Side Event

UNESCO-Biosphere Reserves: Ecological, economic, cultural and social benefits and their linkages in the World Network: "Doing together - learning together: Kruger to Canyons Biosphere region (South Africa) and Rhön Biosphere reserve (Germany)"

Organizer
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization

Date and Time
28 May 2008 13:15 - 14:45

Meeting
Ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 9)

This side event demonstrates why UNESCO-biosphere reserves are innovative instruments for linking conservation and sustainable development. Presently 531 biosphere reserves (BR) in 105 countries are working in this context to make a difference. The sharing of their experience and the co-operation within the world network of biosphere reserves underlines the important function of biosphere reserves as learning regions and as learning platforms for sustainable development. Keynotes in this side event reflect this issue on the global level (by UNESCO MAB-Secretariat), on the national level (by the German MAB-Committee and the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, South Africa) and on the level of development co-operation (by GTZ). The co-operation between the Rhön Biosphere reserve, Germany and the Kruger to Canyons biosphere region, South Africa will be presented as a practical example of mutual knowledge transfer and private sector co-operation. During the side event some local produce can be tasted from both BRs.