UNESCO takes over patronage for institute in Eberswalde

Joint press release by the German Commission for UNESCO and Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development

Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development: Institute for Biosphere Reserves to promote research, education and networking

BRI research conference — At the BRI's international research conference in May 2022, young researchers and research managers from the global network of biosphere reserves came together to discuss strategies for the future.

The UNESCO General Conference in Paris today voted unanimously in favour of the world organisation's patronage of the Biosphere Reserves Institute (BRI) at Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) in Brandenburg. The patronage was agreed at Germany's request and is valid for eight years. The cooperation will be formalised next year and supported by the state of Brandenburg. An international steering committee will be set up for the institute to help shape its work in future and integrate it even better into the international research landscape.

The Biosphere Reserves Institute at HNEE was founded in 2019 and has been offering the first English-language Master's programme on biosphere reserves worldwide since 2020, as well as a doctoral programme on the topic in cooperation with Leuphana University Lüneburg. The institute's scientists conduct research into the importance and impact of biosphere reserves and offer further training on model regions for sustainable development.

The Institute supports Germany's long-standing commitment to UNESCO biosphere reserves, which is supported by the Federal Government, the German Commission for UNESCO, the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, among others.

Background
UNESCO biosphere reserves are internationally representative model regions. They preserve biological diversity and functioning ecosystems as the basis for sustainable economic and social development. The focus is not only on protection, but also on the appropriate utilisation of established cultural landscapes. Only the relatively small core zones are strictly protected. In the remaining areas, the biosphere reserves test sustainable utilisation concepts and promote nature-compatible forms of economic activity. Biosphere reserves are managed on the basis of scientific findings. This is where the work of the Eberswalde Institute, which is committed to science and research in and with biosphere reserves, comes into play.

Note on image material
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