Southeast Asian Biosphere Reserve Network

The Southeast Asian Biosphere Reserve Network (SeaBRnet) was created in 1998 and comprises Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Viet Nam and Timor Leste.

Under the theme “Interaction among UNESCO Programmes toward the Sustainable Development of Biosphere Reserves”, the 10th SeaBRnet meeting was organized in Jakarta, Indonesia, by UNESCO Office Jakarta with support from Japanese Funds-in-Trust, during 16 and 17 May 2017. The meeting gathered around 50 MAB committees, biosphere reserve managers and other stakeholders from across Southeast Asia, along with representatives from UNESCO programmes such as UNESCO Global Geoparks and World Heritage sites. Participants discussed possibilities for cooperation among different programmes, including the benefits and the challenges that multiple designations and integrated approaches bring.

Among the most important achievements of the meeting was the identification by all participating member countries of national priorities under the Lima Action Plan. The identification of these priorities will serve as a basis for the development of national action plans that draw on the objectives, contents and structure of the Plan, but reflect the particular needs and conditions in each member state. The importance of effectively integrating biosphere reserves into national legislative frameworks and of engaging the local community in the management of the biosphere reserves were mentioned as priorities across multiple countries in the network.

For further details contact: UNESCO Jakarta Office