Monte-Viso new italian reserve inscribed in Man and Biosphere World's Network

The International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB), which met in Paris from 27 to 30 May, has added 12 sites to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The additions bring the total number of biosphere reserves to 621 in 117 countries. For Italy, the new Reserve is Monte-Viso Area della Biosfera del Monviso (Italy)

Monviso is situated in the northern Alpine part of Italy near the French border. It encompasses a mosaic of ecosystems that run along a steep altitude gradient climbing from 450 to 3,841m above sea level. The site covers 293,916 hectares and econmpasses the Monviso Mountain, the Alevè Forest—consisting mainly of Arolla Pine (Pinus cembra)—and the Po River basin.
Biosphere Reserves are sites chosen by the MAB Programme to experiment with different approaches to the management of terrestrial, marine and coastal resources as well as fresh water. They also serve as in situ laboratories for sustainable development.