Biosphere Reserve

The Man and the Biosphere programme was launched in the early 1970s for the improvement of the relationship between people and their environment. Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal marine ecosystems, internationally recognized under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme. They are designed to promote and demonstrate a balanced relationship between people and nature. The concept of biosphere reserves is to promote interdisciplinary approaches to management, research and education in ecosystem conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Physically, each biosphere reserve should contain three zones: one or more core zones that are securely legally protected and clearly identified buffer and transition zones; the transition zone often may be referred to as an area of co-operation which innovate and demonstrate approaches to conservation and sustainable development. To date, 580 biosphere reserves in 114 countries have been included in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

The Park contains outstanding biodiversity within the Palawan Moist Forest and is recognized by the WWF’s Global Report as containing the richest tree flora, with high levels of regional and local endemism and as being the largest and most valuable limestone forest in Asia.