The students of the ICTA-UAB Master's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Environmental, Economic and Social Sustainability attended the Castellet Castle -the headquarters of the UNESCO International Centre for Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves- today on the occasion of the inauguration of the new university course at the UAB Campus of Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves.
Taking advantage of the occasion and given the current environmental situation, the Abertis Foundation, in conjunction with the Ministry of Ecological Transition - through the Autonomous Body of Natural Parks - has promoted the Castellet Declaration for the Protection of Biodiversity, a manifesto to warn of the serious consequences that the current rate of biodiversity loss can have on the planet and on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
The declaration states that "biodiversity loss is one of today's most critical environmental problems, threatening the balance of ecosystems" and that "The Network of Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves is committed to sustainable development and the protection of biodiversity, while also strengthening relations between the countries of the Mediterranean region”.
The declaration concludes by stating that “Through the collaboration of the Reserves around the Mediterranean and the world, working towards the same end, we want to provide implementable solutions and encourage a shift in the model of society not only for the benefit of biodiversity and the planet, but for our very own”.
The Castellet Declaration was read by the manager of the Abertis Foundation, Ms. Georgina Flamme, this Thursday as part of the event, during a day in which Prof. Martí Boada, UAB researcher and scientific coordinator of the UNESCO Centre; Mr. Sergi Loughney, director of the Abertis Foundation, and Ms. Montserrat Fernández San Miguel, deputy director of the Autonomous Body of National Parks, also participated. Moreover, the ceremony was attended by two guest experts on biodiversity conservation, Dr. Jordi Serra-Cobo and Mr. Jordi Baucells.
In his speech to the young students, the director of the Abertis Foundation, Mr. Sergi Loughney, stressed that "we have to achieve a more sustainable world, where people live in coexistence with the planet" and encouraged companies "to follow this example and work towards the protection of the environment”.
12 June 2025
“The Po Delta is proof that humans can work with nature, not against it,” states Pako Massaro, manager of the Po Delta Biosphere Reserve. At the 4th Mediterranean Biosphere Reserve Managers’ Meeting, held on 29–30 May 2025 at the International Centre for Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves (UNESCOMED), the Po Delta Biosphere reserve stood out as a model for climate adaptation and human–nature synergy. Organized under the theme “Towards a Resilient Mediterranean: The Contribution of Biosphere Reserves to Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation”, the meeting gathered managers and stakeholders from across the MedMAB Network to share best practices and ...
2 June 2025
On 29–30 May 2025, the International Centre for the Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves (UNESCOMED) hosted the 4th Mediterranean Biosphere Reserve Managers’ Meeting under the theme: "Towards a Resilient Mediterranean: The Contribution of Biosphere Reserves to Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation."
This well-established forum brought together managers and stakeholders from the MedMAB Network to exchange experiences and foster joint action. Georgina Flamme from the Abertis Foundation inaugurated the meeting, highlighting the importance of public-private collaboration in tackling shared challenges such as climate change. The opening session also featured an intervention by Natalia Beltrán, representing Spain’s Autonomous National Parks ...
30 May 2025
Antonio Abreu Highlights the Role of Biosphere Reserves in Climate Action at #MedMaB 2025
At the 4th Meeting of the Mediterranean Network of Biosphere Reserve Managers (MedMAB), Antonio Abreu, Director of the Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences at UNESCO, delivered a compelling address on the crucial role Biosphere Reserves play in climate change adaptation and mitigation—particularly in the Mediterranean, a region warming faster than the global average.
Abreu underscored the unique value of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves in offering climate solutions that are deeply rooted in the interaction between people and nature. He noted that, as ...
