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Challenges to the Application of the UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve Concept for the Promotion of Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity

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Challenges to the Application of the UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve Concept for the Promotion of Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity Challenges to the Application of the UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve Concept for the Promotion of Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity Lessons Learned During the Nomination Process of Strandzha Nature Park as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Transfer project in the framework of the Klaus Toepfer Fellowship Programme Yordanka Dineva Campaign Coordinator at Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation E-Mail: [email protected] Executive summary Biosphere Reserves (BR) under the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO aim to be “sites of excellence” which demonstrate innovative approaches to living and working in harmony with nature (UNESCO, 2008). Although there are currently 16 Biosphere Reserves in Bulgaria, they do not correspond to this contemporary understanding of the Biosphere Reerve (hereafter BR) concept. They are all strictly protected areas where no land use is allowed at all (almost 100 % core zone) (MAB, 2002). Thus, they should be revised and transformed to fulfil the modern requirements of UNESCO BRs wherever appropriate. One of the existing BRs (Ouzounboudjak) is situated within the area of Strandzha Nature Park (Figure 1). Due to the efforts of BBF, a revision and a new nomination process has already been initiated for the area of the entire Strandzha Nature Park. However, there are conflicts regarding future plans of development of the Black Sea coast, which is part of the nature park (NP). Furthermore, the local community’s attitude towards nature conservation is very easily influenced, possibly because of poor economic status and dependence on local governors (BBF, 2010). The goal of this Transfer Project (TP) in the frame of the KTF programme is to contribute to preservation of high biodiversity, spectacular landscapes and traditional livelihoods of Strandzha NP for future generations. It aims to test the applicability of the Man and Biosphere (MAB) BR concept of UNESCO as a tool for promotion of nature conservation and sustainable development. Preparatory work for the TP included a conceptual analysis, a preliminary stakeholder analysis and a communication strategy. The main activities of the TP can be classified in three groups. The first group of activities was about the promotion of the BR concept and the nomination of Strandzha NP for recognition as a BR by the UNESCO MAB Programme. This was done by presentations and discussions among nature lovers, students and young conservationists. The second group of activities focused on stakeholder engagement by participation and organisation of meetings with the main local and national authorities. The third group of activities contributed to the preparation of an analysis for the applicability of the BR approach in a conflictive environment like that of Strandzha. I examined challenges in the nomination process, and the management of successful BRs that had confronted similar challenges elsewhere. Furthermore, I conducted an in-depth stakeholder analysis and a review of the time-resource input of the Bulgarian Biodiversity Foundation (BBF) work in the respective region. Main partners for the TP implementation were the institutions which currently support the BR approach: the Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW), the MAB Committee of Bulgaria and Stranzdha NP Directorate. There are two major results based on the work on the TP. The first one is the preparation of an analytical document, aiming to give and overview on the work of BBF and to help in future activity planning. This document is called “Challenges in the Application of the UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve Concept for Promotion of Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity - Lessons Learned during the Nomination Process of Strandzha Nature Park as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve”. The second major result is the development of a proposal for expert support, capacity and knowledge transfer and funding for the revision and further development of the existing BR network in Bulgaria. This proposal was formulated as a project called “Developing a New Approach to Biosphere Reserves in Bulgaria“. BBF applied for funding to the German Federal Environment Ministry’s Advisory Assistance Programme for Environmental Protection in the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia – shortly referred to as Advisory Assistance Programme (AAP), in partnership with EuroNatur Foundation. The project proposal was developed together with the MoEW and Stranzdha NP Directorate and if approved will ensure consistent work on revision of Bulgarian BRs. BRs are designed to find and demonstrate sustainable linkages between conservation, sustainable use of biodiversity, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, and socio- economic and cultural well-being of human communities that use and relate to nature (UNESCO, 2008). They are in line with international agreements such as the Convention on Biological Diversity. Thus, efforts to re-establish a closer connection of mankind with nature based on the BR concept are warranted. .
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