(3) Biosphere reserves are sites established by countries and recognized under UNES-CO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme to promote sustainable development based on local community efforts and sound science. Biosphere reserves are thus globally considered as: ● sites of excellence where new and optimal practices to manage nature and human activities are tested and demonstrated; ● tools to help countries implement the results of the World Summit on Sustainable Development and, in particular, the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Ecosystem Approach; ● learning sites for the UN Decade on Education for Sustainable Development.