Antelopes huddle in the bush after being released in the Quicama National Park, about 47 miles south of Angola's capital, Luanda.

TAMMY WEBBER

Associated Press

ENVIRONMENT | CONSERVATION

An Indonesian archipel-ago that's home to three-fourths of Earth's coral species, a stretch of coast with 70% of Iceland's plant life and an area along Angola's Atlantic coast featuring savannahs, forests and estuaries are among 26 new UNESCO-designated biosphere reserves.

The United Nations cultural agency says the reserves -- 785 sites in 142 countries, designated since 1971 -- are home to some of the planet's richest and most fragile ecosystems. Biosphere reserves encompass more than strictly protected nature reserves; they're expanded to include areas where people live and work, and the designation requires that scientists, residents and government officials work together to balance conservation and research with economic and cultural needs.

"The concept of biosphere reserves is that biodiversity conservation is a pillar of socioeconomic development" and can contribute to the economy, said António Abreu, head of the program, adding that conflict and misunderstanding can result if communities are left out of decision-making and planning.

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The new reserves, in 21 countries, were announced Sept. 27 in Hangzhou, China, where the program adopted a 10-year strategic action plan that includes studying the effects of climate change, Abreu said.

Biodiversity hot spots

The new reserves include a 52,000-square-mile area in the Indonesian archipelago Raja Ampat, home to more than 75% of Earth's coral species as well as rainforests and rare endangered sea turtles. The economy depends on fishing, aquaculture, small-scale agriculture and tourism, UNESCO said.

On Iceland's west coast, the Snæfellsnes Biosphere Reserve's landscape includes volcanic peaks, lava fields, wetlands, grasslands and the Snæfellsjökull glacier. The 564 squaremile reserve is an important sanctuary for seabirds, seals and more than 70% of Iceland's plant life -- including 330 species of wildflowers and ferns. Its more than 4,000 human residents rely on fishing, sheep farming and tourism.

In Angola, the new Quiçama Biosphere Reserve along 128 miles of Atlantic coast is a "sanctuary for biodiversity" within its savannahs, forests, flood plains, estuaries and islands, according to UNESCO. It's home to elephants, manatees, sea turtles and more than 200 bird species. Human residents' livelihoods include livestock herding, farming, fishing and honey production.

Collaboration is key

Residents are important partners in protecting biodiversity within the reserves, and even helped identify new species, Abreu said. Scientists also help restore ecosystems to benefit the economies in the reserves, he said.

For example, the coral reefs around Pangatalan Island in the Philippines were severely damaged because fishermen used dynamite to find depleted fish populations. Scientists helped design a structure to help coral reefs regrow and taught fishermen to raise fish through aquaculture so the reefs could recover.

"They have food and they have also fish to sell in the markets," Abreu said.

In the African nation of São Tomé and Príncipe, a biosphere reserve on Príncipe Island led to restoration of mangroves, which help buffer against storm surges and provide important habitat, Abreu said.

Ecotourism also became an important industry, with biosphere trails and guided bird-watching tours. A new species of owl was identified there in recent years.

This year, a biosphere reserve was added for the island of São Tomé, making the country the first entirely within a reserve.

Environmental concerns

At least 60% of the UNESCO biosphere reserves were affected by extreme weather, including extreme heat and drought and sea-level rise, tied to climate change, which is caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and gas, Abreu said.

The agency uses satellite imagery and computer modeling to monitor changes in coastal zones and other areas, and is in the process of digitizing its historical databases, Abreu said. The information will be used to help determine how best to preserve and manage the reserves.

Some biosphere reserves also are under pressure from environmental degradation.

In Nigeria, for example, habitat for a dwindling population of critically endangered African forest elephants is under threat as cocoa farmers expand into Omo Forest Reserve, a protected rainforest and one of Africa's oldest and largest UNESCO biosphere reserves. The forest also is important in helping combat climate change.

President Donald Trump's administration in July announced the U.S. would withdraw from UNESCO as of December 2026, as it did during his first administration, saying U.S. involvement is not in the national interest. The U.S. has 47 biosphere reserves, most in federally protected areas.

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Preserving biospheres