On June 30th, 1983 La Palma became the first Canary Island to have a World Biosphere Reserve, when the UNESCO declared 511 hectares (1263 acres)  and named it: "El Canal y los Tiles World Biosphere Reserve“. This declaration was initially intended to protect the macaronesian laurel forest of Los Tiles. However the role of the World Biosphere Reserves evolved into pioneering reference points for sustainable development. It was soon very clear that the designated Reserve was a straitjacket which made it impossible to implement the three main functions that the MaB programme established for a World Biosphere Reserve, namely , conservation, development and logistics. Only two of these functions could partially be implemented in the small original Canal y los Tiles Reserve. Consequently an extension of the Reserve was proposed in the 1990’s and implemented in 1998, when it was extended up to 13,240 ha (32,716 acres). Moreover, UNESCO renamed the Reserve: "Reserva de la Biosfera de Los Tiles“ (Los Tiles World Biosphere Reserve). 

This new Reserve encompassed a wide range of representative habitats from the coast up to the mountain peaks. Besides it also emphazised the role of the inhabitants in the Reserve as key elements to fullfill its objectives. Palmeran society values nature far more than it did  and is much keener to use its natural resources wisely. Public and media participation in achieving these objectives has increased dramatically. In a plenary session in Paris on November 6th, 2002 UNESCO International Coordination Committee approved the declaration of the entire island as a World Biosphere Reserve and it named it  "La Palma World Biosphere Reserve“. The declaration of the entire island as a World Biosphere Reserve made  it possible to include Nature Reserves of outstanding natural interest, (such as the National Park Caldera de Taburiente),  in the Reserve. It also extended the principals of sustainability to growing urban areas which could have generated the greatest load on the natural ecosystems of the island.  

World Biosphere Reserves are organized into three interrelated zones: the core area, the buffer zone and the transition area.

Core Area: it is the most protected area of a Reserve.  It should contain a representative selection of the most valuable habitats for conservation.  In La Palma, the areas chosen already have maximum legal protection: parks, reserves and sites of scientific interest, plus the core area of the Marine Reserve, declared as Site of Community Interest (part of the Natura 2000). Culture has also been taken into account, as many archaeological sites have been included.  The core area of the La Palma World Biosphere Reserve includes: 

• Parque Nacional Caldera de Taburiente (The Caldera de Taburiente National Park).
• Reservas Naturales de Guelguen y del Pinar de Garafía (The Guelguén and Pinar de Garafía natural reserves)
• Sitios de Interés Científico de Barranco de Agua y Juan Mayor (The Barranco de Agua and Juan Mayor sites of scientific interest).
• Zonas de Uso Restringido de los Parques Naturales de Cumbre Vieja y Las Nieves (core areas of the Cumbre Vieja and Las Nieves Natural Parks)
• Zona de Reserva Integral de la Reserva Marina de La Palma (core area of the La Palma Marine Reserve) 
  

Buffer zone: is an area of great natural interest and outstanding natural beauty. It is still a conservation area, but it can be used for rational ecological activities such as: environmental education, leisure activities, ecological tourism, hiking and research.
It also includes important cultural and agricultural  areas and, most particularly, archaeological sites of interest. Finally, it includes all the protected areas which are not in the Core Area.  That is,  nature reserves belonging to the Red Canaria de Espacios Naturales (Canary Network of Nature Reserves) and the Red Natura 2000 (Natura 2000), including the rest of the Marine Reserve. 
 

Transition zone: This is the rest of the island. It depends on the Plan Insular de Ordenación  (the territorial zoning plan) which aims for a harmonious devlopment of the island.The island has rural heritage of exceptional beauty and importance as well as outstanding landscapes.
Particularly, it is the field of action of  Plan de Desarrollo Sostenible de la Palma (Programme for the Sustainable Development of La Palma) and the Plan de Desarrollo Rural  (Programme for rural development), part of the Leader+ programme.

There are 3 specific functions that any World Biosphere Reserve must fulfill: conservation, development and logistics. Conservation of the landscapes, ecosystems species and bio-diversity; development, to encourage an economic and human development which is sustainable from the environmental and socioeconomical points of view. It tries to establish activities favouring human and economic development while preserving the environment, culture and traditions; logistics, this refers to support for demonstration, training and education, and research projects focused on the environment.  Also the exchange of knowledge and experience to facilitate  local, regional and national sustainable development. One of the main objectives of the Biosphere Reserves is to find new ways to make use of the territory to improve human life without degrading the environment.  By fullfilling these three functions, the network of Biosphere Reserves aim to become a meeting point between the politics of conservation and the politics of local development.

Further information on www.lapalmabiosfera.es