Albay listed as UNESCO biosphere reserve

MANILA, Philippines - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recently added Albay to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Albay was proclaimed along with 19 other sites on Saturday during their meeting in Peru. It is the third Philippine region to make it to the list, following Puerto Galera and Palawan. 

According to UNESCO, biosphere reserves are "places for learning about sustainable development aiming to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with the sustainable use of natural resources."

Albay is a province in the Philippines located in the Bicol Region in southeastern Luzon. UNESCO said it houses 182 terrestrial plant species, 46 of which are endemic making its ecosystems very rich and diverse.

"Its marine and coastal ecosystems number 12 species of mangrove, 40 species of seaweed or macro-algae, and 10 species of sea grass. Five of the world’s seven species of marine turtles are to be found in Albay. Agriculture is the main source of income in this area" it said.