11 July 2012: At its 24th session, the International Co-ordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added 20 new sites to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR), including in São Tomé and Principe and Haiti for the first time. Biosphere Reserves are sites established by countries and recognized under the MAB Programme to promote sustainable development based on community efforts and sound science.

The Council met at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, from 9-13 July 2012, and decided to add to its Network, inter alia: the Island of Príncipe, São Tomé and Principe; and La Selle, Haiti. The network now includes 598 reserves in 117 countries.

The Island of Príncipe is the oldest of three oceanic volcanic islands in the Gulf of Guinea, which hosts great biodiversity in terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Activities carried out on the site include agriculture, fishing and tourism.

La Selle includes a large number of ecosystems and protected areas. Located in the ecological continuum of the Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo Biosphere Reserve of the Dominican Republic, the site contributes to the Caribbean Biological Corridor. Activities carried out on the site include agroforestry, fishery, tourism, and handicraft industry. [Meeting Website] [UNESCO Press Release]