WHAT ARE TRANSBOUNDARY BIOSPHERE AREAS AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?
Nature FIRST is a data-driven project funded by the European Commission with the goal of preserving biodiversity in Europe and beyond. The project is testing preventive solutions in the Maramures region (among other field sites), which spans both Romania and Ukraine. The Maramures region is located in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains - a range of mountains forming an arc over central Europe and stretching over seven countries. Although the Maramures region is not officially defined as a transboundary biosphere area, there have been crucial collaborations for biodiversity conservation in the area. But why are these collaborations so important? Why are transboundary biosphere areas essential for biodiversity conservation in Europe? What does this mean in terms of policy making? And what does it mean for the Nature FIRST project? Join us as we delve into the answers to the questions and explore the importance of transboundary biosphere areas.
Featured Image: Bohdan Prots via ResearchGate
What is a transboundary biosphere reserve?
A biosphere reserve is a large protected area for the conservation of wildlife, plant and animal resources, which contributes to the preservation of a region’s biodiversity. A biosphere reserve may also contain other protected areas, such as national parks or wildlife sanctuaries.
There are transboundary biosphere reserves all over the world, which stems from the fact that borders are not ecological or natural but political and human. A transboundary biosphere reserve is a cooperation between established Biosphere Reserves, and according to UNESCO, it must meet the condition of there being a shared political will to cooperate on the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of natural resources through the joint management of the shared ecosystem. Currently, there are 738 biosphere reserves in 134 countries, and 22 transboundary biosphere reserves. Approximately one third of all high biodiversity sites are cross-border areas of land.
The importance of transboundary biosphere reserves in Europe
These areas are of immense ecological importance, often serving as migration corridors for wildlife. Transboundary connectivity is vital to maintain healthy species, communities and ecosystems. In Europe, while transboundary connectivity is relatively more prevalent than in many other parts of the world, the high landscape fragmentation makes it highly important.
Featured image: biodiversity.europa.eu
The image above shows the level of connectivity of protected areas worldwide, and Europe, together with Latin America, is in special need for transboundary connectivity. European countries have a high share of protected areas along their borders, particularly in Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, Poland and Slovakia. For example, 99.8 % of the German part of the German-Belgian border is covered by protected areas (with a total of 95 individual sites).
Europe has a rich history of protected areas that extend across national borders, dating back to the early 20th century. The Italian Parco nazionale dello Stelvio and the Swiss National Park, both in the Alps, form one of Europe's largest connected protected areas. There are more than 4,300 instances of adjacent protected areas across European borders, covering approximately 50% of these borders. The Natura 2000 network has significantly enhanced transboundary cooperation, with over 75% of adjacent areas involving at least one Natura 2000 site.
The Role of International Cooperation and its Benefits
Geopolitical boundaries are not fixed and have changed throughout history in response to political shifts, which can lead to new border regions with rich biodiversity or divide protected areas among multiple countries. There are various ways to establish agreements for transboundary conservation, some formal and some informal, and in recent years there has been an increase in such agreements due to the benefits that they offer to nature and people. Transboundary conservation not only protects ecosystems but also fosters cooperation among different nations, bringing together communities from diverse backgrounds, promoting economic benefits, improving diplomatic relations, and reducing tensions.
Managing transboundary biosphere areas requires effective international cooperation and diplomacy. This cooperation is often facilitated by international agreements and conventions, such as UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme, which plays a pivotal role in designating and supporting these areas.
Initiatives like this one enable countries to exchange knowledge, collaborate on research, and harmonise policies, ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources while preserving biodiversity.
Challenges in Policy-Making
Crafting policies for transboundary biosphere areas can be complex. Nations involved often have diverse national interests, regulations, and governance structures. These differences can create conflicts regarding resource use, land development, and conservation strategies. Striking a balance between economic development and conservation goals becomes particularly challenging in these cross-border regions.
Furthermore, climate change exacerbates the difficulties in policy-making for transboundary biosphere areas. The shifting climate patterns affect the flora and fauna, requiring adaptive policies that can respond to dynamic environmental conditions.
Despite the challenges, there have been notable successes in managing transboundary biosphere areas. Effective policy approaches often involve engaging various stakeholders, including local communities, non-governmental organisations, and indigenous peoples.
As we move forward, it is crucial for policymakers to recognize the significance of transboundary biosphere areas and the need for adaptive management strategies. Research and monitoring should inform policy decisions, providing insights into changing ecological and socio-economic conditions. Collaboration, dialogue, and the inclusion of local knowledge will continue to be key elements in the success of these policies.
The Maramures Region: Challenges for the Nature FIRST Project
Featured image: PeakVisor
Located in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains, the Maramures region stretches over 529,300 hectares in Romania and 538,100 hectares in Ukraine. This region represents a pinnacle of biodiversity, with dense forests and cultural landscapes, making it a crucial part of the Carpathian wilderness. Home to populations of large carnivores such as brown bears, wolves, lynxes, and jackals, it plays a pivotal role in preserving Europe's natural heritage.
Due to the region’s unique location on the border of Romania and Ukraine, there are certain challenges that come with it. With this in mind, there have been various initiatives and collaborations to address some of the issues in the area. For example, the project Open Borders for Wildlife in the Carpathians, which took place from October 1, 2019, to March 31, 2022, aimed to address biodiversity loss in the Carpathian Region through cross-border cooperation. The project focused on creating stronger regional cross-border cooperation in the border area of Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, and Ukraine. It involved harmonised data collection in the four countries, joint lobbying for biodiversity conservation, and the development of ecological corridors. Its goals included maintaining and improving ecological connectivity between habitats, supporting ecosystem services for local communities, and mitigating the negative effects of borders on habitats.
The Nature FIRST Project follows a similarly multi-faceted approach. It focuses on the conservation of keystone species such as brown bears, grey wolves, Eurasian lynx, and golden jackals and recognises the significance of ecological corridors in maintaining healthy populations of these species and facilitating their migrations. The project seeks to map key ecological corridors (data collection is foundational to understanding the ecological corridors in the region and implementing conservation strategies); collaborate with local associations (engaging with local associations involved in farming, hunting, and tourism activities is vital to building a harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife); test prevention measures (the project is actively testing measures to reduce livestock predation by large carnivores, helping to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts); and enhance capacity building and education (workshops and educational activities are being organised to enhance local capacity in monitoring, conservation, and the application of conservation tools).
The Nature FIRST Project demonstrates the importance of addressing transboundary challenges through collaborative and innovative solutions. By working together across borders and involving local communities, we can protect the rich biodiversity and cultural heritage of the Maramures region and ensure the survival of its remarkable wildlife for generations to come.
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