UNESCO reaffirms West Estonian Archipelago's biosphere reserve status

TALLINN - UNESCO has reaffirmed the status of the West Estonian Archipelago as a biosphere reserve for the next ten years, deeming the islands of Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Muhu, Vormsi, and Ruhnu, along with the surrounding marine area, to meet all the requirements of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

A biosphere reserve is a UNESCO-recognized region where people live and carry out economic activities in a way that preserves nature. The aim of a biosphere reserve is to demonstrate how nature conservation and local life can go hand in hand. On the islands, this involves developing sustainable tourism and local food, maintaining heritage meadows, bringing topics of nature and cultural heritage into schools, and cooperating with biosphere reserves in other countries. On Hiiumaa, the local LEADER action group has prioritized projects that contribute to the biosphere reserve's objectives when allocating grants.

According to Minister of Energy and Environment Erkki Keldo, this is a recognition with a very significant impact. "UNESCO's assessment confirms that the West Estonian islands have succeeded in what many places are still striving for: people live, work, and conduct business in a way that does not come at the expense of nature. For the islands, this means international confidence, which benefits tourism, local producers, and the young people who envision their future here," said Keldo.

The West Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve encompasses the municipalities of Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Muhu, Vormsi, and Ruhnu, as well as the surrounding marine areas in the Baltic Sea, the Väinameri, and the Gulf of Riga, covering a total of 15,186 square kilometers. The area retains numerous heritage communities, such as alvars, coastal meadows, and wooded meadows, which have been formed by centuries of moderate human activity. The zoning of the biosphere reserve aligns with the existing conservation system: the core and buffer zones are already established protected areas, conservation areas, and permanent habitats.

The biosphere reserve is a framework for cooperation and development, not a type of conservation regime. The biosphere reserve status and UNESCO's decision do not impose any new restrictions on the islands' residents, landowners, or entrepreneurs.

Businesses operating within the biosphere reserve are able to highlight their location in their marketing, for example, by stating "Produced in the UNESCO-recognized West Estonian Archipelago Biosphere Reserve." This serves as a claim of origin, not as a product or company certification.

UNESCO highlighted that since 2023, the biosphere reserve has been managed locally from the islands, with coordination transferred from the Environmental Board to the Hiiumaa Development Centre Foundation and TalTech's Kuressaare College. The development of sustainable tourism and local entrepreneurship, along with close cooperation with universities and youth, also earned praise.

Moving forward, UNESCO recommended enhancing the biosphere reserve's visibility in national policies and sectoral strategies, solidifying its role as a model area for sustainable island and coastal development. Further recommendations included securing stable funding for coordination outside of short-term projects and better clarifying the interconnections between the zones.

The West Estonian Archipelago is Estonia's only biosphere reserve and has been part of the network since 1990. In total, there are 797 biosphere reserves in 145 countries worldwide.