On the International Day for Biosphere Reserves, observed annually on 3 November, UNESCO Sudan highlights the country’s three biosphere reserves:
- Dinder, stretching across Gadarif, Blue Nile and Sinnar: The Dinder National Park was established in 1935 and became a biosphere reserve in 1979. Situated along the border with Ethiopia, this biosphere reserve includes tropical savannah and grassland ecosystems. The whole biosphere reserve is considered a core area with rich flora and fauna.
- Jebel El Dair, rising out of the plains of North Kordofan: This reserve comprises Al Dair massif, which contains dry savannah woodlands, forest ecosystems and a network of streams. It is one of the few remaining areas with rich biodiversity in the semi-arid region of North Kordofan. The site supports 112 plant species, most of which have medicinal and aromatic uses. There are also 220 species of birds and 22 species of mammals and reptiles.
- Radom in the far south of Darfur: The biosphere reserve is a broken hilly area, mainly at altitudes of about 450 m above sea level, with two permanent rivers. The mountain range within the biosphere reserve forms a watershed that divides the Central African and Sudanese hydrographic systems.
UNESCO biosphere reserves are internationally designated sites established under the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) to balance nature conservation with sustainable human development. More than 260 million people live in biosphere reserves across the world. Altogether, these sites protect more than 7 million km2, an expanse roughly equal to the size of Australia.
“We remember that these places, like the communities around them, have been affected by the war. At UNESCO, we look forward to working with the National Man and the Biosphere Committee, the Wildlife Conservation Administration and the Wildlife Research Center to support their recovery,” stated UNESCO.
“UNESCO remains committed to standing with Sudan in protecting and restoring these unique places.”
“Three very different places with one thing in common: people living alongside nature and looking after it, not apart from it.”
Proclaimed by UNESCO during its 41st session of the General Conference in 2021, the International Day for Biosphere Reserves raises awareness about the vital role of biosphere reserves in balancing nature conservation with human development.
For more information, visit www.unesco.org/en/days/biosphere-reserves
