"DRESDEN, Germany -- The United Nations [Thursday] added 18 new sites to its global list of biosphere reserves, bringing the total to 581 in 114 countries. Biosphere reserves are places of outstanding value recognized by UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme where local communities are actively involved in socio-economic development and biodiversity conservation.
Meeting in Dresden, the International Coordinating Council of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme added sites in Lithuania, Maldives, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Togo for the first time to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves."
Environment News Service had the story June 30, 2011.
Source: ENS, 07/01/2011
