The Biosphere Reserve Institute (BRI) is a scientific institution of the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE), recently designated as a Category 2 Institute under the auspices of UNESCO (C2C) at the 42nd session of UNESCO's General Conference. The BRI was established in 2019 to promote education, research and training focused on UNESCO's MAB Programme and the World Network of Biosphere Reserves as a tool for its implementation.
As part of its strategy to promote networking among UNESCO Category II Centres, the UNESCOMED Centre has participated in the "International Workshop on Research in UNESCO European Biosphere Reserves", held on 13-16 February 2024 at the headquarters of the Biosphere Reserve Institute (BRI-HNEE, Eberswalde, Germany).
A total of 33 participants from 16 different European countries, as well as numerous BRI-HNEE researchers, met to advance the implementation of the recommendations of the Eberswalde Declaration and the Lima Action Plan for BR research. However, above all, the event has tried to promote an active exchange between professionals, managers and staff responsible for research and monitoring in different European BRs, facilitating the exchange of good practices. There was also extensive discussion on the progress of applied research in BRs, current gaps and needs, and collaboration with managers and research staff from different BRs.
The International Centre for Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves (UNESCOMED) has been presented as a benchmark for public-private collaboration, the first within the MAB Programme, combining public commitment with the support of private funding since its declaration as a C2C in 2013.
One of the main strategic lines of UNESCOMED is the promotion and development of interdisciplinary applied research on the social, economic and environmental aspects of Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves. UNESCOMED thus offers a unique platform for research, networking, transfer and monitoring of BRs in the Mediterranean.
As a practical example of collaborative work and support for applied research and innovation in Mediterranean BRs, UNESCOMED presented the RES-MAB Project during the 4th Session on "Exploring Research Partnerships". RES-MAB is a PRIMA Nexus project led by the CTFC and UNESCOMED, which is starting in 2024 and involves seven BRs from seven Mediterranean countries.
Related links https://www.biospherereserves.institute/about
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