The São Tomé Island Biosphere Reserve covers almost 1,130 square kilometers of volcanic peaks, tropical forests and fertile agricultural landscapes
Sao Tome and Principe has all its territory classified as a Biosphere World Reserve, according to a decision announced today by UNESCO, which also included Angola, Equatorial Guinea and Portugal on the list of 26 new places in 21 countries.
The decision of the United Nations Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) was announced after the World Biosphere Reserve Congress, which took place during the week in Hangzhou, China, added 26 new places to 21 countries to the institution’s world biosphere network, namely in four Lusophone countries.
UNESCO, based in Paris, reveals that Sao Tome and Principe became the first country totally covered by a Biosphere reserve – by recognizing the island of Sao Tome after, in 2012, the island of Prince and the surrounding island – and points out that Angola and Equatorial Guinea are first areas recognized by their ecosystems and innovative approaches to sustainable life.
The São Tomé Island Biosphere reserve covers almost 1,130 square kilometers of volcanic peaks, tropical forests and fertile agricultural landscapes.
According to UNESCO, marine protection zones include islets such as goats, Santana’s and rolls, “that houses coral reefs, sea poultry colonies and turtle nesting beaches.”
In addition, “about 130,000 inhabitants are involved in activities deeply linked to land and sea,” it reads in the statement, which presents ecotourism as an activity that offers growth opportunities and highlights the “organic cocoa of the world’s renowned, which is rooted in the local community and” is a symbol of agricultural legacy and knowledge transmitted through generations. “
Finally, concludes UNESCO, the São Tomé Island Biosphere Reserve “protects an irreplaceable natural and cultural heritage through community participation, sustainable use of land and conservation.”
Angola saw recognized for the first time a biosphere reserve, perhaps, over 206 kilometers from the wild Atlantic Costa, south of Luanda. With 33,160 square kilometers, the Kiçama reserve “not only retains coastal and unique marine biodiversity, but also strengthens climate resilience and cultural identity uniting people and nature in a shared view of peace and sustainability,” reads in the statement.
Already Equatorial Guinea, which is part of the community of Portuguese -speaking countries (CPLP), has seen the Bioko Island Biosphere Reserve, “a volcanic and exuberant jewel”, with the fourth largest island in Africa, with an area of over 2,000 square kilometers, which houses the country’s capital, and houses one of the most remarkable biodiversity in Central Africa.
The Bioko Island Biosphere Reserve protects, according to UNESCO, the natural wealth that includes Pico Basilé National Park, the Luba Boiler Scientific Reserve and Marine Areas, “protecting both land and sea” and combining urban life in Malabo with rural communities.
According to UNESCO, this first classification in Equatorial Guinea “will promote conservation, sustainable development and scientific research, ensuring that Bioko’s primates, forests and cultural legacy endure for future generations.”
Portugal is also on the list with the incorporation of the Arrábida Biosphere Reserve, located south of Lisbon, with approximately 200 square kilometers.
In this year’s list, in addition to reserves in the four Lusophone countries, UNESCO highlights the classification of the Raja Ampat archipelago in Indonesia, as the marine ecosystem with the largest biodiversity on Earth.
UNESCO’s The Man and Biosphere has been undergoing an unprecedented expansion since 2018, with 142 new biosphere reserves representing more than one million square kilometers (km2) of additional protected natural areas.
The 785 reserves in 142 countries cover 8 million km2 – the Australian area – and directly benefit about 300 million people living in them, according to the organization.
At the opening of the congress, Monday, Audrey Azoulay, director general of UNESCO, said he hoped that by 2030 each Member state will have at least one reserve, as provided for in the next decade he presented at the meeting.
The plan also includes two measures “to go further in protection”, namely the conservation and restoration of at least 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2035 and the reduction of human pressure on biodiversity.
