Majd Ismael is a forestry engineering graduate from Syria that this semester accomplished his master's thesis in collaboration with the UNESCOMED centre, International Center for the Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves under the auspices of UNESCO, and the headquarters of Abertis Foundation. He recently graduated from the Mediterranean forestry and natural resources management (MEDFoR) programme with a double degree from the University of Padova (Italy) and the University of Lleida (Spain). 

UNESCOMED Center talked to Majd Ismael about the role of Biosphere Reserves in conflict zones and these were their answers

Explain  a little bit your Master’s Thesis Topic. Which are its key conclusions?

I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Professor Roser Maneja and Dr. Mari Carmen Romera from UNESCOMED centre in CTFC (Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia) to write a Master thesis under their supervision. The thesis title was: How  interactions between UNESCO Biosphere Reserves/Protected Areas and conflicts  can mitigate or exacerbate socio-political conflicts: a systematic literature  review.

The thesis focused on UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BRs) and Protected areas (PAs) and their interactions with conflicts, the main conclusions of the thesis were: in certain cases, the designation of an area as a BR or PA doesn’t always mean that positive changes will occur for the local populations, such as in the case of the Monarch Butterfly BR in Mexico. There the designation of the area as an official UNESCO BR caused the local populations to protest and turn to illegal illicit economic activities, because since the area became a BR the restrictions increased and local populations found it harder to gain access to the area, which was problematic for them because their livelihoods directly depend on the BR. In other cases, BRs and PAs were tools for increasing cooperation between nations, as an example, Transboundary Biosphere Reserves (TBRs) such as the one in the Maya Forest, that has increased cooperation among Mexico and Guatemala, that however it does not solve all the tensions and political conflicts. For example, the TBR has not solved the border conflicts between Guatemala and Belize.

Which may be the role of Biosphere Reserves in  conflict zones where people and territories suffer the extreme penalties of war  or other situations of armed violence? 

Based on papers I have read and the systematic literature review that I have conducted, I believe that the designation of an area as a BR or PA can have a positive effect on the impoverished and displaced local populations in war torn countries. This is so because, if implemented and managed correctly, BRs can include the local communities and help in rebuilding their livelihoods and create jobs, and even create peace among different communities by finding common grounds and creating economic prosperity.

How can  the Mediterranean Network of Biosphere Reserves contribute in view of those  scenarios? 

The Mediterranean Network of Biosphere Reserves can play a crucial role in the process of rebuilding livelihoods of war torn countries, it can for example invite war torn countries in the Mediterranean region (such as Syria, Libya...) into the network. I am sure the network can help by recognizing areas of natural ecological importance as BRs which will help in including communities in the post-war reconstruction process and rebuilding their livelihoods so that they can live in peace and prosperity once again.