The Krkonoše Mountains as a bilateral UNESCO biosphere reserve
Since 1992, Krkonoše has been part of UNESCO's global biosphere reserve network under the Man and Biosphere programme (MAB).
The overriding concept of biosphere reserves pursues three essential and mutually complementing functions:
- protecting natural and cultural diversity;
- promoting sustainable economic and demographic development; and
- developing environmental education and raising awareness, investigating and monitoring logistics.
Having been populated and widely visited for a considerable period of time, the Krkonoše Mountains not only boast unique natural values, but also have witnessed the mutual and long-standing coexistence of mankind and the mountainous natural world. They possess a rich history, culture and economic existence of their own. In particular, tourism and the travel industry are potentially promising sources of livelihood for local inhabitants, and these combine to make it a 'model region' combining all three of the functions of a UNESCO biosphere reserve. It is one where its managers endeavour to ensure a harmonious relationship exists between conservation and utilisation of natural resources. The territory rightfully belongs among the 563 biosphere reserves that can be found in 110 countries on five different continents.
The Krkonoše/Karkonosze Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (pdf 2,7 MB)
