Biosphere reserves; declaration

The supreme nature conservation authority can declare large, representative sections of cultural landscapes as biosphere reserves following recognition by UNESCO. The term biosphere region has the same meaning.

Launched in 1970 as an intergovernmental and interdisciplinary scientific program, the aim of biosphere reserves is to preserve and promote traditional, extensive forms of land use (as a significant contribution to the protection of biotopes and species) as well as to develop and test new, particularly gentle farming methods in order to protect characteristic landscapes over large areas. In addition, education for sustainable development, ecological environmental monitoring and research are of great importance. Biosphere reserves are model areas for sustainable environmental development in the areas of ecology, economy and socioculture. Nature and landscape conservation is only one of several objectives that focus on people's economic activities. They are divided into core, maintenance and development zones according to the influence of human activity.

Once they have been recognized by UNESCO, they are reviewed every ten years. However, the individual biosphere reserves remain under the jurisdiction of the state to which they belong. In Germany, the federal states are responsible for the protection and development of the biosphere reserves; in Bavaria, the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection is the highest nature conservation authority as the designating body.