World Network of Biosphere Reserves

It works to foster the harmonious integration of people and nature for sustainable development through participatory dialogue, knowledge sharing, poverty reduction, human well-being improvements, respect for cultural values and by improving society's ability to cope with climate change.

[1] As of 2022[update][A] total membership had reached 738 biosphere reserves in 134 countries (including 22 transboundary sites) occurring in all regions of the world.

[1] This already takes into account some biosphere reserves that have been withdrawn or revised through the years, as the program's focus has shifted from simple protection of nature to areas displaying close interaction between man and environment.

defines general criteria for an area to be qualified for designation as a biosphere reserve as follows: Article 9 of the Statutory Framework states that "the status of each biosphere reserve should be subject to a periodic review every ten years, based on a report prepared by the concerned authority, on the basis of the criteria of Article 4".

[6] If a biosphere reserve no longer satisfies the criteria contained in Article 4, it may be recommended the state concerned take measures to ensure conformity.

La Gomera is the second-smallest of the main Islands in Spain's Canary Island chain marked by craggy volcanic Mountains crisscrossed with hiking trails
Map of the Biosphere Reserves, as of 2013. Note: the transboundary places are included among all the countries in which they are located, and therefore have been counted several times.