Learning through place-based implementation of the UNESCO MAB program in South Africa’s oldest biosphere reserve : a case study of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve

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Authors

Klaver, Michael
Currie, Bianca
Sekonya, James George
Coetzer, Kaera L.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

MDPI

Abstract

UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) is implemented through a world network of biosphere reserves, which offer a holistic people-centered landscape-level conservation approach. When successfully implemented the program enhances social–ecological system sustainability and resilience. However, there remains a research gap in understanding and collating lessons from individual sites for the benefit of the program globally. We assess MAB implementation in South Africa’s oldest biosphere reserve, the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve (KBR; est. 1998). Using semi-structured in-depth interviews with directors and the coordinator, complemented by document analysis, we explore the governance and implementation learnings of the KBR as it has evolved. The KBR program implementation is guided by global necessity, but driven by the local context, which for the KBR translates to a non-profit organization cooperative governance model. The site faces a perceived lack of government financial support and awareness of the ‘biosphere reserve’ concept. Despite these challenges, successes have emerged in the formation of local partnerships to fulfil critical roles in socio-economic development and biodiversity conservation. The learnings from KBR, as it strives to become a model site for sustainability, are useful for other sites similarly operationalizing an international designation for local conditions.

Description

DATA AVAILABILITY : The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

Keywords

UNESCO, Social-ecological systems, Governance, Biodiversity conservation, Collaboration, Sustainability, Sustainable development goals (SDGs), Man and the biosphere programme (MAB), SDG-15: Life on land, SDG-13: Climate action, SDG-17: Partnerships for the goals

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG-13:Climate action
SDG-15:Life on land
SDG-17:Partnerships for the goals

Citation

Klaver, M.; Currie, B.; Sekonya, J.G.; Coetzer, K. Learning through Place-Based Implementation of the UNESCO MAB Program in South Africa’s Oldest Biosphere Reserve: A Case Study of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. Land 2024, 13, 455. https://DOI.org/10.3390/land13040455.