The core zone is fully protected and natural area of the Biosphere Reserve least disturbed by human activities. The buffer zone surrounds the core zone and is managed to accommodate a greater variety of resource use strategies, and research and educational activities. the transition zone, the outermost part of the Biosphere Reserve, is an area of active cooperation between the reserve management and the local people. 

Till date there were 553 biosphere reserves located in 107 countries.