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Land
Special Issues
Biosphere Reserves in the Global South
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Biosphere Reserves in the Global South

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land, Biodiversity, and Human Wellbeing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (12 July 2024) | Viewed by 3606

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Vincent Ralph Clark

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Afromontane Research Unit & Department of Geography, University of the Free State, Phuthaditjhaba 9866, South Africa
Interests: African mountain ecology; biogeography; biodiversity; research capacity building; social-ecological systems; integrated systems thinking
Dr. Ruida Pool-Stanvliet

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Independent Researcher, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Interests: UNESCO MAB programme; biosphere reserve governance models; floral diversity of the fynbos biome; Western Cape; South Africa

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In 1971, UNESCO launched the "Man and the Biosphere" (MAB) program to address the growing conflict between the global population, resources, environment, and economic development. At present, there are more than 700 biosphere reserves spread over 100 countries, including 22 transboundary sites worldwide. These biosphere reserves have developed into a crucial forum and link for exchanging biodiversity conservation knowledge, as well as a place to investigate regional responses to global challenges and sustainable development models.

This Special Issue focuses on the integrity and complexity of ecological and environmental problems and evaluates associated impacts on livelihoods across terrestrial and coastal ecosystems in the global south. It aims to provide scientific support for the formation of relevant solutions (e.g., nature-based solutions) while simultaneously raising public understanding and awareness of the concept of MAB and the value of the biosphere reserve. It is hoped that this special edition will be of interest to a wider group of people and help to create a new situation for the development of MAB and promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

We welcome original research, methods, systematic reviews, and critical discussion papers on new ideas from various perspectives, methodological investigations from across disciplines, and empirical research (including qualitative research such as case studies and quantitative research such as modeling) that deals with interlinked issues of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the global south. The key topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Ecosystem-specific networks of biosphere reserves, e.g., mountains and wetlands;
  • Climate change and protected areas;
  • Wilderness conservation;
  • Integrated governance frameworks and management plans.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Prof. Dr. Vincent Ralph Clark
Dr. Ruida Pool-Stanvliet
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • UNESCO
  • biosphere
  • sustainability
  • natural resources
  • human capital
  • mountains
  • transboundary
  • land use

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 15203 KiB  
Article
Mobilizing Global Change Science for Effective Multi-Actor Governance in the Laguna San Rafael and Guayaneco Biosphere Reserve
by Trace Gale, Andrés Adiego, Fabien Bourlon and Alexandra Salazar
Land 2024, 13(11), 1739; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13111739 - 23 Oct 2024
Viewed by 578
Abstract
The 1950s initiated transformative shifts in human interactions and societal behaviors, exacerbating global environmental challenges—notably, biodiversity loss. The post-2020 Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) addressed these challenges with ambitious plans to halt and reverse biodiversity losses. Supported by initiatives like UNESCO’s Man and [...] Read more.
The 1950s initiated transformative shifts in human interactions and societal behaviors, exacerbating global environmental challenges—notably, biodiversity loss. The post-2020 Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) addressed these challenges with ambitious plans to halt and reverse biodiversity losses. Supported by initiatives like UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere program, the GBF seeks to enhance sustainability through country-level strategies that will mainstream nature-positive policies and expand multi-actor conservation governance. This study supports the local-level implementation of the GBF through a roadmap for the initial phase of the knowledge-action network creation. Through a case study of the Laguna San Rafael and Guayaneco Biosphere Reserve (LSRGBR) in Chilean Patagonia, this research explores the potential for inexpensive, readily available methods to support local decision makers by increasing access to and the visibility of relevant sustainability research. The study analyzes two decades of global change (GC) research within LSRGBR zones to understand spatial trends and identify applied insights with the potential to inform governance and management strategies. Findings highlight where GC research has occurred, areas of GC research interest, how applied content has manifested, and how existing research can inform and support governance action plans. Ultimately, this research proposes an adaptable knowledge mobilization framework for the LSRGBR that can be applied to a variety of place-based needs and contexts to mobilize science for broader sustainability objectives and enhance the potential for multi-actor collaboration and governance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosphere Reserves in the Global South)
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29 pages, 3185 KiB  
Article
Learning through Place-Based Implementation of the UNESCO MAB Program in South Africa’s Oldest Biosphere Reserve: A Case Study of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve
by Michael Klaver, Bianca Currie, James George Sekonya and Kaera Coetzer
Land 2024, 13(4), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040455 - 2 Apr 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1530
Abstract
UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) is implemented through a world network of biosphere reserves, which offer a holistic people-centered landscape-level conservation approach. When successfully implemented the program enhances social–ecological system sustainability and resilience. However, there remains a research gap in understanding [...] Read more.
UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) is implemented through a world network of biosphere reserves, which offer a holistic people-centered landscape-level conservation approach. When successfully implemented the program enhances social–ecological system sustainability and resilience. However, there remains a research gap in understanding and collating lessons from individual sites for the benefit of the program globally. We assess MAB implementation in South Africa’s oldest biosphere reserve, the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve (KBR; est. 1998). Using semi-structured in-depth interviews with directors and the coordinator, complemented by document analysis, we explore the governance and implementation learnings of the KBR as it has evolved. The KBR program implementation is guided by global necessity, but driven by the local context, which for the KBR translates to a non-profit organization cooperative governance model. The site faces a perceived lack of government financial support and awareness of the ‘biosphere reserve’ concept. Despite these challenges, successes have emerged in the formation of local partnerships to fulfil critical roles in socio-economic development and biodiversity conservation. The learnings from KBR, as it strives to become a model site for sustainability, are useful for other sites similarly operationalizing an international designation for local conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosphere Reserves in the Global South)
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