written by Belinda Cooper
The biosphere is the water, soil and air at the surface of the planet in which all life exists as well as the resources necessary for life. These resources are being consumed faster than they can be replenished. In 1970 UNESCO initiated the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) to address this problem through the establishment of Biosphere Reserves.
A biosphere reserve is a special area endorsed and managed by its stakeholders, submitted by the state and proclaimed internationally by UNESCO MAB. The NW Provincial and National governments were instrumental in achieving the UNESCO listing for the Magaliesberg Biosphere in 2015.
Biospheres represent an innovative and sustainable approach to managing land and water resources across special landscapes made up of one or more bioregions. The development of a worldwide network of Biospheres, as envisaged by UNESCO, is aimed at ensuring conservation and sustainable development in order to:
- Reduce biodiversity loss;
- Improve livelihoods;
- Enhance social, economic and cultural conditions for environmental sustainability; and
- Contribute towards environmental sustainability through the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Magaliesberg Protected Environment (MPE) and the Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve were put in place by ordinary citizens and concerned environmentalists who recognized, as far back as the 1970’s, the importance of this very special area, and the need to protect it.
The area that has been designated the Magaliesberg Biosphere is 360,000 ha and lies between Pretoria and Rustenburg and Krugersdorp and falls within the North West and Gauteng provinces.
Four conditions make the Magaliesberg Biosphere unique: First is the geological structure. Two landscapes created in totally different ways: the Magaliesberg mountains were the result of violent seismic upheaval while the Cradle of Humankind was slowly constructed by gradual bacterial activity.
Second is the biodiversity: two biomes, the Highveld grassland and the central African savannah, meet at the Magaliesberg bringing species from each with the result that the biodiversity is exceptionally rich.
Third is the deep time history with artefacts and structures tracing human cultures from the early Stone Age, through pre-colonial eras to modern times.
Finally, there is the accessibility of the region. Five million residents and visiting tourists are within an hour’s drive of the Magaliesberg. This brings the benefits of the region within reach of an enormous audience. But it also brings the threat of over development and exploitation.
A Biosphere Reserve is ideally suited to address and reconcile conflict between conservation and development.
A worldwide network of 740 Biosphere Reserves collaborate and exchange information to help each other to find innovative approaches to achieving a balance between utilising natural resources and sustaining them for perpetual re-use. There are ten in South Africa.
Unlike most other types of reserve, Biosphere Reserves have no fences to keep people out or wildlife in. They are places where humans and nature try to exist in harmony.
They are not platforms for activism or protest but rather forums for resolving conflicting interests.
They are not bureaucratic restrictions on the rights of citizens; no new regulations have been promulgated for Biosphere Reserves beyond existing legislation.
Biosphere reserves are organized into three interrelated zones: the core (formally protected areas), the buffer and the transitional zone.
The core areas of the Magaliesberg Biosphere are the Magaliesberg Protected Environment (MPE) and the Cradle of Humankind. Buffer zones consist of conservancies, Nature Reserves and properties where landowners subscribe to Biosphere principles. In the transitional areas any activity can take place provided it does not impact adversely on the core and buffer zones. Sustainability in all activities is encouraged.
THE MAGALIESBERG BIOSPHERE NON-PROFIT COMPANY
The Magaliesberg Biosphere is endorsed and managed by its stakeholders. Its purpose is to conserve ecosystems and species, promote sustainable economic development and support education, research and information exchange.
The designated entity to manage the Magaliesberg Biosphere comprises a registered non-profit company (NPC), named the “Magaliesberg Biosphere” (Association incorporated under Section 21). The NPC is a registered Public Benefit Organisation (PBO).
Currently nine Directors serve on the Board of the Magaliesberg Biosphere. Through their varied interests and expertise, they represent biosphere interest groups and provide strategic and policy direction for the promotion and sustainable development and utilisation of the biosphere. Board meetings are held every 6-8 weeks.
The Magaliesberg Biosphere Management Plan as submitted to UNESCO, provides the MB Board with a practical guide and a long-term plan as the management entity of the Magaliesberg Biosphere.
The key responsibility of office bearers and biosphere ambassadors (co-ordinator, accountant, communications, MaB youth) is to deal with administrative and operational issues and responsibilities within their area of jurisdiction and to always protect and represent the best interests of the Magaliesberg Biosphere.
Funding for operational costs and ongoing programmes is privately raised, and several partners support the projects run by the Magaliesberg Biosphere. A summary of our projects, programmes, project sponsors and implementing partners, are listed in the below images.
https://magaliesbergbiosphere.org.za/ | hello@magaliesbergbiosphere.org.za | +27 83 2366978
