SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 13 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The International Coordinating Council of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme, having convened its XXXVI session in Agadir (Morocco), has granted a further ten-year extension to the designation of La Palma island as a World Biosphere Reserve.
Sergio Rodríguez, the President of the World Biosphere Reserve and the Council, has emphasised the significance of this extension and expressed gratitude to UNESCO, represented by its Advisory Committee, for the accolades received in recognition of the commendable efforts made by the Reserve over the past decade.
The President also extended appreciation to the executive management, technical team, advisory councils, constituent institutions, and, most importantly, the inhabitants of La Palma in general, who have succeeded in establishing this Biosphere Reserve as a model deserving of international emulation.
In its previous evaluation, the Advisory Committee of the International Advisory Council on Biosphere Reserves, assessing the achievements over the past ten years, noted that it “adheres to the criteria outlined in the Statutory Framework of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.”
Furthermore, it commended La Palma for the “exceptional quality” of its periodic review dossier; its adherence to the recommendations of the initial review; its involvement in the thematic network of coastal and island biosphere reserves, and the endorsement of the 2023-2032 Management Plan.
It is also noteworthy that the region has disseminated its expertise to other biosphere reserves, both in Spain and Latin America; the establishment of the Biosphere Reserve brand, which has fostered sustainable development and has hosted cultural events involving local communities.
La Palma’s Biosphere Reserve status will remain in place, at a minimum, until the subsequent review scheduled for 2034, enabling the continuation of its initiatives and undertakings for another decade.
