International Day for Biosphere Reserves Nov 3, 2024

Today is the International Day for Biosphere Reserves. Biosphere reserves may sound like a scientific mouthful, but they"re essentially nature"s sweet spots—places where biodiversity, or variety of life on Earth, thrives. These areas, recognised 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 Sundarbans in India to the vast expanses of the Great Sandy Biosphere Reserve in Australia, each reserve is unique.

© Claudio Contreras/Minden Pictures

palette

Today in History

An experiment in sustainability
Nov 3, 2023Pacific sea nettles off the coast of Carmel, California, USA
Nov 3, 2025Jellyfish swimming in the Pacific, Guerrero, Mexico

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sequoias of the sea
Aug 17, 2024Alfanzina lighthouse, Algarve, Portugal
Hovering over harmonious horticulture
An ocean of stars above the desert
Jul 30, 2025Agra Fort, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
Nov 3, 2023Pacific sea nettles off the coast of Carmel, California, USA
Happy New Year’s from down under
May 24, 2025Jotunheimen National Park in Norway
Aug 27, 2025Ganesh Chaturthi
Jun 16, 2025World Sea Turtle Day
The Jewel of Hampi
Mar 24, 2024Silvereyes
Aug 20, 2023Start Point Lighthouse, South Devon, England
Nov 29, 2025Red deer stag in De Hoge Veluwe National Park, Netherlands
Jul 27, 2025Barracudas at Shark Reef, Ras Mohammed National Park, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt
Oct 14, 2024Fishing boats at Coco Beach in Goa
Strong sibling bonds
A gorge-ous place to drop in
Sep 15, 2025Black-winged stilts, France
Where fire and water meet
Oct 31, 2025Bran Castle in Bran, Brașov, Romania
This island is more than a mile high
Sep 21, 2025Sea otters, Prince William Sound, Alaska, United States
Fourth rock from the sun
Revered ruins
What are these beautiful sandy waves?
Jul 12, 2025Thomsons gazelles, Maasai Mara, Kenya
Aug 2, 2025Petroglyphs near Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States
Nov 30, 2024Male white rhinoceroses, Lake Nakuru, Kenya
Feb 18, 2024Sperm whale pod surfacing