—An Analysis of UNESCO Biospheres and the Need for New Strategies

et al. 2019

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The UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BRs) comprise core conservation areas supported by a buffer and transition zone of sustainable development. This zoning can help manage urbanisation around conservation areas. Although it is UNESCO policy to measure the number of BRs that have interactions with urban areas, there has been no systematic assessment of urban biospheres since 2008. This research addresses this deficit by measuring the extent of urbanisation of all designated BRs within the European Union (EU). Using the Copernicus Urban Atlas, the proximity of BRs to Functional Urban Areas (FUA) was determined. The results show that 46% (76/167) of BRs are situated within FUAs, including 11% (18/167) entirely within an FUA. The majority (64%) of EU-28 countries have BRs within FUAs. Urban influences on EU-28 BRs are extensive, as 90% are found within 50 km of an FUA. However, integration with urban areas may be lacking as 14% of EU BRs were adjacent to an FUA. Urban pressures are acute for 11% of EU BRs which had multiple FUAs within a 50 km radius. Therefore, urbanisation of BRs is a widespread challenge and recommendations are provided for BRs to function as an information sharing network and develop a new urban strategy.

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Section: Distribution Of Unesco Biosphere Reserves Within the Europeamentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Urbanisation Processes and Protected Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urbanisation of Protected Areas within the European Union—An Analysis of UNESCO Biospheres and the Need for New Strategies

et al. 2019

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“…Practical application of the biosphere reserve concept therefore lacks legal enforceability. The status of biosphere reserve is generally perceived only as an internationally recognized certificate of quality, assigned to the areas already protected by the Czech legislation (Urban, 2006;Stoll-Kleeman, O'Riordan, 2017). This ambiguity leads to the situation where state nature conservation bodies have only a very limited space to manoeuvre in implementing this concept in practice (Kušová et al, 2008a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Action Research in Landscape Ecology (Šumava Biosphere Reserve, Czech Republic Case Study )

Kušová

Těšitel

2017

Ekológia (Bratislava)

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Kušová D., Těšitel J.: Action research in landscape ecology (Šumava Biosphere Reserve, Czech Republic case study). Ekológia (Bratislava), Vol. 36, No. 4, p. 323-338, 2017. Current landscape ecological research applies trans-disciplinarity as a principle when considering the study of landscape as a multifunctional entity. The principle can be practically applied by use of participatory action research. The paper reports on the use of participatory action research in the process of step-by-step institutionalization of the Šumava Biosphere Reserve, as a complement to the state-conducted nature conservation, which took place in the period 1991−2016. To briefly summarize the main findings, we can suggest that the present institutional model of the Šumava Biosphere Reserve emerged primarily thanks to the 'permanent jointly conducted experiment' that followed the spiral scheme of action research, in which outputs of one implementation project served as a starting point to formulate, and subsequently realize the follow-up projects(s). The local community was engaged in the whole process, hence lessons learned became a part of local social and cultural capital, which since can be considered important endogenous developmental potential of the region.

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“…As a result, natural resources and capital that provide essential needs for human wellbeing like forests, land and water have been exploited beyond their recovery capacity (WCED, 1987;ADB, 1993;UNEP, 2002;Asara et al, 2015;Steffen et al, 2015), along with the loss of ecosystem services (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005;UNESCO, 2008;Costanza et al, 2014). Growing concerns about the impacts of anthropogenic pressures on biodiversity and ecosystem services have led to sustainable development movements focussing on environmental conservation and economic growth as important components (WCED, 1987;Hunter, 1996;Thaitesi and DeLacy, 1997;Norton, 2003;Stoll-Kleemann and O'Riordan, 2017).…”

Section: Biodiversity Conservation and Development Dilemmamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…MAB and BRs are considered to be a major component in implementing part of the World Conservation Strategy (Thorsell, 1989;UNESCO, 1996aUNESCO, , 2000Reed, 2016) as they provide a global network which link separate PAs with neighbouring landscapes while fostering sustainable development (Batisse, 1985;Brunckhost, 1997;UNESCO, 2008, Stoll-Kleemann andO'Riordan, 2017). Under the landscape designation, BRs promote an approach to integrated land management that harmonises interactions between people and nature and is distinct from the PA model as they cover the whole range of landscapes (Batisse, 1985;UNESCO, 1996a;Bridgewater, 2002Bridgewater, , 2016Ishwaran et al, 2008;Reed, 2016) (Figure 1.1).…”

Section: Integrated Conservation and Development Under The World Netwmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors influencing the management effectiveness of the biosphere reserve model: The case of Vietnam

Chu¹

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Vietnam allows the province and city authority some flexibility in interpreting the central policies and regulations that could benefit BR operation and management locally, the way this is interpreted varies with the commitment and engagement of the provincial leaders. Lack of true understanding ii of the BR approach coupled with unclear guidance on BR planning and management led to most of the management effort being paid to the conservation of the core PAs.Specific study of the Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve (KGBR) showed a similar operational "disconnect" between concept and practice as in most other BRs in Vietnam. Whilst major attention has been paid to compliance with the UNESCO Man the Biosphere rules, little effort and investment has been made in the practical implementation of the concepts they embody. Lack of public awareness and understanding, state-control based on a strong sectoral approach to BR planning and management hindered broader stakeholder participation. Weak engagement from provincial leader in BR governance limited cross-sectoral collaboration process for effective delivery BR mandate functions that differentiates BRs from the conventional conservation PA approach. The study found that external projects only have a temporary impact on operation of the KGBR because they often start with small, time-bound demonstration models which negatively condition the community attitude to the projects and by association the BR.Using Enhancing our Heritage Toolkit (EoH) developed by IUCN and UNESCO for evaluation of management effectiveness, the study found that while the KGBR has been operating for a decade, the management planning process has not been completed. While a management system was established in KGBR it has proved inadequate to the task in operation because of structural deficiencies in the BR Management Board, lack of trained staff with BR knowledge and no allocation of operational funding specifically for BR activities. There appears a difficulty to achieve desired outcomes. Due to the absence of an approved operational plan with a monitoring and evaluation system has meant that assessment of management effectiveness of the KGBR against the key performance indicators has not been possible.To improve performance and effectiveness of the BR model in Vietnam, BRs should have nationally legal recognition that provides legitimacy for setting up clear BR governance structure and cross sectoral collaboration, and increase funding opportunity from central government for BR delivery. Additionally, BR sustainability and effectiveness greatly depends on the implementation of appropriate, locally-based management solutions that need a strong stakeholder's awareness, and engagement for a stable and strong governance leadership based on a strategic participation and public-private stakeholder partnerships in planning, operating resource allocation and implementation.iii DECLARATION BY AUTHORThis thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another p...

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The Challenges of the Anthropocene for Biosphere Reserves

Cited by 28 publications

References 32 publications

Urbanisation of Protected Areas within the European Union—An Analysis of UNESCO Biospheres and the Need for New Strategies

Urbanisation of Protected Areas within the European Union—An Analysis of UNESCO Biospheres and the Need for New Strategies

Action Research in Landscape Ecology (Šumava Biosphere Reserve, Czech Republic Case Study )

Factors influencing the management effectiveness of the biosphere reserve model: The case of Vietnam

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