Entire nation declared a single UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

From Iceland’s glaciers to Oman’s deserts, 26 vital new sites – including an entire African country – join the global UNESCO Biosphere Reserve network

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The tropical archipelago of São Tomé and Príncipe has become the first entire country to be designated a single UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

The announcement follows the culmination of the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, China, where UNESCO revealed 26 new biosphere reserves across 21 countries – the highest number of designations in two decades. These new additions bring the World Network of Biosphere Reserves to 785 sites in 142 countries, adding another one million square kilometres of natural areas under protection since 2018 – an area equivalent to the size of Bolivia.

Rising from the Gulf of Guinea, the Ilha de São Tomé Biosphere Reserve protects 1,130 square kilometres of volcanic peaks, rainforests, and agricultural lands, and is part of the Congo Basin forest system. This biodiversity hotspot, sheltering the endemic Obô primary tropical rainforest, is a sanctuary for unique species like the dwarf ibis and São Tomé shrew.

Its ecosystems range from coral reefs and mangrove coasts to montane cloud forests. Approximately 130,000 inhabitants maintain traditions through artisanal fishing, sustainable organic cocoa and coffee cultivation, and local markets. The reserve balances economic growth, including ecotourism, with the safeguarding of this irreplaceable natural and cultural heritage.

While São Tomé and Príncipe claimed the historic ‘first’, six other countries received their first-ever designations: Angola, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Iceland, Oman and Tajikistan.

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Five of the new UNESCO Biosphere Reserves

Albania: Vjosa Valley Biosphere Reserve

The Vjosa River Biosphere Reserve protects one of Europe’s last wild river systems, flowing from the Pindus Mountains to the Adriatic Sea. Its 3,300 square kilometres
of dynamic channels and floodplains sustain over 1,600 species, including the Egyptian vulture and Adriatic sturgeon. Around 130,000 residents engage in traditional farming and fishing, demonstrating a livelihood closely tied to this irreplaceable natural and cultural European heritage.

China: Zhouzhi Biosphere Reserve

The Zhouzhi Biosphere Reserve in China’s Qinling Range spans the boundary between temperate and subtropical zones. This 690 square kilometre forested area is a watershed protecting over 3,630 species, including the Qinling Panda and Golden Snub-nosed Monkey. The reserve integrates its rich Taoist heritage with sustainable livelihoods, notably as the world’s largest kiwi fruit production base.

Equatorial Guinea: Isla de Bioko Biosphere Reserve

The Isla de Bioko Biosphere Reserve, Equatorial Guinea’s first, is a 2,000 square kilometre volcanic island stronghold for Central African biodiversity. It protects endangered primates like the drill monkey and over 2,000 plant species within its diverse ecosystems. Home to over 300,000 inhabitants, the reserve balances the vibrant capital, Malabo, with the traditional knowledge of the Bubi people, promoting conservation and sustainable development.

France: Lac du Bourget

France’s Lac du Bourget Biosphere Reserve, where the Jura meets the Alps, protects the nation’s largest natural lake and surrounding wetlands. This 350 square kilometre site hosts over 6,100 species, including the Eurasian lynx and Arctic char. Home to 180,000 residents, the reserve integrates sustainable tourism and traditional farming, safeguarding both biodiversity and four UNESCO-listed prehistoric pile-dwelling sites.

Iceland: Snæfellsnes Biosphere Reserve

Iceland’s Snæfellsnes Biosphere Reserve is a 1,460 square kilometre area of stark contrasts, often called ‘Iceland in a nutshell’, featuring the Snæfellsjökull glacier and over 70 per cent of Iceland’s flora. This first Icelandic site is home to 4,040 coastal inhabitants who blend traditional fishing and turf-house building with sustainable tourism, creating a unique model of regenerative stewardship.

Oman: Sirrin Biosphere Reserve

Oman’s first site, the Sirrin Biosphere Reserve, spans 1,040 square kilometres of the rugged Hajar Mountains, safeguarding the endangered Arabian tahr alongside Arabian gazelles and wolves. This karstic landscape preserves ancient rock art and sustains its 2,500 inhabitants through eco-tourism and traditional honey production, demonstrating a resilient conservation model in an arid environment.

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All 26 newly designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserves: