Albay, one of UNESCO’s newly-declared biosphere reserves
In a meeting held by The International Co-ordinating Council of Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO, the Philippines’ Albay in Bicol became part of the 20 sites of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves last March 18 and 19.
Photo via itsmorefuninthephilippines.com
The Man and The Biosphere Program (MAB) was created by UNESCO in the 1970, which is said to be “an intergovernmental scientific endeavour to improve relations between people around the world and their natural environment.” Each year, different reserves are designated by the council, formed by elected 34 UNESCO representatives from member states.
According to the UNESCO website, Albay was described below:
“Located at the southern end of the Luzon Island, the biosphere covers some 250,000 hectares. The terrestrial elevation of the site culminates at 2,462 metres and its marine part reaches a depth of 223 metres below sea level. The site’s high conservation value is constituted notably by its 182 terrestrial plant species, 46 of which are endemic. Its marine and coastal ecosystems number 12 species of mangrove, 40 species of seaweed or macro-algae, and 10 species of sea grass. Five of the world’s seven species of marine turtles are to be found in Albay. Agriculture is the main source of income in this area.”
Albay is the third place in the Philippines which was declared as a UNESCO reserve. The others were Puerto Galera in 1977, and Palawan in 1990, according to Rappler report. With its recognition as a biosphere reserve, it is now a challenge for the people of Albay to protect their province.
Other countries that have places newly included in this year’s reserves are Algeria, Canada, Ghana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Morocco, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Tanzania, and United Kingdom.
Also read: Albay named as a top destination in Asia Pacific; Mayon Volcano
