巢中的加勒比火烈鸟蛋，里奥拉加托斯自然保护区，尤卡坦州，墨西哥 Caribbean flamingo nests, Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatán, Mexico (© Claudio Contreras/Minden Pictures)

巢中的加勒比火烈鸟蛋，里奥拉加托斯自然保护区，尤卡坦州，墨西哥 Caribbean flamingo nests, Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatán, Mexico (© Claudio Contreras/Minden Pictures)

自然与可持续发展的结合 Where nature meets sustainability

生物圈保护区国际日

今天是生物圈保护区国际日。生物圈保护区听起来像是一个复杂的科学术语，但从本质上讲，它们就是自然界的宝地：在这里，生物多样性非常丰富，地球上的各种生命蓬勃地生长。这些地区得到联合国教科文组织的认可，保持着生态系统的健康，保护着濒危物种，并通过森林、湿地和其他重要的栖息地调节气候。在136个国家里，有759个生物圈保护区。从印度孙德尔本斯郁郁葱葱的绿色植物到澳大利亚广袤无垠的大沙生物圈保护区，每个保护区都是独一无二的。

让我们来参观位于墨西哥尤卡坦州的里奥拉加托斯自然保护区。自2004年起，该地区成为联合国教科文组织的保护区。这里茂密的森林和稀树草原孕育着550多种脊椎动物，其中142种是这里独有的。这个保护区有超过400种鸟类，其中包括大量的火烈鸟，它们的巢穴在今天的图片中可以看到。生物圈保护区讲究平衡，里奥拉加托斯就是一个典型的例子。在这里，渔业、生态旅游、甚至盐业都是以尊重环境的方式进行的。

International Day for Biosphere Reserves

Today is the International Day for Biosphere Reserves. Biosphere reserves may sound like a mouthful, but they're essentially nature's sweet spots— biodiverse places that are home to a huge variety of life. These reserves, recognized by UNESCO, keep ecosystems healthy, protect endangered species, and help regulate climate through forests, wetlands, and other crucial habitats. There are 759 biosphere reserves across 136 countries. From the lush greenery of the Sundarbans in India to the vast expanses of the Great Sandy Biosphere Reserve in Australia, each reserve is unique.

Let's visit another—the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve in Yucatán, Mexico, a UNESCO-protected sanctuary since 2004. Its forests and savannas cradle over 550 vertebrate species, including 142 species found only here. There are over 400 bird species in this reserve, including a large population of flamingos whose nests are seen in today's image. Biosphere reserves are all about balance, and Ría Lagartos is a prime example. Fishing, ecotourism, and even salt production are done in ways that respect the environment.