In 2003 the Committee of the International Coordination Council of UNESCO’s MAB programme in Paris approved the extension of the former Pálava Biosphere Reserve (designated in 1986) to include the Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape and the floodplain forests at the confluence of the Morava and Dyje rivers. The newly designated area, covering over 300 km² , was renamed  the Lower Morava Biosphere Reserve.

As from August 2004 the stakeholder based Lower Morava Biosphere Reserve, public benefit company became  the administrative authority responsible for meeting the objectives and fulfilling the functions of the Lower Morava BR.  In the Czech Republic it is the very first time that a biosphere reserve is administered by a non-governmental organization.

The main goals of the company include:

·                     creation of favourable conditions for sustainable development and area management of the Lower Morava Biosphere Reserve

·                     support of nature, landscape and cultual traditions protection, scientific research, monitoring, training and education  

·                     support of international cooperation

·                leading the nature and landscape conservation authorities, landowners, local community authorities and other stakeholder groups towards  participation/partner approach in management agenda of the Lower Morava Biosphere Reserve

We are the only BR in the Czech Republic that is managed by NGO with direct participation of business representatives, governmental authorities, local communities, professional organizations and NGOs operating within the BR. 

This is a unique management model in the Czech Republic, since until now the BR management has been (and in other Czech BR still is) provided by governmental Nature conservation authorities as part of their administration of respective Protected landscape areas and/or National parks.