Delegates at #WCBR5 underlined their main success of the last decade: enhancing the quality of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, a global catalogue of designated protected areas that are “living laboratories” for #biodiversity and #sustdev
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#biosphere
Close of the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves
Gaoyuan Yao, Mayor of Hangzhou, China, and Lidia Arthur Brito, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO
Attendees at the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves
Meeting once a decade means there’s plenty to discuss, and even more to do
Participants left #WCBR5 armed with a comprehensive strategic action plan to guide them through the next decade of managing #biosphere reserves
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#biodiversity #WCBR2025
Reflecting on the last decade of @unesco.org Man and Biosphere Progamme, Han Qunli, Expert Advisory Committee of MAB-China, highlighted growth in the quality of biosphere reserves. Looking ahead to the next decade, he urged "we must move from a network of sites, to one of solutions and hope" #WCBR5
Engaging in a biosphere reserve dialogue, delegates at #WCBR5 shared insights from initiatives advancing the full and equitable participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in biosphere reserve governance #UNESCO
Panelists at #WCBR5 focused on the activities of @unesco.org thematic networks, which bring together biosphere reserves sharing environmental, ecosystemic, geopolitical, and #cultural similarities — allowing replicable solutions for #biodiversity, #climate resilience, and sustainable development
"The greatest value-add of biosphere reserves is the networks." At #WCBR5, representatives of @unesco.org thematic and regional networks showcased the strengths of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in implementing global #environment and #sustainabledevelopment goals at scale
Delegates at #WCBR5 engaged in three panel sessions addressing how to optimize and harness #financing and cross-sectoral partnerships to strengthen and develop the Man and Biosphere Programme and the World Network of Biosphere Reserves #UNESCO
Continuing the morning's panel discussions, experts and representatives of @unesco.org Chairs shared insights from projects including on intergenerational learning, #citizenscience, and intercultural knowledge dialogues for sustainable development #WCBR5
In a panel on #biodiversity #science and #education, speakers emphasized that "while data is important, it is not enough - information must become knowledge to support decision making," and called for South-South cooperation, saying "the solutions for the Congo Basin do not lie in Europe." #WCBR5
“Biosphere reserves are living classrooms" On Tuesday, #WCBR5 drew attention to the central role of #research for safeguarding biodiversity. Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education @unesco.org, noting that #education reveals how much of our lives depend on healthy #biodiversity
Ding Xuexiang, Vice-Premier of the State Council, China
Audrey Azoulay, Director-General, UNESCO
With resounding agreement on the role of @unesco.org biosphere reserves as bridges between global policies and local actions, delegates at #WCBR5 addressed opportunities for synergies with other #biodiversity-related conventions and orgs
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#WCBR2025
In the afternoon, #WCBR5 engaged in a panel discussion on synergies between the MAB Programme's past and future work and relevant biodiversity-related conventions and international organizations, including @ipbes.net, @ipcc.bsky.social, the #CBD, and #IUCN.
In a stocktaking moment of @unesco.org MAB Programme’s work, Secretary António Abreu highlighted contributions of biosphere reserves to conserving #biodiversity and adapting to #climatechange, generating knowledge, and informing global decision making. #WCBR5
At #WCBR5, Audrey Azoulay, Director-General, UNESCO @aazoulay.bsky.social, quoting Lao Tzu’s “all things arise in unison,” urged delegates to understand and respect the fundamental bond between humans and the living world. #UNESCO
The 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves #WCBR5 opened in Hangzhou, China. Ding Xuexiang, Vice-Premier of China’s State Council, called for strengthened international cooperation to improve the development of #biosphere reserves and "protect our shared home, Earth" #UNESCO
