The Kwanza river snakes through Quicama reserve in Angola is added to the list. – UNB/AP Photo

In response to growing threats from climate change and accelerating biodiversity loss, UNESCO has designated 26 new biosphere reserves across 21 countries, bringing the total number of sites in its World Network of Biosphere Reserves to 785 in 142 nations.

The announcement was made on Saturday during the 36th session of UNESCO’s International Coordinating Council for the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme in Hangzhou, China. The newly added reserves span some of the planet’s most ecologically rich—and vulnerable—landscapes, from coral-rich archipelagos to coastal wetlands and volcanic highlands.

Unlike strictly protected nature reserves, biosphere reserves integrate conservation with sustainable human development. They are structured into core protected zones, buffer areas for research and education, and transition zones where local communities engage in sustainable economic activities such as eco-tourism, agroforestry, and fisheries.

Among the new designations is Indonesia’s Raja Ampat archipelago—a global marine biodiversity hotspot that harbours approximately 75% of the world’s known coral species, alongside rainforests and nesting grounds for endangered sea turtles. Iceland’s Snæfellsnes Biosphere Reserve, famed for its dramatic volcanic terrain, lava fields, and wetlands, is home to more than 70% of the country’s native plant species. Angola’s Quicama Biosphere Reserve stretches 206 kilometres along the Atlantic coast, supporting elephants, manatees, sea turtles, and over 200 bird species.

Antonio Abreu, Head of UNESCO’s MAB Programme, stressed that effective conservation must align with local livelihoods. “Communities are not just stakeholders—they are essential partners,” he said. “In the Philippines, fisherfolk-led coral restoration through aquaculture has revived degraded reefs. In São Tomé and Príncipe, mangrove rehabilitation has strengthened coastal resilience and created new ecotourism opportunities.”

Despite their protected status, many biosphere reserves are increasingly vulnerable. UNESCO reports that over 60% of sites worldwide are already experiencing climate-related impacts, including extreme heat, prolonged droughts, and sea-level rise. To bolster resilience, the agency is deploying satellite monitoring and digitising decades of ecological data to support evidence-based management.

Yet human pressures persist. In Nigeria’s Omo Forest Reserve—one of Africa’s last strongholds for the critically endangered African forest elephant—expanding cocoa farming is driving deforestation and habitat fragmentation.

Meanwhile, the United States, which currently hosts 47 biosphere reserves, has confirmed it will withdraw from UNESCO once again in December 2026, following a decision initially made under the Trump administration. The move has raised concerns among conservationists about the potential impact on transnational cooperation in environmental protection.

UNESCO officials say the expansion of the biosphere network underscores a global commitment to the intertwined goals of biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable development—principles central to the UN’s post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.