Vol 3, No 1 (2019) International Journal of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves
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Item A commitment charter for the recognition of the socio-economic actors of the biosphere reserves(Electronic version published by Vancouver Island University, 2019) Cibien, Catherine; Larade, Arnaud; Reyna, KenA commitment charter has been drawn up to recognise the socio-economic actors of the Biosphere Reserves and acknowledge their commitment to the environment and sustainable development. This progress strategy complements the labelling of products and services and has set up networks of eco-actors, who are partners and ambassadors of the Biosphere Reserves.Item Integrated assessment of changes in wetland types in The Songor Biosphere Reserve, Ghana(Electronic version published by Vancouver Island University, 2019) Adade, Richard; Aheto, Denis Worlanyo; Agyeman, Dickson YawThe Songor wetlands form an ecologically valuable resource in Ghana, providing numerous sup-port for biological diversity. Despite its relevance, studies have shown that overexploitation due to developmental activities and overdependence on their values for livelihood pose a threat to the existence of the wetlands. This study investigated long-term changes that have occurred as a result of human activities in the area over a 25 year period (1990-2015). Landsat TM and ETM+ and OLI/TIRS images were used to categorize and quantify the changes in the various wetland types. Local perceptions of the riparian population on the historical changes and drivers for the changes were also sought to complement the assessment. The study revealed that, lagoon/lake and inter-tidal forested wetland experienced increase in spatial extent while seasonal/intermittent and permanent marshes experienced a decrease over the 25 year period. Among the various land use activities undertaken in the Ramsar site agriculture was seen to have greatest impact on biodiversity conservation through truncation of streams in up-land areas for fish and crop production. The study strongly recommends that various stakeholders should be involved in the management of the Songor Ramsar site and the regulator should institute stringent monitoring of the wetland due to the constant anthropogenic pressure.Item Biosphere landscapes: principles and local practices challenging sustainable development in Africa(Electronic version published by Vancouver Island University, 2019) Gebretsadik, Tekalign Tafese; Shekur, Aden AbdurahmanA biosphere reserve is a unique kind of protected area that differs from national parks and other kinds of protected natural areas having three very different, but equal, aims: conservation, scientific research and monitoring; and sustainable development. MAB was launched in 1971 and the BR network in 1976. Currently, WNBR had grown to include 686 BR in 122 countries, including 20 trans-boundary sites. AfriMAB regional network, contains 79 BR recognized as part of the WNBR, across 28 countries. Pre-Seville (1976 to 1995) and post-Seville (1996 to 2018) phases of BR, there exists both success and less success stories globally and in African. The first phase lays its philosophy on strict environmental protection, i.e. strict BR to serve science while the second delimited along sustainable resource use principle, therefore, can be defined as Biosphere landscape management. The notion of converting the concept’s implications into reality at international, national and local scales raises a number of challenges arise from three main functional factors leads to failure and or success of biosphere landscape i.e., BR designation, participation, and delivery. The aim of this article is to review the existing empirical literature about the consistency of principles of BR with local practice and challenging factors associated with successful management of BLs in Africa. The review collects relevant and recent articles published globally and African context and used reports of UNESCO MAB program and AfriMAB to see the current status of the program globally and African context.Item Learning by example: a historical account of the experiences and transformation in the management of the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (Reserve), Vancouver Island, Canada(Electronic version published by Vancouver Island University, 2019) Jamieson, Glen; Hunter, KarenThis report outlines the developmental history of the MABR from its conception in the early 1990s through its evolution into an effective, functional biosphere region in 2016. It describes why and how the biosphere reserve concept was initially felt to be appropriate for the region; the challenges in trying to achieve UNESCO recognition without initial senior (provincial and federal) governmental support, and how this lack of support was overcome; the initiatives undertaken in the first decade after establishment; and how the biosphere reserve almost collapsed when it was largely commandeered by community members that had an anti-development advocacy agenda. It concludes by describing how the initiative evolved into what is now one of the most productive and dynamic Canadian biosphere reserves. The documented experiences of the world’s biosphere reserves are valuable educational products, and it is hoped that descriptions of the challenges encountered and overcome in the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (Reserve) can benefit the development of other biosphere reserves both in Canada and worldwide.Item Poem(Electronic version published by Vancouver Island University, 2019) William, LarryPoem by Larry William.