Global Push Strengthens for Ocean Protection with New Biosphere Reserves and High Seas Treaty Ratification
In a twin breakthrough for environmental conservation, UNESCO has designated 26 new biosphere reserves covering fragile ecosystems worldwide, while the United Nations’ High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) has been ratified by enough countries to become law next year.
UNESCO has added 26 new biosphere reserves to its network, encompassing rich and vulnerable ecosystems such as an Indonesian archipelago home to more than 75% of Earth’s coral species, the Snæfellsnes coast of Iceland with 70% of the nation’s plant life, and savannah, forest, estuary landscapes along Angola’s Atlantic shore, according to Arab News. These reserves—785 in total across 142 countries since 1971—are not strict wilderness zones but places where humans live, work, and interact with nature. UNESCO says conservation and socioeconomic development must be balanced through collaboration between scientists, local communities, and governments.
Among the newly added sites are France’s first-ever alpine biosphere reserve, Slovenia’s Adriatic coastal wetlands, the world’s largest tropical forest mangroves in Brazil, and ecosystems in the Democratic Republic of Congo that host endangered species such as forest elephants and bonobos. Other designations include landscapes in Spain, Mexico, and the Caribbean, where biodiversity is closely linked to sustainable local livelihoods. UNESCO emphasized that these new sites highlight the interconnectedness of protecting biodiversity while also supporting cultural traditions, ecotourism, and food security.
Meanwhile, the UN has welcomed the ratification of the Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), first adopted in 2023. As reported by Jurist, 69 states have now ratified the treaty, which enters into force in January 2026 after achieving the required threshold of 60 ratifications. The agreement will provide a legal framework for protecting ocean life in areas beyond national jurisdiction. It requires environmental impact assessments for activities in international waters, promotes sustainable scientific research, and emphasises sharing benefits from marine genetic resources.
