Biosphere reserves embody a practical approach to solving one of the key dilemas the world faces how to reconcile conservation of biodiversity and biological resources with their sustainable use. The first biosphere reserves were designated in 1976. By mid-2001 they constitute a network of 393 reserves in 94 countries. This well illustrated volume offers a welcome overview of the biosphere reserve concept and its implementation, bringing together a fair amount of presently dispersed information.
