Paris, 5 June 2026 – On World Environment Day, UNESCO designates 14 new biosphere reserves across 14 countries, bringing the World Network of Biosphere Reserves to 797 sites in 145 countries. Three countries welcome their first biosphere reserves: Montenegro, Timor-Leste, and Aruba which sees its entire territory designated as such. Marking the Day, UNESCO is also launching today a practical guide for journalists to report on the environment, drawing on case studies, and offering safeguards journalists can use in their daily work.
New biosphere reserves have been designated in Albania, Algeria, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Canada, Islamic Republic of Iran, Mongolia, Montenegro, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam. Territorial extensions were also approved for five existing biosphere reserves in China, Italy, and Spain.
This year, for the first time, a whole city has been designated as a biosphere reserve, Québec City. Three countries welcome their first biosphere reserves: Montenegro, Timor-Leste, and Aruba becomes the second country to have its entire territory designated as such.
“Biosphere reserves prove every day that protecting nature and improving human lives are not competing goals. This year's designations span every continent showing the full range of what it means to live in harmony with nature. UNESCO will continue to work with governments, communities and scientists to ensure these living laboratories remain at the forefront of the world's response to the climate and biodiversity crises”, said Khaled El-Enany, Director-General of UNESCO.
Environmental action depends on reliable information
Also on World Environment Day, UNESCO and the OSCE are launching Reporting the Environment: A Practical Manual for Journalists. At a time when misinformation and disinformation increasingly affect many of today’s most urgent global challenges, reliable reporting on nature, climate and environmental issues has never been more important. Written by journalists for journalists and enriched by contributions from leading journalism organizations — including Covering Climate Now, EIF, Fondation Hirondelle, NICHE, Pulitzer Center and the Reuters Institute — the manual offers practical tools for covering environmental stories accurately and safely, from navigating climate misinformation and AI-generated content to investigating environmental harm and accountability.
About the biosphere reserves:
UNESCO biosphere reserves are territories of outstanding ecological value where people and nature grow harmoniously alongside each other, conserving biological and cultural diversity, advancing sustainable development, and connecting communities across a global network.
Since 1971, biosphere reserves have played a central role in UNESCO’s environmental mission. Alongside natural World Heritage sites and Global Geoparks, they contribute to protecting more than 13 million km² of terrestrial and marine ecosystems under UNESCO’s umbrella, advancing the global Kunming-Montreal target of conserving 30% of land and sea by 2030.
The newly designated biosphere reserves are (full descriptions of the sites available here):
- Albania – Shkodër Lake
- Algeria – Theniet El Had
- Aruba – Aruba Island
- Azerbaijan – Great Caucasus
- Cameroon – Takamanda – Cross River Gorilla
- Canada – Québec City
- Islamic Republic of Iran – Dalankuh – Qamishlou
- Mongolia – Tost Toson Bumbiin Nuruu
- Montenegro – Skadar Lake Watershed
- Paraguay – Sur del Alto Paraná
- Philippines – Matibay na Bayan ng Sablayan
- Portugal – Serra da Estrela
- Timor-Leste – Nino Konis Santana
- Viet Nam – Phong Nha – Ke Bang
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