International Day for Biosphere Reserves
With each passing year, the urgency of tackling environmental issues becomes clearer: we only have one planet, and it is in danger. Our relationship with nature and with other living beings needs a radical rethink in order to address these issues - we need to design and create a truly shared world.
Biosphere reserves have shown that it is possible to live in this world while also establishing a sustainable and harmonious relationship with nature.
The International Day for Biosphere Reserves is an invitation to take inspiration from the solutions already implemented in these spaces to build genuinely sustainable development everywhere, with full respect for nature and for the living world. It was proclaimed by the UNESCO General Conference in its 41st session (2021, 41 C/37)
Biosphere reserves
"To improve our relationship with nature, we must first improve our understanding of how we affect the living world that sustains us – and vice versa. Every day, this quest plays out in 738 sites across 134 countries around the world: the World Network of Biosphere Reserves."
In the more than 700 UNESCO biosphere reserves, a different relationship between humans and their environment is being created and put into practice on a daily basis – a relationship founded on ethics and respect, with a great emphasis on indigenous and local knowledge.
Events
Hubs of innovation
For the last 50 years, biosphere reserves have provided very concrete and resourceful solutions to the challenge we all face, here are their stories:
Protection of ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation & ecosystem restoration
Green and circular economies
Training 50 women and building 2,500 hives over 5 years to generate income in rural areas
Investing in Nature-Based Solutions
Monitoring & adapting to climate change
Biosphere reserves in Southern Africa assess climate change impacts and possible solutions
Education for Sustainable Development
Young Leaders were mentored and challenged to develop solutions on water-related issues in a biosphere reserve
News
