UNESCO designated 14 new biosphere reserves across 14 countries during the first week of June. Of these, the Star Mountains in Portugal, Lake Skadar spanning Albania and Montenegro, and its surrounding watershed are the closest to the Czech Republic. These newly designated areas offer diverse landscapes, including granite peaks, glacial valleys, and the largest lake in the Balkans. The announcement highlights the importance of these regions for biodiversity and sustainable development. Travel times from the Czech Republic to these reserves are estimated to be several hours. The designations aim to promote conservation and responsible tourism within these unique ecosystems. These additions bring the total number of UNESCO biosphere reserves worldwide to over 700.