Until recently, the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) of the MAB Programme didn’t have a thematic network on “continental aquatic ecosystems”, even though many biosphere reserves are involved in the management of fluvial ecosystems.

In 2015, the Dordogne basin Biosphere Reserve worked on identifying the biosphere reserves concerned with fluvial ecosystems (rivers, deltas, estuaries…) and involved in their management. This first non-exhaustive inventory has identified 208 biosphere reserves.

A questionnaire was then sent to these BRs. On one hand, it aimed at confirming the presence of rivers on the territory of biosphere reserves inventoried; on the other hand, it allowed us to know which management watercourses concerns and actions each one of them is working on.

57 members of WNBR sent back usable feedback, representing 55 biosphere reserves including 33 EuroMAB members.

Click on this link to read the summary of the survey.