UNESCO has approved the designation of 11 new biosphere reserves in 11 countries.
The other new biosphere reserves are located in Belgium, Gambia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Italy, Mongolia, the Netherlands, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Slovenia and Spain.
The World Network of Biosphere Reserves now totals 759 sites in 136 countries.
Each biosphere reserve promotes innovative local sustainable development solutions, protects biodiversity, and addresses climate disruption. They also support local and indigenous communities through practices such as agroecology, water management, and the generation of green income.
The 11 newly designated biosphere reserves are:
