São Tomé designation brings a whole country into the biosphere network
A 2025 designation complements Príncipe’s earlier reserve, linking forest, coast and community landscapes.
News report
São Tomé and Príncipe became the first country with its entire territory designated within UNESCO’s biosphere reserve network in September 2025. The addition of Ilha de São Tomé complemented the Island of Príncipe reserve, which had joined the network in 2012.
The new São Tomé reserve includes volcanic peaks, forest, coastal ecosystems and agricultural landscapes. Obô Natural Park forms its core, with surrounding areas connecting marine islets, agroforestry and places where people live and work. The designation was among those announced by UNESCO on September 27.
UNESCO’s profile records around 1,200 plant species on São Tomé, including 148 endemic species. The dwarf ibis, São Tomé shrew and distinctive amphibians and reptiles are among its notable wildlife. Beaches provide nesting habitat for four marine turtle species, while nearby islets support reefs and seabirds.
Fishing, cocoa and coffee cultivation, coconut processing and local markets form part of the reserve’s human landscape. Those activities help explain why the biosphere model includes working and inhabited places alongside conservation areas. It is a framework for coordinating uses, rather than a declaration that all land has the same restrictions.
The 2025 milestone gives the two main islands a shared international conservation context while retaining their different histories and habitats. Following how research, land management and local livelihoods interact will be important for assessing the designation’s practical results over time.
Sources
- UNESCO: Ilha de São Tomé — 2025
- UNESCO: Island of Príncipe — 2012
- UNESCO announces new biosphere reserves in September 2025 — 2025-09-27