EuroMAB 2024

As part of our commitment to the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Network, we participate in knowledge exchange with other Biospheres. Canada falls within the European grouping, and every other year, a Biosphere hosts a four-day conference for stakeholders from more than 300 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in 41 countries across Europe, Canada and US.

This year, from 3 to 7 June, the German MAB National Committee, the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt and the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve “Elbe River Landscape” hosted EuroMAB 2024.

Volunteer HSBRIS Executive Director and Lead Ruth Simons travelled to Wittenburg, Germany, to attend the conference "Climate for Change” and to present a case study on Wildlife Connectivity at the Connectivity Conservation in Biosphere Reserves workshop. You can view the presentation here. Anneka Keeley, Senior Conservation Scientist from the Centre for Large Landscapes convened the workshop. The workshop resulted in recommendations for amendments to the UNESCO Strategy for Biosphere Reserves. It was satisfying to know Howe Sound had a part in drafting this wording for the UNESCO MAB Strategic Acton Plan: “The “Post-2025 SAP” should support Biosphere Reserves in planning and implementing ecological corridors in addition to core areas, buffer zones, and transition areas, in order to maintain or restore effective ecological connectivity, reduce fragmentation and increase resilience.” 

In addition to the 46 workshops, the plenary sessions' topics were very relevant to our work. They ranged from local solutions and perspectives on climate change and biodiversity loss to how Biospheres can act for sustainable futures and the upcoming World Congress taking place in China in 2025. Speakers from across Europe along with senior German government officials participated in and enjoyed the social networking aspects of the event.

The field trips provided us with opportunities to view the work of the Elbe River Landscape Biosphere, where restoration and preservation of the natural floodplain were truly poignant given the extreme flooding in parts of southern Germany at the time.

In 2026, Mt. Arrowsmith UNESCO Biosphere Region on Vancouver Island will host EuroMAB. We look forward to welcoming guests to our part of the world.