Good news comes from the easternmost tip of Indonesia. On September 27, 2025, UNESCO officially recognized the Raja Ampat Islands within the province of Southwest Papua as a World Biosphere Reserve.
This prestigious distinction confirms Raja Ampat’s status as some of the necessary marine regions on the planet, not just for its beauty, but in addition for its role as a “living laboratory” of Earth’s future.
With this recent designation, Raja Ampat now holds two international UNESCO titles: Global Geopark (2023) and Biosphere Reserve (2025). Only just a few places on the planet enjoy this dual recognition, making it a real jewel in global efforts to guard the balance between nature, science and human life.
An incomparable sea paradise
Raja Ampat lies in the guts of the Coral Triangle, an area renowned for having the world’s highest marine biodiversity. The biosphere reserve covers roughly 135,000 square kilometers and includes over 610 islands, of which only 34 are inhabited.
There is extraordinary life beneath its waters:
- 75% of the world’s coral species grow here
- over 1,300 species of reef fish
- and a number of other species of rare or endangered sea turtles, including the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).
With such vast natural wealth, it’s no wonder that Raja Ampat is commonly called the “Amazon of the Seas”, the underwater equivalent of the tropical rainforest that sustains life around the globe.
Raja Ampat as a “living laboratory”
UNESCO describes Raja Ampat as a living laboratory where modern science and indigenous wisdom meet. Here, scientists, indigenous communities and government work together to administer natural resources sustainably.
Programs similar to local reef monitoring, indigenous-led ecotourism and traditional marine management (sea salt) have been implemented for years and have proven effective in protecting ecosystems while improving local livelihoods.
Thanks to its status as a biosphere reserve, this cooperation is now gaining stronger support around the globe. The Coordination and Communication Forum for the Management of the Raja Ampat Biosphere Reserve is established for the years 2025–2029. This forum will bring together local governments, research institutions, environmental organizations and indigenous communities under one integrated governance structure.
A rare double recognition
Raja Ampat holds a very unique position as one in every of the few places on the planet to have received two of UNESCO’s highest honors: a World Geopark and a Biosphere Reserve.
As a geopark, Raja Ampat is understood for its extraordinary geological heritage, including 400-million-year-old rock formations that bear witness to the evolution of the Earth. As a biosphere reserve, the region is renowned for its unparalleled marine biodiversity.
Together, these two designations confirm that Raja Ampat shouldn’t be only visually stunning, but in addition scientifically and ecologically necessary to the longer term of the planet.
What is a biosphere reserve?
A biosphere reserve shouldn’t be just an extraordinary protected area. This is an idea of sustainable management developed by UNESCO as a part of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program. Its mission is straightforward and profound: to create places where people and nature can coexist in harmony.
UNESCO defines biosphere reserves as “places for learning about sustainable development.” In other words, they function natural laboratories to check how humans can protect the environment without hindering social and economic progress.
Every biosphere reserve must fulfill three basic functions:
- Security – protection of biodiversity, landscapes and cultural heritage
- Sustainability – supporting an eco-friendly economy and resilient communities
- Logistical support – providing space for research, education and knowledge exchange
Three key zones
To balance human needs with nature conservation, UNESCO divides each biosphere reserve into three integrated zones:
- Core area: Strictly protected zones for clean conservation, including coral reefs, mangroves and important marine habitats.
- Buffer Zone: Surrounded by a middle, dedicated to education, research and environmentally friendly activities similar to ecotourism.
- Transition area: An area where local communities can conduct sustainable economic activities similar to traditional fishing, handicrafts and native tourism.
This model ensures that protection doesn’t push people out of their living spaces. Instead, it makes them a part of the answer.
26 recent UNESCO biosphere reserves in 2025
In addition to Raja Ampat, UNESCO has designated 26 recent biosphere reserves in various countries in 2025. Here’s the complete list:
- Albania – Vjosa Valley
- Angola – Quiçama
- China – Daqingshan and Zhouzhi
- Djibouti – The Seven Brothers Archipelago, Ras Siyyan, Khor Angar and Godoria
- Equatorial Guinea – Bioko Island
- Ethiopia – Anywaa Forest
- France – Lake Bourget; Loire-Vilaine marshes and intertidal area
- Greece – Mount Parnon and Cape Maleas
- Honduras – Lake Yojo
- Iceland – Snæfellsnes
- India – Cold Desert
- Indonesia – King of Ampat
- Jordan – Ajloun and Yarmuk
- Madagascar – Mantadia and Tsimembo
- Malaysia – Kinabatangan
- Mongolia – Taal Komms
- Oman – Al Jabal Al Akhdar and Sirrin
- Portugal – Arrabida
- Saudi Arabia – Turkish priest bin Abdullah
- Sao Tome and Principe – Sao Tome
- Sweden – Stork
- Tajikistan – Romita
- Turkey – Yıldız Mountains
With these additions, UNESCO’s Global Network of Biosphere Reserves now includes 784 sites in 142 countries, covering over 8 million square kilometers of land and sea and residential to roughly 275 million people worldwide.
