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FS 3.208

UNESCO World Network of Mountain Biosphere Reserves

Details

Full Title
FS 3.208: UNESCO World Network of Mountain Biosphere Reserves: Bridging Science, Local and Indigenous Knowledge, and Policy for Sustainable Development
Scheduled
TBA
Location
TBA
Convener
Paola Fontanella Pisa
Co-Conveners
Stefan Schneiderbauer, Maria Cardenas, Irina Pavlova, Hans Thulstrup, Jazmin Cevallos Vintimilla,
Assigned to Synthesis Workshop
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Thematic Focus
Conservation, Hazards, Socio-Ecology, Sustainable Development, Water Resources
Keywords
science-policy, UNESCO, Biosphere Reserves, triple planetary crisis, community engagement

Description

UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BRs) play a critical role in addressing the triple planetary crisis, meaning climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, by serving as dynamic learning environments for sustainable development. BRs engage local communities and diverse stakeholders in planning and management processes that interdisciplinary approaches to better understand and manage the intricate interplay between social and ecological systems. Globally, UNESCO has designated 759 Biosphere Reserves, and around 60% of them are located in mountainous regions. Mountain regions often face accelerated climate change, habitat fragmentation, and pollution threats, yet they are also reservoirs of rich biological and cultural diversity, and providers of several ecosystem services. The World Network of Mountain Biosphere Reserves (WNMBR) unites these unique ecosystems and their communities, fostering international research and collaborative solutions to common challenges. This session aims to catalyse dialogue, showcase innovative approaches, and explore pathways to strengthen the role of mountain BRs as model areas for sustainable development. It emphasizes the importance of fostering knowledge exchange, promoting solutions grounded in both science and indigenous and local knowledge, and advancing policy interventions to address the interconnected challenges of the triple planetary crisis.

Submitted Abstracts

ID: 3.8681

Value realization mechanisms and pathways of ecological products for developing bee industry based on mountain biosphere reserve

Fang Ouyang
Cheng, Wenlu; Zhou, Ziqiao; Wei, Shihua

Abstract/Description

Mountain biosphere reserves are important carriers of ecological protection, undertaking the core mission of maintaining ecological security, biodiversity conservation and promoting sustainable development. Bees are one of the most important species in mountain ecosystems. Bee industry, as a key link of ecological protection and agricultural production, is not only vital for pollination of wild plants and crops, but also has significant economic and social value. The China has a bee culture history of more than 2000 years, and has accumulated rich experience on the farming and utilization of honeybees. Exploring the value realization mechanisms and pathways for ecological products of bee industry based on mountain biosphere reserves is an important content of ecological civilization construction, and can also provide new solutions for mountain ecological protection, rural revitalization and regional green development. The combination of mountain biosphere reserves and bee industry is conducive to the realization of ecological, economic and social values. Ecological value, Mountain biosphere reserves provide g high-quality ecological environment for bee breeding. Honeybees contribute important ecological services by enhancing ecosystem stability, promoting biodiversity and optimizing agricultural production. Economic value, Bee products produced in mountain biosphere reserves, such as honey, royal jelly, propolis and bee venom, have high added value of ecological products. Social value, The bee industry can provide employment opportunities for communities surrounding the mountain biosphere reserve and help residents increase their incomes. Live bees or bee products can also protect human health and treat human diseases (such as Bee Therapy). Research on the value realization for ecological products of bee industry based on mountain protected areas is an important combination of ecological protection and economic development. Through policy guidance, scientific and technological innovation, industrial integration and public participation, a green development model can be built to achieve a win-win situation for ecology and economy. Meanwhile, this exploration also provides China’s solution for the development of the global ecological economy and contributes wisdom to the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

ID: 3.10892

Carpathian Peace Park: A Model for Cross-Border Environmental Diplomacy and Sustainable Development

Dariia Kholiavchuk
Mindrescu, Marcel; Paun, Gabriel

Abstract/Description

The Carpathian Peace Park Initiative is a pioneering effort to establish a cross-border nature park between Romania and Ukraine, promoting environmental protection, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development in the Carpathian Mountains. This initiative responds to the ongoing war in Ukraine and the region’s climate challenges. The proposed park will encompass diverse ecosystems and vital biodiversity, particularly forests essential for carbon sequestration. Aligned with the UNESCO World Network of Mountain Biosphere Reserves, the project fosters peace, reconciliation, and sustainability through environmental cooperation. It serves as a model for cross-border environmental diplomacy, promoting stability in a historically and geopolitically complex region. The park will integrate Vyzhnytskyi and Cheremoskyi National Nature Parks in Ukraine with new protected areas in Romania. Historically, this region – known as Bucovina – has undergone shifting national borders and multi-ethnic cohabitation. Its post-World War II division separated communities and vital natural sites between Romania and Ukraine. The Peace Park seeks to overcome these legacies by fostering cross-border cooperation and environmental diplomacy. The initiative aims to strengthen bilateral relations, ensure sustainable resource management, and curb illegal activities while preserving the region’s natural and cultural heritage. It also supports local communities through economic, social, and cultural development, addressing depopulation in remote mountain villages and tackling challenges such as smuggling and human trafficking. Initial efforts focus on action plans and pilot projects for community sustainability, creating a database of local producers and service providers, and promoting cross-border economic activities. Plans include transboundary trails and joint promotional events. In the long term, the project envisions expanding the park network by integrating additional protected areas, engaging stakeholders, and ensuring science-based, politically independent governance. Collaboration agreements have been signed with park administrations and academic institutions, and the initiative is supported by the Carpathian Convention Secretariat under the UN through a memorandum of cooperation. The Carpathian Peace Park represents a valuable step toward environmental diplomacy, sustainable development, and regional peace.

ID: 3.11162

How do science-society research collaborations emerge in mountainous BRs? Insights from five mountainous BRs

Julian Janisch
Fiala, Valentin; Mitrofanenko, Alexander; Verena Radinger-Peer, Verena

Abstract/Description

Biosphere reserves (BRs) are role models for sustainable development and have evolved into multifunctional areas that go beyond nature protection. They address various topics like quality economy, education for sustainable development, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. Since the Sevilla Strategy (1996), BRs are expected to transform from their past role as field education sites to sites of inter- and transdisciplinary knowledge co-creation, incorporating endogenous knowledge. However, the extent to which BRs have established this role and the nature of science-society networks within them remain unclear. This study conducts a Social Network Analysis based on 50 qualitative interviews from five mountainous BRs in Austria, Switzerland, and Germany. The results provide insights into: i) the social and scientific actors involved in BR-related research collaborations, ii) the initiators of these collaborations, iii) the thematic focus and types of collaboration, and iv) the role of different forms of proximity (institutional, cognitive, organizational, geographic) in shaping science-society research collaborations in mountainous BRs. The study reveals that a diverse range of social and scientific actors are involved in BR-related research collaborations. The initiators of these collaborations vary, with most driven by BR management, followed by research institutions, local stakeholders or policy-makers. The thematic focus of the collaborations spans various areas, whereby the main focus is on biodiversity and nature conservation, sustainable development, agriculture, tourism, and others. Different forms of proximity play a significant role in shaping these collaborations. Cognitive proximity, which refers to familiarity with BR topics and relevant expertise, was mentioned as most influential when choosing the collaboration partner. This is followed by organizational proximity referring to institutionalized research collaborations. Social proximity highlights longstanding research collaboration traditions and trust among the interviewees. Geographical proximity played a subordinate role for the investigated BR-related research collaborations. Based on these empirical investigations, we aim to draw conclusions on the resilience of science-society collaborations in mountainous BRs and the influence of place-specific institutional conditions on the emergence and establishment of these collaborations.

ID: 3.11258

Sense of place and land-management in Tadami Biosphere Reserve’s risk landscape: anthropological insights for community resilience

Paola Fontanella Pisa

Abstract/Description

This research investigates the risk landscape of Tadami Biosphere Reserve, situated in the mountainous region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The study evaluates the influence of sense of place, derived from human interactions with their biophysical environment, on community resilience to natural hazards. It investigates the evolving relationship between the residents of Tadami and their living environment over time, providing anthropological insights into how its cultural landscapes have developed as expression of these relationships. These landscapes are still today maintained through local-management measures, informed by local knowledge and community-based cultural practices. Adopted methods include participant observation, in-depth interviews, and a participatory workshop. Data was consequently coded with the support of NVivo as qualitative data analysis software, and results’ meanings were further analyzed against anthropological literature.

Results underscore the role played by traditional ecological knowledge and land management practices. It resulted that the preservation of beech forests, for example, is associated to water control management and flood risk reduction. Similarly, other mountain-management beliefs and practices can be found in association to local belief systems, such as the matagi hunting culture, or the presence of shrines located in proximities to mountain forests. At the same time, results also highlight current challenges to the continuity of such knowledge and practices, due to climatic and economic changes and rural outmigration, in addition to challenges posed by landscape fragmentation and the loss of cultural practices.

Findings aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of how cultural landscapes and sense of place can influence community resilience, offering to policy makers, decision makers and practitioners valuable insights on the crucial role played by mountain UNESCO Biosphere Reserves for resilient communities.

ID: 3.12173

Glacier Extents in Mountain Biosphere Reserves: A first assessment

Marc Pons
Cevallos-Vintimilla, Jazmin; Thornton, James

Abstract/Description

Glaciers are iconic elements of the heritage of several mountain UNESCO biosphere reserves (BR). Although such site designations bring benefits, notably the embedded role of communities in site management, glaciers remain highly susceptible to the effects of climate change. Several monitoring studies have shown a global retreat of glaciers, at an unprecedented rate of mass loss. As has been long-established, this rapid retreat is impacting not only ecological and hydrological dynamics of mountain regions, but local communities that benefit from their ecosystem services. Here we present the first comprehensive inventory of glaciated areas within the World Network of Mountain Biosphere Reserves (WNMBR), identifying BRs containing glacier across all global mountain regions. For all BRs with suitable geospatial extent information, we quantified glacier areas using the latest Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI) (v7.0). This was done for both entire BRs and, where possible, their sub-zones. Our work yields a first-order assessment of glacier importance both within and between BRs globally. We highlight both benefits and limitations of the available spatial glacier and BR extent data for such a global yet localised assessment. For instance, the Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI) has good global coverage, but glacier outlines relate to the year 2000 (considerable change has occurred since then). Moreover, standardised digital cartography of BRs remains lacking. These results emphasise the need to develop a unified approach to BR spatial data development that balances scientific rigor with practical implementation constraints faced by biosphere reserve managers. The study concludes by proposing a collaborative framework through which biosphere reserve stakeholders can contribute local field observations to establish and maintain an updated and more accurate BR glacier inventory to provide a valuable foundation for future climate adaptation strategies in mountain regions worldwide.

ID: 3.12367

Involving people through traditions

Bárbara Álvarez

Abstract/Description

On December 26th, we started a project called “Reputsecer”, that means “recovering” in the local language, with the aim of bringing to life past traditions and knowledge that is almost lost. The project is also based on a local tradition, “calechos”, that were the daily moments when neighbours gathered (usually at the kitchen) when there was no television or radio. These kind of spontaneous meetings around the fire played a key role in preserving stories, legends and traditional music until they started being written or recorded a few decades ago. So we started organising calechos about a central topic (in this case, past festivities, as December 26th was the winter festivity in Villablino), and invited people to share memories, in order to compile all this data and use it to make this festivities a big local day again. Future calechos will be organised about different topics (stories about civil war, traditions related to the mountains or ancient recipes), a way of involving people and make them feel part of the Biosphere Reserve, as they actually are.

ID: 3.12539

Participatory Workshop towards recognizing Heritage in the Hazard-Risk-Resilience Nexus in Val Resia

Federica Romagnoli
Fontanella Pisa, Paola; Oberti, Benedetta

Abstract/Description

This study investigates the role played by cultural heritage in fostering community resilience to natural hazards in Val Resia, a mountain valley recognized within the Julian Alps Biosphere Reserve. Conducted as part of the RETURN partnership funded by the PNRR, the research aimed at co-developing an understanding of how intangible values – such as cultural identity, collective experiences and local practices- are key factors in fostering community resilience to natural hazard risks and can be linked to different phases in the disaster risk management of the valley. The project used transdisciplinary participatory methods, engaging with community members, local associations, and stakeholders affiliated to the Biosphere Reserve to reflect on the unique cultural identity of Val Resia, and its role in the community’s historical resilience to natural hazards. Empirical data collection was conducted with the support of the Julian Alps Biosphere Reserve, co-defining the workshop modalities through the definition core topics of interest for the community, stakeholder inclusion and participatory methods. Data was analyzed through coding with the support of qualitative data analysis software and tested against a conceptual framework. Key findings highlight the community’s attachment to the territory, expressed through local cultural practices and rich local knowledge. Deeper insights into results present possible contributions of identified elements and expression of cultural heritage and local knowledge to different phase of community-based disaster risk management. The study also revealed the challenges of investigating the connection between cultural heritage and resilience through participatory processes, with insights on the adopted methods and practical recommendations. Aligned with the Biosphere Reserve governance principle, our research underscores the importance of community involvement in co-producing knowledge to develop risk management strategies rooted in the fundamental relationships between communities, cultural heritage, and the environment. Main intended output of this study is to contribute to the development of a replicable model for communities facing similar hazards, emphasizing the role of cultural heritage in fostering resilient societies.

ID: 3.13207

Spatio-temporal Variability of Land Use/Cover in the Araucarias Biosphere Reserve: The case of the Truful-Truful basin, Chile. Assessment of the Core, Buffer, and Transitions Zones.

Nemo Ortega
Vergara-Fernández, Cristián; Argandoña-Castro, Fabián; Gallardo-Álvarez, Natalia

Abstract/Description

Biosphere Reserves and protected areas are crucial policy instruments for protecting areas of high ecological value. However, more information about land use/cover changes within Biosphere Reserves is needed, explicitly focusing on dynamics in their core, buffer, and transition zones. This study aimed to analyze the dynamics of land use/cover change between 1961 and 2018 and assess future changes from 2018 to 2034 in the Truful-Truful basin within the Araucarias Biosphere Reserve in south-central Chile. Land use/cover maps were obtained through photointerpretation of aerial photography and satellite images. Land use/cover transitions, gains, losses, and net changes were calculated for 1961-1974, 1974-1987, 1987- 2002, and 2002-2018. Future changes until 2034 were simulated using Markov chains and cellular automata. Results showed that between 1961 and 1987, 95% of the study area remained stable, with small changes associated with the succession of natural vegetation and the loss of grassland. However, between 1987 and 2018, an increase in anthropogenic activity contributed to two wildfires that affected large areas of old-growth forest in the core and buffer zones. The results indicate that wildfire events threaten the conservation of the core zone of the Biosphere Reserve due to increasing anthropogenic activities and the lack of territorial planning instruments for the buffer and transition zones of the Biosphere Reserve. Without new wildfires, natural vegetation may recover through natural or assisted ecological restoration.

ID: 3.13268

Incendios forestales naturales causados por tormentas eléctricas en la Reserva de Biosfera Araucarias. Chile.

Nemo Ortega

Abstract/Description

Las Reservas de Biosfera (RB), son zonas de ecosistemas terrestres o costeros, marinos, o una combinación de los mismos, reconocidas en el plano internacional como tales, en el marco del Programa sobre el Hombre y la Biosfera (MAB) de la UNESCO, cuya finalidad principal es favorecer el bienestar de los seres humanos y la naturaleza. En Chile existen 10 RB siendo una de ellas la RB Araucarias ubicada en 9 comunas de la pre y cordillera de los Andes de la Región de La Araucanía. Posee una superficie de más de un millón cuatrocientas mil hectáreas incorporando a 10 áreas silvestres protegidas del Estado (4 Parques Nacionales y 6 Reservas Nacionales) existentes en esta región. Los incendios forestales son unas de la principales amenazas que tiene la RB Araucarias, siendo esta la principal causa de pérdida de cobertura del suelo e involucra la especie vulnerable, Araucaria araucana. En los últimos 30 años, más de 830 incendios forestales se han registrado en la RB Araucarias con perdidas de cerca de 41.000 hectáreas cuyas principales causas has sido las de origen accidental (58%), las naturales (19%), las intencionales (13%) y las de origen desconocido (11%). Sin embargo, los incendios de causas naturales, con 23.100 hectáreas quemadas, representan más del 53% de la superficie que ha variado la cobertura del suelo, siendo esta causa, el principal motor de cambio en la RB Araucarias. En este sentido, en el período de estudio, los incendios de origen natural, son causados por rayos provenientes de tormentas eléctricas secas. En particular, en la temporada 2023-2024, se han registrado más de 20 incendios forestales de origen natural, lo que representa más del 40% de los eventos ocurridos en este período, lo que contrasta con lo ocurrido en el resto del país donde los incendios de origen natural no representan más del 1% de la ocurrencia. En esta investigación, se analizan los factores que contribuyen a la ocurrencia de incendios de origen natural en la RB Araucarias.

ID: 3.13293

Defining Mountain Biosphere Reserves: A Comparative Analysis of Global Mountain Definitions

Martin Delaroche
Aquerrreta, Roberto

Abstract/Description

Accurately delineating mountain areas is essential for assessing environmental change, conservation planning, and developing global biodiversity strategies. Understanding the extent of mountains in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BRs) is therefore critical to leverage this intergovernmental tool to support biodiversity conversation and sustainable use. Yet, defining mountain BRs adds two extra layers of complexity. First, the choice of scientific base matters since the area covered in mountains vary by about 60% according to the dataset used. Second a definition of mountain BRs must account for the intricate interactions between ecological dynamics, cultural heritage, and socio-economic systems that shape these sites. The present analysis was developed to assess the extent of BRs within the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) identified and categorized as “mountains” based on available mountain classifications, expressed in percent mountain area. Analyzing the 759 BRs in the network (as of January 2025), we find that the number of BRs having mountain areas varies significantly depending on the dataset used. Depending on the definition applied, BRs with at least 0.1% mountain area range from 357 to 567. The percentage of mountain area per BR typically shifts depending on whether specific landscapes—such as plateaus or coastal regions—are included or excluded. Despite these definitional differences, from 60% to 90% of BRs in the subnetwork of mountain BRs (WNMBR) maintain over 50% mountain coverage, though a few exhibit minimal mountain presence (<0.1%). Assessing the advantages and limitations of different mountain classification systems, the second version of the Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA) dataset appears as a globally consistent, hierarchical framework that could support WNMBR’s identification and expansion efforts. These findings open the possibility to provide insights for the WNMBR to (1) Identify the appropriate scale for monitoring mountain biodiversity and reporting conservation outcomes; (2) Select “mountain” definitions aligned with specific policy, advocacy, and knowledge-sharing objectives; (3) Enhance knowledge exchange by refining regional classifications based on shared ecological and cultural characteristics. By advancing a clearer framework for mountain BRs, this study contributes to improving global environmental assessments and fostering collaboration among mountain conservation initiatives.

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FS 3.209: Safeguarding Pastoralism in Mountain Regions: through education, awareness raising and cross-sectoral collaborations

#IMC: September 14 - 18 2025

FS 3.208

UNESCO World Network of Mountain Biosphere Reserves

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