UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Safeguard Marine Ecosystems

Under the BECOME project, Inga's master thesis—titled "Evaluating the effectiveness of coastal and island Biosphere Reserves in limiting human impact on marine ecosystems (external link)"—offers unique evidence on how experimental sites for sustainability can help meet the ambitious global biodiversity targets of the coming decade.

The thesis directly addresses a major gap in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (external link) (KM-GBF)—specifically the widely publicised Target 3 (the "30x30" goal), which calls for the effective conservation of 30% of the world's land and oceans by 2030. While current policy metrics focus primarily on the quantity of area covered, Inga Nørstebø evaluated the actual ecological quality and outcome effectiveness of coastal and island Biosphere Reserves. 

Using Geographic Information Systems and a global dataset of human impact on marine ecosystems, the study compared human stressors (such as pollution, overfishing, and climate pressures) inside 78 Biosphere Reserves against their immediate surrounding regions between 2008 and 2013. 

Key findings

• Proven effectiveness: over two-thirds (68%) of the coastal and island Biosphere Reserves analysed showed lower increases in cumulative human impact within their boundaries compared to their surrounding areas. This demonstrates that BRs are actively mitigating intense anthropogenic pressures on marine environments. 
• Size matters: interestingly, smaller Biosphere Reserves tended to exhibit greater effectiveness in limiting human impacts than larger ones, suggesting distinct advantages in managing localised conservation spaces. 
• Regional discrepancies: clear regional differences emerged. Notably, Biosphere Reserves in the African region performed significantly better at curbing human impacts relative to their surroundings than those located in Europe and North America. 

Navigating "wicked problems"

Beyond statistics, the research applied the theoretical framework of "wicked problems" to critique how global conservation effectiveness is quantified. It emphasises that while global datasets provide invaluable macro-level insights, they cannot fully map out local governance success, traditional knowledge integration, or human well-being. 

For the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Heritage and Environmental Management, this research underscores a powerful message: Biosphere Reserves are not just "paper parks". Their zonation strategy can successfully blend ecological protection with sustainable development, offering vital solutions for securing the future of our oceans. 

A model for cross-departmental collaboration

Reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of sustainability, Inga's thesis stands out as a highly successful cross-departmental endeavour. The project crossed disciplinary boundaries by operating across the Department of Biological Sciences (BIO) at UiB and the Centre for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities (SVT) as part of the Sustainability Master's programme. 

This collaborative effort was guided by Jarrod Cusens (main supervisor, BIO) and Anne Blanchard (co-supervisor, SVT), combining rigorous spatial ecological data analysis with deep theoretical reflections on governance and complex socio-ecological systems.