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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Date
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
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.