(MAB) Programme and Its World Network of Biosphere Reserves MAB Strategy (2015-2025) Lima Action Plan (2016-2025) Lima Declaration
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United Nations Man and Educational, Scientific and the Biosphere Cultural Organization Programme A New Roadmap for the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves MAB Strategy (2015-2025) Lima Action Plan (2016-2025) Lima Declaration Man and the Biosphere Programme UNESCO 7, place de Fontenoy F-75352 Paris 07 SP France E-mail: [email protected] 9 789231 002069 A New Roadmap for the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves MAB Strategy (2015-2025) Lima Action Plan (2016-2025) Lima Declaration Published in 2017 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 7, place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07 SP, France © UNESCO 2017 ISBN 978-92-3-100206-9 This publication is available in Open Access under the Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO (CC-BY-SA 3.0 IGO) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/igo/). By using the content of this publication, the users accept to be bound by the terms of use of the UNESCO Open Access Repository (http://www.unesco.org/open-access/terms-use-ccbysa-en). The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The ideas and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors; they are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization. Cover photos from top left to bottom right: ©Sippakorn/Shutterstock.com ©Travel Stock/Shutterstock.com ©SERNANP © UNESCO/Maria Rosa Cárdenas Tomažič Printed in France Foreword Since 1971, the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme has worked to improve the relationship between people and the environment. By combining the natural and social sciences with economics, education and capacity-building, the MAB Programme has promoted the sustainable use and conservation of biological diversity and natural resources. In 2014 – 2015, the MAB Programme underwent a number of important developments at international, national and regional levels. Following a broad and transparent consultation process and the collective contributions of many Member States, the MAB Strategy 2015 – 2025 was adopted by the 38th session of the General Conference of UNESCO. This document will guide the MAB programme for the next 10 years. Today, the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) encompasses 669 sites in 120 countries, including 16 transboundary biosphere reserves, covering over 680 million ha of terrestrial, coastal and marine areas, representing all major ecosystem types and diverse development contexts, which are home to approximately 207 million people ranging from rural communities and indigenous peoples to urban dwellers. MAB and its WNBR are thus well placed to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to different extents, in particular Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 related to life on land, as well as SDG 13 on climate, SDG 6 on water, SDG 14 on sea and oceans, SDG 11 on cities, SDG 2 on food and SDG 1 on poverty alleviation. Cooperation in research, training, exchange and capacity-building projects, both through UNESCO regular programme and extra-budgetary resources, as well as partnership projects has remained strong and dynamic. MAB’s thematic and regional networks in Africa, the Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and North America, and Latin America and the Caribbean are likewise highly active. The 4th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves took place from 14 to 17 March 2016 in Lima, Peru. It was organized by the Secretariat of the MAB programme, the Ministry of Environment of Peru (MINAM) and its National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State (SERNANP), and the MAB National Committee of Peru. The Congress, which took place for the first time outside Europe, gathered together over 1,100 participants from 115 countries and addressed issues related to the implementation of the MAB Strategy, notably in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement, such as education for sustainable development, green economies and green societies, biodiversity, climate change, and the protection and sustainable use of natural resources, among others. 3 I have the pleasure to present herewith the main outcome of this Congress, which were the adoption of the Lima Declaration and the Lima Action Plan for UNESCO’s MAB programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves (2016-2025), which will serve as a roadmap for the implementation of the MAB Strategy. Irina Bokova 4 Contents The MAB Strategy 2015-2025 7 The Lima Action Plan for UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves (2016-2025) 31 Lima Declaration on the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) 49 Acronyms 55 MAB Strategy (2015-2025) for UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves ©Andrea Gennai ©SERNANP ©Kit Korzun/Shutterstock.com ©Gorona del Viento, Cabildo de El Hierro, Reserva de Biosfera MAB Strategy Contents Executive summary 10 Preamble 11 UNESCO 11 The MAB Programme 12 MAB and other UNESCO programmes and Conventions 13 Global context for the MAB Strategy 13 The MAB Strategy within UNESCO’s Medium-Term Strategy 14 The Seville Strategy, Statutory Framework and Madrid Action Plan 14 The MAB Strategy 2015-2025 15 Vision and Mission of the MAB Programme 16 Strategic Objectives 17 Expected results 18 Strategic Action Areas 21 Strategic lines of action 24 Evaluation Framework 26 Glossary 27 Executive summary Over four decades, people across the globe have utilized biosphere reserves, designated under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, to explore local solutions to global challenges, thereby generating a wealth of experience and innovative potential for a sustainable future that emphasizes the conservation of biodiversity. In the coming 10 years, MAB will strengthen its support to Member States with regard to conserving biodiversity, restoring and enhancing ecosystem services, and fostering the sustainable use of natural resources; building sustainable, healthy and equitable economies, societies and thriving human settlements; and empowering people to mitigate and adapt to climate change and other aspects of global environmental change. MAB will harness lessons learned through sustainability science and education and employ modern, open and transparent ways to communicate and share information. MAB will ensure that its World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) consists of effective and functioning models for sustainable development by implementing an effective periodic review process so that all members of the network adhere to its standards; by improving governance, collaboration and networking within the MAB and WNBR; and by developing effective external partnerships to ensure long-term viability. MAB and its WNBR will work towards the Sustainable Development Goals and contribute to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development both within biosphere reserves and through global dissemination of sustainable development models developed in biosphere reserves. This will be done through implementation of the present Strategy, which consists of vision and mission statements, a series of Strategic Objectives and Strategic Action Areas, and an associated Action Plan to be finalized in 2016. 10 Preamble As the MAB Programme has evolved, biosphere reserves have become its principal means of implementation. The biosphere reserve concept has proved its value beyond the protected areas that each biosphere reserve contains, and is increasingly embraced by scientists, planners, policy-makers, businesses and local communities to bring diverse knowledge, scientific investigations and experiences to link biodiversity conservation and socio-economic development for human well-being. To understand and address the key challenges facing our world – poverty, climate change, water and food security, loss of biological and cultural diversity, rapid urbanization and desertification – the MAB Programme, through its World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) and its regional and thematic networks, will strategically address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through sustainable development actions in biosphere reserves, carried out in partnership with all sectors of society, to ensure the well- being of people and their environment. The experience of the WNBR, MAB Networks and interdisciplinary approaches will be used to develop and test policies and practices that address issues affecting different ecosystems, and ensure the delivery of the goods and services they provide. The MAB Programme is an important means to mainstream sustainable development at all levels, integrating economic, social and environmental aspects and recognizing their vital interlinkages, in order to achieve sustainable development in all its dimensions. UNESCO Founded in 1945, at the end of the Second World War, UNESCO celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2015. For seven decades, UNESCO has embodied high aspirations, hopes and an ongoing struggle for a better life, built on ideas of human dignity, mutual understanding and solidarity of humanity. These ideals and values are spelled out in the