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The Youth Network of Portuguese Biosphere Reserves is made up of young people who live in or have a strong connection to these territories, sharing a common concern for environmental issues.
Biosphere Reserves are territories distinguished by the uniqueness and conservation of their natural heritage in coexistence with the well-being and valorization of the cultural heritage associated with the resident communities.
Biosphere Reserves are nominated by national governments and distinguished by the Director-General of UNESCO within the framework of the Man and the Biosphere (MaB) Program, following the decisions of the MAB International Coordinating Council (MaB ICC).
Their status is internationally recognized.
The Biosphere Reserves are under national jurisdiction, but collaborate with each other in sharing ideas, experiences, projects and actions at regional, national and international level, in the context of the network of 759 Biosphere Reserves in 136 countries, including 25 transboundary Biosphere Reserves (July 2024).
UNESCO’s Biosphere Reserves cover about 3.5% of the Earth’s land surface.
Portugal’s 12 Biosphere Reserves span across three distinct biogeographical regions: Mediterranean, Atlantic, and Macaronesia. Encompassing a wide array of ecosystems, these Reserves capture the full spectrum of Portugal’s natural richness. From the captivating islands of the Macaronesia to the aquatic realms of the Atlantic Sea, from the Tagus wetlands to the riverine landscapes, from the mountains to the northern valleys and the Alentejo plains, each Reserve is a microcosm of diversity.
The 12 Portuguese Reserves unite under the banner of the Portuguese National Commission for UNESCO, creating a harmonious connection that transcends regional differences and aligns with the universal values upheld by UNESCO.
This collective endeavour covers an impressive 12% of the national territory and constitutes a remarkable 26% of the Protected and Classified Areas within Portugal. Notably, these Reserves are homes to 283,960 individuals, contributing to 3% of the entire Portuguese population.
These Reserves serve as guardians of Portugal’s invaluable cultural and natural heritage. They harbour a staggering 79.8% of the 99 habitats designated for mandatory preservation. This commitment to conservation and heritage preservation is at the core of the Reserves’ ethos.
Portugal has four reserves in the Azores Archipelago, two in Madeira and six on the mainland, three of which are cross-border.
The first Portuguese Biosphere Reserve, Paul do Boquilobo, was classified in 1981. In 2007, two new Reserves were designated, both in the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Corvo Island and Graciosa Island. The first Transfrontier Reserve, Gerês-Xurês, was approved in 2009, the same year as the Flores Island Reserve. Two years later, in 2011, the Berlengas and Santana Reserves were created. The Meseta Ibérica Transfrontier Reserve (2015), the Fajãs de São Jorge and the Tejo / Tajo Transfrontier Reserves (2016), Castro Verde (2017) and Porto Santo (2020) were soon added.
In 2021, 283,960 people lived in the Reserves, 3 per cent of the total resident population in Portugal, having lost around 40 per cent of their residents in the last 60 years.
Of the 25,800 villages in Portugal, around 1,800 (7%) are located in Biosphere Reserves.
Learn about the configuration of their territories, the people who live there and make up their communities, the importance of their natural and cultural heritage and their economic activity. See how the Reserves contribute to the well-being of people and the planet.
From pollination to reducing the risk of fire and soil erosion, to improving air and water quality, nature (and all biodiversity), ecosystem services play a fundamental role in human survival.
Ecosystem services are therefore the benefits that human populations obtain from ecosystems.
