The legal flexibility associated with UNESCO Biosphere Reserves has helped communities to become more involved in conservation, new analysis shows.
The focus on less prescriptive regulations allows these Biospheres to promote a more harmonious existence between people and nature.
The use of "soft law" instruments supports local responses and fosters community collaboration in environmental management, in contrast to rigid conventional frameworks that often struggle with adaptability and local relevance.
The study , by Dr Tiago de Melo Cartaxo, from the University of Exeter, says the statutory framework associated with these Biospheres helps to promote collaboration, sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and communities' wellbeing.
The research says this use of adaptive governance and regulation models anchored in soft law and collaborative approaches will become increasingly relevant as the world struggles with pressing environmental challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
Dr de Melo Cartaxo said: "As the global community faces increasingly complex environmental and climate challenges UNESCO Biospheres serve as models for enhancing local governance in sustainability and social-ecological resilience.
"UNESCO Biospheres have an important role in applying and innovating sustainable practices within real-world contexts. They provide a promising pathway forward, blending ecological objectives with human aspirations, thus improving a more harmonious existence between people and nature.
"They demonstrate how valuing local voices can drive more sustainable and equitable outcomes. They are not THE only solution, but they certainly can be part of the solution."
UNESCO Biospheres are designed to support cultural and natural heritage, together with people's wellbeing. The concept is rooted in the need for regional solutions to global environmental challenges, whereby local communities engage in practices that reflect both local needs and international sustainability goals.
Dr de Melo Cartaxo said: "By empowering local communities and facilitating stakeholder dialogue, UNESCO Biospheres demonstrate that fostering local agency can lead to more effective environmental stewardship. This participatory approach contrasts sharply with many hard law frameworks that often overlook local knowledge and perspectives.
"The adaptability ingrained in the governance of UNESCO Biospheres can inform potential reforms to reduce bureaucratic rigidity found in hard law frameworks. Regulations should be more adaptive, allowing for modifications based on ongoing ecological assessments and community feedback."
Dr de Melo Cartaxo examined the work ongoing in UNESCO Biospheres around the world and found it greatly benefits from inclusivity, local adaptation, and collaborative frameworks.
In the study he shows how creating feedback loops between their governance structures and local practices will be vital for preserving ecological integrity and enhancing community resilience and adaptive capacity.
