Development and Implementation of the Biosphere Reserve Concept and Its Applicability to Coastal Regions

Abstract

Generally speaking, the fragile and highly-coveted coastal regions of the world badly need integrated land-and water-use planning to reconcile their multiple functions, including that of terrestrial and marine conservation. Properly designed and managed, coastal Biosphere Reserves could constitute a most useful tool for this purpose. Ideally, they would pay equal attention to conservation requirements on the land side and on the marine side, keeping particularly in mind the impact of land-based activities on the marine side. On the land side, consideration should be given not only to the type of ecosystems to be included, but also to land-use in coastal plains and to coastal landscapes. On the marine side the precise place of traditional activities, such as various forms of fishing, will have to be appreciated. Fig. 5 suggests a very idealized zonation pattern for a hypothetical Biosphere Reserve where the above considerations have been kept in mind.