UNESCO Biosphere Reserves as of 2009. Transboundary parks add to the number of all countries they're located in
As of 2023 the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves is made up of 738 reserves in 134 countries of which 22 are transboundary. Biosphere reserves are large landscapes with significant biodiversity and important ecological systems. Together, the reserves are representative of the world's major ecoystems. Each reserve is a focus for environmental collaboration and sustainable development, and offer travellers an opportunity to appreciate and understand unique parts of the natural environment.
Understand [ edit ]
UNESCO describes the reserves as follows:
Biosphere reserves are areas comprising terrestrial, marine and coastal ecosystems. Each reserve promotes solutions reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.
Biosphere reserves are ‘Science for Sustainability support sites’ – special places for testing interdisciplinary approaches to understanding and managing changes and interactions between social and ecological systems, including conflict prevention and management of biodiversity.
See UNESCO World Heritage List for related lists.
Djurdjura in spring
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Fogo
2020
Maio
2020
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Basse-Lobaye
1977
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Sena Oura
Soudanian Chad
2022
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Mwali
2020
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Yangambi
Congo Basin
1976
1998, 2016
Luki
Western DRC
1976
1998, 2005
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Omayed
Lower Egypt
1981
2001, 2011
Extended in 1998
Wadi Allaqi
Lake Nasser, Upper Egypt
1993
2004, 2012
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Lubombo
2019
Boloma Bijagós
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Boloma Bijagós
1996
2015
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Matšeng Biosphere Reserve
2021
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Bouclé du Baoule
Kayes
1982
1998, 2013
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Delta du Fleuve Sénégal
Coastal Mauritania
2005
Shared with Senegal
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Black River Gorges-Bel Ombre
1977
1998
Previously named Macchabee/Bel Ombre
Aïr et Ténéré
Volcans
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Volcans
1983
Gishwati-Mukura Landscape
2020
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
The Island of Principe
2012
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Oti-Kéran/Oti-Mandouri
Northern Togo
2011
Mono Transboundary Biosphere Reserve
Maritime Togo
2017
Shared with Benin
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Tonle Sap
1997
2012
Huanglong
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Changbaishan
1979
1998
Dingushan
1979
1998
Wolong
1979
1998
Fanjingshan
1986
1999
Xilin Gol
1987
1999
Wuyishan
1987
1999
Bodega
1990
2001
Shennongjia
1990
2011
Yancheng
1992
2003
Xishuangbanna
1993
2004
Maolan
1996
2007
Tianmushan
1996
2007
Fenglin
1997
2009
Jiuzhaigou Valley
1997
2011
Nanji Islands
1998
2011
Shankou Mangrove
2000
2011
Baishujiang
2000
2011
Gaoligong Mountain
2000
2011
Huanglong
2000
2011
Baotianman
2001
2012
Saihan Wula
2001
2012
Dalai Lake
2002
Wudalianchi
2003
Yading
2003
Foping
2004
Qomolangma
2004
Chabaling
2007
Xingkai Lake
2007
Mao’er Mountain
2011
Jinggangshan
2012
Niubeiliang
2012
Snake Island, Laotie Mountain
2013
Agasthyamala
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Nilgiri
2000
2012
Gulf of Mannar
2001
2013
Sunderban
2001
2013
Nanda Devi
2004
Nokrek
2009
Pachmarhi
2009
Similpal
2009
Achanmar-Amarkantak
2012
Great Nicobar
2013
Komodo National Park
Geno
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Arasbaran
1976
2002, 2013
Arjan
1976
2002, 2013
Geno
1976
2002, 2013
Golestan
1976
2002, 2013
Hara
1976
2002, 2013
Kavir
1976
2002, 2013
Lake Oromeeh
1976
2002, 2013
Miankaleh
1976
2002, 2013
Touran
1976
2002, 2013
Dena
2010
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Mount Carmel
1996
2007
Ramat Menashe
2011
Mount Hakusan
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Mount Hakusan
1980
1999
Mount Odaigahara & Mount Omine
1980
1999
Shiga Highland
1980
1999
Extended in 2014
Yakushima Island
1980
1999
Aya
2012
Minami-Alps
2014
Tadami
2014
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Dana
1998
Mujib
2011
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Korgalzhyn
2012
Alakol
2013
Ak-Zhayik
2014
Katon-Karagay
2014
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Shouf
2005
Jabal Al Rihane
2007
Jabal Moussa
2009
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Tasik Chini
2009
Crocker Range
2014
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Baa Atoll
2009
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Great Gobi
1990
Bogd Khan Uul
1996
Uvs Nuur Basin
1997
Hustai Nuruu
2002
Dornod Mongol
2005
Mongol Daguur
2007
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Mount Paekdu
Baekdu Mountains
1989
2002
Mount Kuwol
2004
Mount Myohyang
2009
Mount Chilbo
2014
Ziarat Juniper Forest
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Puerto Galera
1977
Palawan
1990
2012
Albay
2016
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Al Reem
2007
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Mount Sorak
1982
1998, 2013
Jeju Island
Jeju
2002
2013
Shinhan Dadohae
2009
Gwangneung Forest
2010
Gochang
2013
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Hurulu
1977
1998
Sinharaja
Southern Province
1978
1998, 2004
Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadenya
2004
Bundala
2005
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Lajat
2009
Mae Sa-Kog Ma
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Sakaerat
1976
1999
Hauy Tak Teak
1977
1999
Mae Sa-Kog Ma
1977
1999
Ranong
1997
2011
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Repetek
1978
2005
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Marawah
2007
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Mount Chatkal
1978
1999
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Can Gio Mangrove
2001
2011
Dong Nai
2001
2012
Formerly Cat Tien, extended in 2011
Cat Ba
2004
Red River Delta
2004
Kien Giang
2006
Western Nghe An
2007
Mui Ca Mau
2009
Cu Lao Cham-Hoi An
2009
Kärntner Nockberge
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Gossenköllesee
1977
Gurgler Kamm
1977
Lobau
1977
1998
Neusiedler See
1977
1998
Grosses Walsertal
2000
2011
Wienerwald
2005
Salzburger Lungau & Kärntner Nockberge
2012
Biosphere reserve Srebarna
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Steneto
1977
Alibotouch
1977
Bistrichko Branichté
1977
Boitine
1977
Djendema
1977
Doupkata
1977
Doupki-Djindjiritza
1977
Kamtchia
1977
Koupena
1977
Mantaritza
1977
Ouzounboudjak
1977
Parangalitza
1977
Srébarna
1977
Tchervenata Sténa
1977
Tchoupréné
1977
Tsaritchina
1977
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Velebit Mountain
1977
1998, 2003
Mura Drava Danube
2012
Shared with Hungary
Sumava
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Krivoklátsko
1977
1998
Trebon Basin
1977
1998
Shared with Hungary
Lower Morava
1986
Extended and renamed in 2003
Sumava
1990
Krkokonose/Karkonosze
1992
2012
Shared with Poland
Bílé Karpathy
1996
2012
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
North-East Greenland
Northern Greenland
1977
Island of Muhu, West Estonian Archipelago
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
West Estonian Archipelago
West Estonia and Islands
1990
2005
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Commune de Fakarava
1977
Extended and renamed in 2006
Vallée du Fango
1977
1998
Extended in 1990
Camargue
1977
2000, 2006
Extended in 2006
Cévennes
1984
1998
Iles et Mer d’Iroise
1988
2001
Extended and renamed in 2012
Mont Ventoux
1990
2007
Archipel de la Guadeloupe
1992
Luberon-Lure
1997
2010
Fontainebleau et du Gâtinais
1998
2010
Extended and renamed in 2010
Vosges du Nord/Pfälzerwald
1998
2000,2011
Shared with Germany
Basin de la Dordogne
2012
Marais Audomarois
2013
Mont-Viso/Area della Biosfera del Monviso
2013
Shared with Italy
Vosges du Nord/Pfälzerwald
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Flusslandschaft Elbe
1979
2002,2009
Vessertal-Thüringen Forest
1979
2002, 2012
Extended in 1987, 1990
Berechtsgadener Land
1990
2003, 2013
Wadden Sea and Hallig Islands of Schleswig-Holstein
1990
2006
Extended and renamed in 2004
Schorfheide-Chorin
1990
2003, 2013
Spreewald
1991
2003, 2013
South-east Rügen
1991
2004
Rhön
1991
2004
Waddensea of Lower Saxony
1992
2006
Waddensea of Hamburg
1992
2006
Oberlausitzer Heide- und Teichlandschaft
1996
2007
Schaalsee
2000
2012
Vosges du Nord/Pfälzerwald
1998
2004, 2011
Shared with France
Bliesgau
2009
Schwäbische Alb
2013
Samaria Gorge
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Collemeluccio-Montedimezzo
1977
2012
Circeo
1977
2012, 2013
Miramare
1979
1999, 2011
Cilento and Valle di Diano
1997
2013
Somma-Vesuvio and Miglio d’Oro
1997
2013
Valle del Ticino
2002
2013
Tuscan Islands
2003
Selva Pisana
2004
Mont-Viso/Area della Biosfera del Monviso
2013
Shared with France
Sila
2014
North Vidzeme
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Zuvintas
2011
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Tara River Basin
1976
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Waddensea Area
1986
2012
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Babia Gora
1976
2000, 2013
Extended in 1997, 2001
Bialowieza
Podlaskie
1976
1998, 2013
Extended in 2005
Lukajno Lake
1976
1999, 2011
Slowinski
1976
1998, 2013
Krkonose/Karkonosze
1992
2012
Shared with the Czech Republic
Tatra
Małopolskie
1992
2013
Shared with Slovakia
East Carpathians
1998
2013
Shared with Slovakia and Ukraine
Puszcza Kampinoska
2000
2013
Tuchola Forest
2010
West Polesie
2012
Shared with Belarus and Ukraine
Flores Island
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Paúl do Boquilobo
1981
Corvo Island
2007
Graciosa Island
2007
Flores Island
2009
Geres/Xures
2009
Shared with Spain
Berlengas
2011
Santana Madeira
2011
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Kavkazskiy
Krasnodar Krai
1978
1998
Okskiy
1978
1998
Part of Oka River Valley until 2000
Sikhote-Alin
1978
1998
Tsentral’nochernozem
1978
1999
Astrakhanskiy
1984
2006
Kronotskiy
1984
2005
Laplandskiy
1984
1998
Pechoro-Ilychskiy
1984
1998
Sayano-Shusenskiy
1984
1998
Sokhondinskiy
1984
1998
Voronezhskiy
1984
1998
Tsentral’nolesnoy
1985
1999
Baikalskyi
1986
2005
Part of Lake Baikal until 2000
Tzentralnosibirskii
1986
2005
Chernyje Zemli
1993
2009
Taimyrsky
1995
2009
Ubsurnorskaya Kotlovina
1997
2009
Daursky
Zabaykalsky Krai
1997
2009
Teberda
1997
2009
Katunsky
2000
Prioksko-Terrasnyi
1978
1999
Part of Oka River Valley until 2000
Barguzinskyi
1986
2012
Part of Lake Baikal until 2000
Nerusso-Desnianskoe-Polesie
2001
Visimskiy
2001
Vodlozersky
2001
2012
Commander Islands
2002
Darvinskiy
2002
2013
Nijegorodskoe Zavolje
2002
Smolensk Lakeland
2002
2013
Ugra
2002
2013
Far East Marine
2003
Kedrovaya Pad
2004
Kenozersky
2004
Valdaiskiy
2004
Khankaiskiy
2005
Great Volzhsko-Kamsky
2005
Composed of Raifa, Sarali, Spassky and Siyazhsky units
Middle-Volga Integrated
2006
Rostovsky
2008
Altaisky
2009
Volga-Akhtuba Floodplain
2001
Bashkirskiyi Ural
2012
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Golija-Studenica
2001
2012
Tatra National Park
Kristianstad Vattenrike
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Kristianstad Vattenrike
2005
Lake Vänern Archipelago
2010
Blekinge Archipelago
Blekinge
2011
Nedre Dalälven River Landscape
2011
East Vättern landscape
2012
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Reservat da Biosfera Val Müstair-Parc Naziunal
Graubünden
1979
Extended and renamed in 2010
Entlebuch
2001
2012
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Camili
Eastern Karadeniz
2005
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Chernomorskiy
1984
1998, 1999, 2012
Askaniya-Nova
1985
1998, 2012
Carpathian
1992
2003
Danube Delta
1998
2010
Shared with Romania
East Carpathians
1998
Shared with Poland and Slovakia
Desnianskyi
2009
West Polesie
2012
Shared with Belarus and Poland . Extended and renamed in 2012.
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Beinn Eighe
1976
Braunton Burrow-North Devon
1976
Extended in 2002.
Biosiffer Dyfi
1977
Extended and renamed in 2009.
Galloway and southern Ayrshire
2012
Brighton and Lewes Downs
2014
Estuary in Clayoquot Sound
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Mont Saint Hilaire
Mont-Saint-Hilaire , Quebec
1978
1998, 2009
Waterton
Southern Alberta , Alberta
1979
1998, 2009
Long Point
Lake Erie Shore , Ontario
1986
2001, 2012
Riding Mountain
Prairie Mountain , Manitoba
1986
2001, 2013
Charlevoix
Charlevoix , Quebec
1988
2003
Niagara Escarpment
From Niagara Falls to Tobermory , Ontario (see Bruce Trail )
1990
2002
Clayoquot Sound
Tofino , Vancouver Island , British Columbia (see Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and Strathcona Provincial Park )
2000
2011
Redberry Lake
West Central Saskatchewan , near Saskatoon , Saskatchewan
2000
2012
Lac Saint-Pierre
Trois-Rivières and Louiseville , Quebec
2000
2012
Mount Arrowsmith
Arrowsmith Coombs Country , Vancouver Island , British Columbia
2000
2011
South West Nova
Annapolis Valley , South Shore and Yarmouth , Nova Scotia (see Kejimkujik National Park )
2001
2012
Thousand Islands-Frontenac Arch
Seaway Region Ontario
2002
Georgian Bay Littoral
Parry Sound , Ontario (see Georgian Bay Islands National Park )
2004
2016
Manicouagan Uapishka
Baie-Comeau , Quebec (see Quebec Route 389 )
2007
Fundy
Bay of Fundy , New Brunswick
2007
Bras d’Or Lake
Cape Breton Island , Nova Scotia
2011
Beaver Hills
Edmonton Capital Region , Alberta
2016
Tsá Tué
Délı̨nę , Northwest Territories
2016
Átl’ka7tsem
Gibsons , Squamish and West Vancouver , British Columbia (see Garibaldi Provincial Park )
2021
Átl’ka7tsem is the Squamish language name for Howe Sound, pronounced "At-Kat-sum"
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
La Amistad
1982
2002
Cordillera Volcánica Central
1988
2003
Extended in 2010.
Agua y Paz
2007
Sierra del Rosario, viewed from Mirador del Soroa
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Sierra del Rosario
1984
1998
Cuchillas del Toa
1987
1999
Península de Guanahacabibes
1987
1999
Baconao
1984
1999
Ciénaga de Zapata
2000
2011
Buenavista
2000
2011
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Jaragua-Bahorocu-Enriquillo
2002
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Apaneca-Llamatepec
2007
Xiriualtique Jiquitizco
2007
Trifinio Fraternidad
2011
Shared with Guatemala and Honduras
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Maya
1990
2001
Sierra de las Minas
1992
2013
Trifinio Fraternidad
2011
Shared with El Salvador and Honduras
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
La Selle
2012
Río Plátano
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Río Plátano
2007
Trifinio Fraternidad
2011
Shared with El Salvador and Guatemala
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
St. Mary’s
2011
Sequoia-Kings Canyon
Rainbow Beach, Great Sandy
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Croajingolong
1977
2003
Kosciuszko
1977
2003
Prince Regent River
1977
2003
Unnamed
Mamungari Conservation Park / Unnamed Conservation Park
1977
2003
Uluru
1977
2003
Yathong
1977
2003
Fitzgerald River
1978
2003, 2013
Hattah-Kulkyne & Murray-Kulkybe
1981
2003
Wilson’s Promontory
Wilsons Promontory National Park
1981
2003
Riverland
1977
2003
renamed twice, extended in 1995
Mornington Penincula and Western Port
2002
Barkindji
2005
Noosa
2007
Great Sandy
Great Sandy National Park
2009
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Utwe
2005
And Atoll
2007
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Ngaremeduu
2005
Laguna Oca y Herraduras del Río Paraguay
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
San Guillermo
1980
2000
Laguna Blanca
1982
2000
Costero del Sur
1984
2000
Ñacuñán
1986
2000
Laguna de Pozuelos
1990
2006
Yabotí
1995
2006
Mar Chiquito
1996
2012
Delta del Paraná
2000
Riacho Teuquito
1984
2000
San Guillermo
2000
Laguna Oca y Herraduras del Río Paraguay
2001
Renamed and extended in 2014.
Las Yungas
2002
Andino Norpatagónica
2007
Pereyra Iraola
2007
Valdés
2014
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Pilón-Lajas
1977
2006
Ulla Ulla
1977
2006
Beni
1986
2000
Caatinga
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Mata Atlântica (including Sao Paolo Green Belt)
1993
Extended in 2002, 2009
Cerrado
1993
Extended in 2000, 2001
Pantanal
2000
Caatinga
2001
Central Amazon
2001
Espinhaço Range
2005
Fray Jorge
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Fray Jorge
1977
1999
Extended in 2012
Juan Fernández
1977
1999
Torres de Paine
1978
1999
Laguna San Rafael
1979
1999
Lauca
1981
1999
Araucarias
1983
1999
Extended in 2010.
La Campana-Peñuelas
1984
1999
Extended in 2009.
Cabo de Hornos
2005
Bosques Templados Lluviosos de los Andes Australes
2005
Corredor Biológico Nevados de Chillán - Laguna del Laja
2011
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Cinturón Andino
1979
2001
El Tuparro
1979
2001
Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
1979
2001
Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta
2000
2011
Seaflower
2000
2011
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Archipiélago de Colón (Galápagos )
1984
1999
Yasuni
1989
2001
Sumasco
2000
Extended in 2002.
Podocarpus-El Condor
2007
Macizo del Cajas
2013
Bosque Seco
2014
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Bosque Mbaracayú
2000
2013
El Chaco
2005
Huascarán
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Huascarán
1977
1999, 2005
Manu
1977
1999
Noroeste
1977
1999
Oxapampa-Ashaninka-Yanesha
2010
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Bañados del Este
1976
2005
Bioma Pampa-Quebradas del Norte
2014
Official name
Location
Year of designation
Periodic review
Notes
Alto Orinoco-Casiquiare
1993
Delta del Orinoco
2009