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Newsletter World Network ofIsland and Coastal Biosphere Reserves

No. 16 (January, 2020)Publisher: Jeju Secretariat of WNICBR, the Republic of Korea

IX MEETING OF THE WORLD NETWORK OF ISLAND AND COASTAL BIOSPHERE RESERVES

The 9th Network Meeting was held in Gouritz ClusterBiosphere Reserve (GCBR) and the Hessequa regionand delegates from 11 nations from all over the globeconvened for this historic event. The event wasnoteworthy in that it was the first time that themeeting was held on African soil.

The theme of this year’s conference was Coastlines inBalance. The group of the thirty-three delegatesboasted a multitude of ages, cultures and languages –all sharing the single purpose and shared passion forprotecting the natural environment.

The presentations covered a range of topics andaddressed various challenges, each having relevanceand applicability within the group. The theme ofplastic waste appeared in many of the presentations,with many inspiring stories of mitigation actions,including a beach clean-up in Spain and theintroduction of a “plastic/waste” museum in theCommander Islands (Russia) Additionally, themesthroughout the presentations included environmentaleducation and community involvement, all with astrong focus on getting the youth involved inbiosphere reserve projects.

Delegates were treated to site visits on two occasionsby Research Fellow for the African Centre for Coastal

7TH UNESCO TRAINING COURSEFOR ICBR MANAGERS

The 7th UNESCO Training Course for Island andCoastal Biosphere Reserve Managers, organized byUNESCO MAB and Jeju Special Self-GoverningProvince and convened by Jeju Secretariat of WNICBR,took place on Jeju Island, the Republic of Korea fromOctober 30th to November 1st, 2019.

Paleoscience (ACCP) (Nelson Mandela University) DrJan De Vynck, where they learnt about the region’srich history of early human development, as well assome fascinating botanical facts about the region. Thegroup also enjoyed an excursion to one of the GCBRprojects in the area – the Goukou Resilient RiverProject – where they learnt about the threats ofinvasive alien plants to biodiversity and water securityin South Africa.

GCBR deserves the highest praise for organizing asuccessful conference, and the atmosphere could bedescribed as one of renewed vigour and enthusiasmfor the work at hand – the realisation that we are notalone in conserving the natural world; we are part of aglobal network that is as strong as it is large, andtogether we can confidently face the challenges thatlie ahead.

For more information: http://www.islandbiosphere.org/Contingut.aspx?IdPub=1222

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A total of 9 participants participated in this eventincluding Buenavista (Cuba), Garden Route (SouthAfrica), Fuerteventura (Spain), Snake Island (China),Georgian Bay (Canada), Maccahbee/Bel Ombre(Mauritius), North Vidzeme (Latvia), Haiti MABNational Committee (Haiti) and Cu Lao Cham-Hoi An(Vietnam).

The participants took part in the official ceremony forthe extension of Jeju Island BR where Shahbaz Khan,Director and Representative of UNESCO RegionalScience Bureau for Asia and the Pacific delivered thekeynote address titled, “The vision for World Networkof Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves.”

The participatory session enabled the participants toshare good practices and lessons learned with oneanother on issues such as waste management andeducation on sustainable development.

The field trip was accompanied by Dr. Jeon Yong-moon, a geologist in charge of UNESCO Jeju GlobalGeopark. While enjoying the wonders of nature, theparticipants were able to learn the formation processof Jeju Island.

JOIN ECO-FRIENDLY HOLIDAY CHALLENGE

This year the Commander Islands Biosphere Reserve isvery inspired by raising interest in recycling andsustainable use. With the coming holiday season,which usually lasts in Russia from December 31 toJanuary 7, we decided to create a festive atmospherebeforehand. We use social networks to inviteeveryone to take part in #WildWinter Challenge.

Every December week we will propose one of thetasks for the participants. The first one was publishedon December 2. That week the task was to share yourideas of eco-friendly Christmas and New Yeardecorations. While we are very eager to see thewinners of the first week, our team feels like realelves preparing some presents.

We were pleasantly surprised to see that many peoplestarted sharing their stories about old and memorabledecorations, which had been in the families fordecades. Such objects hold the holiday spirit and helpus avoid unnecessary single-use purchases. Moreover,the challenge is a fun way to learn and exchange oldand new sustainable practices from different parts ofthe world.

Even though the challenge is not directly connectedwith unique mammals or rare plants, we believe thatit is a valuable experiment of adding educational valueand sharing the festive mood. Not creating a singlepiece of waste in the process, we do not harm localspecies and do not contribute to the Great PacificGarbage Patch.

We invite you, your community, friends and family tojoin. Share your way of celebrating. Make yourholidays merry for you and nature around!

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/wastemuseum/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/p/B5jr4UXhP8x/

VKontakte:https://vk.com/commanderislands?w=wall-58344088_5818

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The Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve (GBBR) stretches200 km from Port Severn to the French River alongthe eastern coast of Georgian Bay, in Ontario, Canada,and was designated by UNESCO in 2004. It isrecognized for its biodiversity, and is the largestfreshwater archipelago on earth: known as the 30,000Islands.

Situated within the Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850,the GBBR is located on Anishinaabek territory. Ourorganization acknowledges the Rights of IndigenousPeoples in this territory and work towards respectfuland reciprocal relationships, as we are all caretakersof the land.

The GBBR is a non-profit registered Canadian charitywith an office downtown Parry Sound. Our mission isto help create more resilient ecosystems andsustainable communities within eastern Georgian Bay.We rely solely on grants and donations to doconservation and education projects. For example, wework with 10 local schools, support 7 communitygardens, and work with researchers on 52 species atrisk, including the Massasauga rattlesnake and theBlanding's turtle.

EXPLORING THE GEORGIAN BAY BIOSPHERE: AMAZING PLACES AND BIOSPHERE WALKSWritten by Emara Streich, Sustainable Tourism Development Coordinator at the Georgian Bay BR

You will know an Amazing Place the moment you seeit… it may be a visit so powerful and majestic that itwill literally take your breath away.

A newer program area at the GBBR is eco-tourism. In2014 the Amazing Places program was launched inthis biosphere, modeled after the Fundy BiosphereReserve in Atlantic Canada. This is a collection of 20must-see destinations throughout this region (seevisitamazingplaces.ca) where people can hike, paddle,bike, ski, and more! These places were chosen fortheir breathtaking views, unique landscapes, andseveral other criteria, including the ability to handleincreased visitation. Amazing Places tell a story aboutphysical, biological, cultural and historical features.We encourage our social media followers to use thehashtag #AmazingGBay when posting pictures of theiradventures!

The objectives of the Amazing Places program is tocelebrate the landscape of our UNESCO BiosphereReserve, connect residents and visitors with natureand culture, and to collaborate with partners to createmeaningful, regional economic impact.

The collection of 20 Amazing Places is comprised of sixparks, two Indigenous partners, as well as other iconicplaces within the biosphere, and several hundredkilometres of trails.

Grondine Park is 7,000 hectares of scenic wildernesslandscape, and is owned and operated byWikwemkoong Unceded Territory First Nation.Visitors can paddle or hike more than 20km worth oftrails within the park. Cultural experiences are alsooffered here, including guided hikes and Anishinaabeksong and drum teachings.

Point Grondine Park

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The Waterfront Trail in Parry Sound is a favoriteamongst locals, with its gentle terrain meanderingalong the iconic Georgian Bay shoreline. This trail isjust over 3km, and began life as a rail spur line for theCanadian National and Canadian Pacific railroads.Today, people use it to enjoy the five fitness stationsdispersed along the path, the artist stations (tocommemorate Tom Thompson’s visit), or to simplytake in the views. In the winter, cross-country skiingand fat biking is popular.

and the School House Trail in Port Severn. Each eventhas themed topics, ranging from wildlife, tree ID,spring migration, and more! GBBR staff startedexperimenting with these by-donation events in 2018,and they have been gaining momentum since –withtwo walks boasting more than 40 participants each!These are offered year round, and includesnowshoeing in the winter.

What makes these events so special is that they areexcellent opportunities to bring members of thecommunity together to learn about the Biosphere intheir own backyard! Many participants have neverbeen on the trails before, whether because they weresimply unaware of them, or because they felt theyhad no companions to explore with. These guidedhikes offer a fun, safe environment for people toconnect with the natural world around them.Alternatively, some people who join the hikes havebeen on the trails countless times, but are seeking adeeper understanding of the area around them, andso they come to the experts to learn more. Thedonations received from guests on these hikes directlyhelp continue more education and conservationprogramming with the biosphere.

To learn more about all Amazing Places within theGeorgian Bay Biosphere, see visitamazingplaces.ca,and visit gbbr.ca to stay updated with our otherprogramming and initiatives. Follow us on Facebookand Instagram at @GBayBiosphere.

The Massasauga Provincial Park is famous for itsstriking landscape of colorful gneiss rocks andgeological patterns, narrow bays and inlets. Thiscluster of islands is accessed by boat only, andmotorboats are not permitted on inland lakes –thebest way to experience this Amazing Place is bypaddling a canoe or kayak! It’s a popular destinationfor backcountry camping, and you can pick up a self-guided interpretive booklet with informationcorresponding to certain points along designatedhiking trails.

Visitors to these remarkable destinations are stronglyencouraged to do their part to keep these places“Amazing”, following Leave No Trace principles. Anexample of this is to tread lightly, and whereapplicable, follow routes for walking or cycling topreserve the integrity of the ecosystems. And ofcourse, whatever you take in with you, take out! Besure to discover the rich Indigenous cultures aroundGeorgian Bay, and ask about local foods and culinaryspecialties. Support local businesses by purchasing anyneeded supplies or souvenirs from them.

“Biosphere Walks” are GBBR staff-led interpretivehikes throughout the biosphere region. They are oftenhosted at Amazing Places, including the WaterfrontTrail in Parry Sound, the Rose Point Trail in Seguin,

Waterfront Trail

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The Lima Action Plan (MAB 2016) is committed toimplementing the UN 2030 Program for SustainableDevelopment, both within and outside of thebiosphere reserves, through the global disseminationof sustainability models developed in the reserves ofthe biosphere. The MAB Strategy foresees that, in thenext 10 years, the MAB Program will focus its supporton Member States and stakeholders in biodiversityconservation; the restoration and improvement ofecosystem services; the promotion of the sustainableuse of natural resources; the contribution to a healthyand equal sustainable society, to an economy and aset of prosperous human settlements in harmony withthe biosphere; the facilitation of biodiversity,sustainable science, training for sustainabledevelopment and capacity building, and support forclimate change mitigation and adaptation to it, andother aspects of global climate change.

The Fuerteventura Biosphere Reserve that celebratesits 10th anniversary in May 2020 assumes thechallenge of adapting its Action Plan to the newstrategy derived from the Lima Action Plan and theUN 2030 Agenda set out in the SDGs. An Action Planto be assumed by the Climate Emergency declarationmade by the government of the island, theautonomous region and the European Parliament.

Although the objectives of the action plans inspired bythe Madrid strategy are very similar to the currentSDGs and Action Plans, a review is necessaryconsidering the new problems facing the planet andespecially in the field species conservation, ocean careand the Biosphere as a whole. As well as, thedistribution of wealth societies, traditional cultures,climate and people's health. Changes that occur in anaccelerated way and that require tools of analysis,execution and social consensus.

THE FUERTEVENTURA BIOSPHERE RESERVE AND THE NEED TO ADAPT ITS ACTION PLAN TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS).

That numerous areas of the planet have declared theclimatic emergency and call for a decisive action inreducing GHG and temperature is nothing more thanthe verification of the seriousness of the moment. Thebiosphere reserves must take up the challenge andcontribute decisively to the search for solutions and inany case to implement sustainability measures andthis must be done by incorporating the SDGs into theirAction Plans and work schedules.

Written by Antonio Gallardo Campos, Managing Director of the Biosphere Reserve of Fuerteventura(fuerteventurabiosfera@gmail.com)

THE ELANDSBERG HAKEA CHALLENGE

Local action to control invasive alien trees in theMountain Catchment Areas supplying water to theLadismith area

One of the greatest threats to key water resourceareas in the Mountain Catchment Areas of theWestern Cape, South Africa are invasive alien trees.Dense infestations of hakea and pine trees generallyresult in more than a 10% increase in water loss to theatmosphere, and thus if these trees are not controlledthis will result in a reduction in yield of many millionsof litres of water, with potentially severe impacts onthe businesses and farms which depend on this water,especially during droughts. This has particularrelevance to Ladismith and the surrounding farms,with almost all of its water supplied by the KleinSwartberg Mountains.

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Over the last 15 months, three volunteers (DonovanKotze, Hugh Sussen and Samantha Adey) have beenclearing invasive alien trees once or twice a month.Over this time, they have systematically covered over1 500 hectares of mainly sparsely infested areas andhave cut down more than 4 200 trees. However, towin the battle several more people were required tobecome involved.

In an attempt to draw more people into clearinginvasive alien plants, the team organised theElandsberg Hakea Challenge with the goal of cuttingdown at least 3 000 invasive alien trees. The challengewas advertised through local contacts and socialmedia and included two clearing events.

A total of seven volunteers undertook the firstElandsberg hakea challenge on 9 November 2019 andmanaged to cut down about 1 650 trees and clear 2hectares. The challenge continued on 15 Novemberwith eight farmworkers and the team did really well toclear another 2 hectares and approximately 2 700trees.

The Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR)sponsored gloves and saws for the events and is veryproud of the teams’ achievements and for exceedingtheir target and all in two days!

For more information:https://gouritz.com/2019/11/27/the-elandsberg-hakea-challenge-report-back-and-way-forward/

BIO-CULTURAL HERITAGE TOURISM PROJECTAt the beginning of October, the Iroise Islands and SeaBiosphere Reserve organised the "Local Heritage andSustainable Tourism in Iroise" seminar.

This is the 2nd seminar proposed as part of theINTERREG Bio-cultural Heritage Tourism (BCHT)project, which brought together some sixtyparticipants. We welcomed our English and Frenchpartners to the Iroise Biosphere Reserve: the Englishpartner biosphere reserves North Devon and Brightonand Lewes Down, and the French partner MaraisAudomarois, as well as the associate partners theUniversity of Exeter in England and the departmentalagency Pas de Calais Tourisme.

The location of the November 2019 Hakea challengeon the slopes of the Elandsberg, in a strategicallyimportant area between generally very lowinfestations in the west and several high infestationsin the east

Over the three days of meetings, one day wasdevoted to presenting the progress of the BCHTproject over the past year.

Participants participated in various workshops onissues related to the project, such as "how to mobilizetourism professionals in favour of sustainabledevelopment" or "how to enhance under or overvisited sites in their Biosphere Reserve throughinnovative tourism activities?.

The other two days in Ushant Island and MolèneIsland provided participants with a forum forexchanges between eco-actors of biosphere reserveson the tourist activities in which they participated.Most of the activities were led by the eco-actors ofthe Iroise Biosphere Reserve, such as a visit to theonly agricultural project of the Molène Island or themanufacture of cosmetics based on natural resourcesproposed by the Savonnerie d'Ouessant.

Subscribe to the Facebook page @Iroise UNESCOBiosphere Reserve to get all the latest news!

And to discover more about the BCHT project:https://www.bcht.eu/ and Twitter: #BCHT Project

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THE NEST TO OCEAN PROGRAM IN THE GREAT SANDY BIOSPHERE, AUSTRALIA

The coastline of the Great Sandy Biosphere isinternationally renowned for its marine turtle nestingsites. These sites support significant breedingpopulations of vulnerable Green and Flatback turtles,as well as over 50% of the endangered Loggerheadturtles within the South Pacific Ocean.

Turtles are seasoned travelers by the time they arriveto nest within the Great Sandy Biosphere. Theseturtles spend decades journeying across the PacificOcean before reaching maturity and returning to layeggs at the same beach where they were born.

These iconic species experience a range of seriousthreats to their survival, including climate change,pollution and changes to habitats. Other threatsinclude predation of eggs and hatchlings byintroduced pests such as feral pigs, dogs and theEuropean red fox.

The “Nest to Ocean” Turtle Protection program is anongoing commitment by the Australian andQueensland Governments to protect marine turtlenesting sites from these introduced predators.

The Nest to Ocean program particularly targets theregion’s fox population through deployment ofconservation detection dogs to locate and fumigatefox dens. Foxes dispersing into the area from adjacenthabitats will continue to use old dens in subsequentseasons. These dens are mapped to enable rangerteams to revisit dens and implement control actionssuch as fumigation and trapping prior to future turtlenesting seasons. The use of soft-jaw foot-hold trapsoutside fumigated dens has proved an effective wayto intercept returning and adolescent foxes.

The continued involvement of the region’s TraditionalOwners, including the Gidarjil DevelopmentCorporation’s Land and Sea Ranger team, enhancesthe sense of community stewardship within the Nestto Ocean program. Local communities, particularlyschool students, are always keen to interact withrangers and learn about their contribution topreserving one of our region’s oldest natural wonders.

Figure 1 Technical officer, Tom Garrett, searching forfox dens with conservation detection dog, Rocky.

Figure 2 Green sea turtle visiting a coral reef within theGreat Sandy

Figure 3 Sea ranger, Kelvin Rowe, with an emergingnest of loggerhead turtle hatchlings that had beenprotected from foxes and goannas

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LA PALMA BIOSPHERE RESERVE AND THE CANARY HEALTH SERVICE SET TO DISSEMINATE GOOD ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES IN THE HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CENTERS OF THE ISLAND

Mariano H. Zapata, the president of the La PalmaWorld Biosphere Reserve Foundation, Kilian Sánchez,the director of the La Palma Health Area, andMercedes Coello, the health services manager on theIsland, signed an agreement to disseminate goodenvironmental practices, which will not only result inthe improvement of residents’ quality of life andhealth but also contribute to a greater humanizationof the General Hospital of La Palma and of the healthcenters of the Island.

The document states that the objective of thisagreement is to facilitate the dissemination of theethical values and commitments of residing in aterritory declared the biosphere reserve, authorizingthe use of informative materials of the La PalmaBiosphere Reserve in all health centers of the Island,while the Reserve itself will distribute and replace it ifnecessary.

STUDENTS IN THE DOCTORAL PROGRAM OF PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS CARRY OUT THEIR PRACTICES IN THE LA PALMA BIOSPHERE RESERVE

Three students studying for Ph.D. program inProtected Natural Areas carried out their trainingpractices in La Palma Biosphere Reserve, organized bythree Spanish universities (Autonomous University ofMadrid, Complutense University and the University ofAlcalá), through the Fernando González BernáldezFoundation, and in collaboration with EUROPARC-Spain.

The work carried out was framed in the PreparatoryPhase of the Active protection and integratedmanagement of Nature 2000 Network in Azoresproject “LIFE-IP AZORES NATURE”, project led by theRegional Directorate of the Environment of Azores(DRA), in which this institution participates as abeneficiary partner and whose action consists in thedesign, testing and evaluation in the project islands, ofan operational framework for prevention, earlywarning and rapid response to invasive alien species.

The students have learned some protected naturalareas of the Island, where they have also sharedexperiences with other trainees and the National Parkstaff.

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS BOOK CLUB LAUNCHED IN LOCAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Primary school pupils will learn about the UnitedNations’ Sustainable Development Goals as a result ofa gift from UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man.

As a UNESCO Biosphere, the Isle of Man is committedto working towards a more sustainable future.Globally, sustainability is driven by the United Nations’17 Sustainable Development Goals, or Global Goals.

The SDG Book Club is launched to assist children agedsix to 12 to learn about the Global Goals. Each month,for 17 months, a panel is selecting books that will beimpactful for children throughout the world.

UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man is providing a set ofbooks for each Isle of Man primary school, building aGlobal Goals library. Schools are also encouraged toundertake SDG Book Club activities.

Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for Environment, Foodand Agriculture, dropped into St John’s Primary Schooltoday to launch the initiative and deliver the firstthree books, covering poverty, health and wellbeingand gender equality.

He said: ‘The Global Goals provide a framework forpeople, the planet, prosperity, peace and partnerships.SDG Book Club books address these big issues in achild-friendly way. We are pleased to have sourcedthe books through local bookshops. I hope they willprovide a thought-provoking and stimulating additionto school libraries.’

Photo shows Minister Boot presenting the first SDGBook Club books to pupils of St John’s Primary School.

A STUDY ON MILLENNIALS BEHAVIOR TOWARDS NORTH VIDZEME BIOSPHERE RESERVE IN LATVIA

“No one will protect what they don't care about; andno one will care about what they have neverexperienced” ― David Attenborough

Due to climate change and becoming biodiversitycrisis, it is needed to pay attention to new generationsrelationship with protected areas. Gen Z (born 2000-2013) and Gen Y (born 1982-1999) is important targetgroup for visiting national parks and biospherereserves, particularly in the future. Do they visit andrevisit nature-protected areas and do they pay specialattention to them, as well – what motivates to visitthese areas – are questions that comes in focus inlatest researches.

The internationally recognized UNESCO chair onBiosphere and Man was established in 2019, in theVidzeme University of Applied Sciences - the onlyuniversity in this region. It was designed to raiseawareness of the ideas of the Biosphere Reserve insociety and to strengthen stakeholder cooperation inthe realization of this concept, as well it opens moreopportunities for scientific researches in specificterritory and it is one of the ways to raise awarenessof importance of reserve between students.

Between May and August 2019, an online survey ofthe behavior of Gen Z and Gen Y towards biospherereserve in Latvia (target audience 15-25 years oldyouth) was held by Vidzeme University of AppliedSciences with the main purpose to explore motivationand influencing factors for young people to visit theNorth Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve (NVBR). Thenovelty of the work is that for the first time in Latviathe potential target audience of protected area isdivided into generations.

NVBR was chosen as a study area, because it is thelargest protected area in Latvia, covering the 7% oftotal area of Latvia. The reserve was established in1997 and already on December 15, 1997, recognizedas a protected territory of international importance inthe framework of the UNESCO program Man andBiosphere. NVBR represents the terrestrial and coastal

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Baltic sea ecosystems, covering also river basins of thecoast of Gulf Riga. It includes 10 counties – fully andpartially - with a total area of 457,708 hectares. Morethan a half of NVBR terrestrial area is covered byforests and swamps. Studies on youth behavior in theNVBR have been ongoing since 2007. Tendenciesshows that knowledge and recognition of area isdecreasing. Although, they are visiting reserve or evenliving in it, they do not know that it is a part of NorthVidzeme Biosphere reserve.

Results showed that actually there is differencesbetween mentioned two age groups. The average ageof the respondents (n=295) was 18.9 years. Of allparticipants, 65% were young people in the age group15-19, and 35% in the 20-25 age group. 25% of therespondents live in the BR area, 65% have visited it atleast once. Results showed that all respondents arewith high interest 51%, to do activities in nature. Mostpopular activities are hikes, walks, cycling andswimming also sightseeing. As other activities whatGen Y likes to do outside is geocaching, doing sportgames (football, volleyball, etc.). All respondents wererising interest about walking trails in bogs, whichunderline motivation to escape daily routine and givesunique experience. Even walking and hiking were topactivities, respondents had less information about 4long distance routes that crosses biosphere reserve. Intourist sites it is necessary to have rest rooms 93%,tourism information 66% and free parking 55%. GEN Zwere more interested in local beverage and productsto buy. Talking about information, Gen Y is moreimportant than Gen Z to have historical information inthe tourist site. Most popular channels for searchinginformation are Internet 63%, friends and family –50% and social network Facebook.com 55%. Gen Zwould like to receive information also in Snapchat.The motivations to visit biosphere reserve wererelieves stress and alleviates tension, to socialize,escape from daily life, doing activities and sporting, tovitalize respondent’s daily life and enrich knowledge,as well as to gain new and unique experience. Bothgroups have shown that information and ads are tooless about biosphere reserve, but they would visit are,if their friends would visit it and post beautifulphotography’s in social media.

For more information about research, please contactAnda Arklina (UNESCO Chair in Biosphere and Man,Institute of Social, Economic and Humanities Researchof Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences)anda.arklina@va.lv

About North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve in Latvia -https://www.daba.gov.lv/public/eng/protected_areas/north_vidzeme_biosphere_reserve/

© Andris Soms Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia

Young participants in hiking event with geology expertsalong Baltic sea coastline 2019, North Vidzeme BR

ZERO PLASTIC WORKING GROUP UPDATES

The 2nd Zero Plastic News Bulletin was published inOctober, 2019. In it we welcome new Zero Plasticmember, Islands of Iroise Sea Biosphere Reserve,share summaries from the Zero Plastic presentationduring the IX Meeting of the WNICBR in South Africaand the Annual Meeting of the Spanish Board ofBiosphere Reserve Managers, highlight efforts such asthe CAPONLITTER INTERREG Europe Project in GranCanaria, "Creando Con Ciencia" in Fuerteventura,share a focus the Urdaibai and Isle of Mann BiosphereReserves taking actions against plastic pollution, andshine a spotlight on several examples of plastic-related policies. To read more, here's the link:[http://zeroplastic.islandbiosphere.org/Contingut.aspx?IdPub=1028]

Members from the Biosphere Reserves of Lanzaroteand Menorca, along with members of theinternational research network Marine Sciences ForSociety, have written an article entitled, "Plastic as aforce of social disintegration: Kilometer zero and ZeroPlastic, two sides of the same coin," to be published in

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an upcoming edition, Ecologista nº 102, of theEcologistas en Acción magazine(https://www.ecologistasenaccion.org/revista/). Thearticle reflects on the ways in which plastics havefacilitated globalized exchanges of goods that oncewere obtained locally, at "kilometer zero", and howthis change has contributed to breaking ties ofcommunal interdependence and increasing social-environmental injustices. We call for all sectors ofsociety, particularly politicians and industry leaders, tocommit to rediscovering who we are through ourhuman and material relations, and engage inprocesses of social reintegration to get us to kilometerzero and zero plastic.

Members of the Zero Plastic working group arebeginning to propose collaborative efforts, such as aWaste Museum managed by the Commander IslandsNature and Biosphere Reserve -- more details to comein the 3rd edition of the Zero Plastic News Bulletin,January 2020.

2ND ASTROTOURISM STARLIGHT MEETING

Last November Menorca hosted the 2nd AstrotourismStarlight Meeting, the only global forum on startourism, which gathered more than 50representatives including managers and specializedtourist lodgings, experts in lighting, energy efficiencyand measurement of the quality of the night sky,specialized guides and reporters, and representativesof international Starlight territories such as Canada,Portugal, Colombia and Chile, and from different partsof Spain as the Canary islands, Andalusia, Galicia,Castile and León, Castilla-La Mancha, Extremaduraand Catalonia.

The meeting included different presentations anddebates to share experiences about astrotourism,discuss the opportunities that it brings in terms ofsustainable tourism and understand the advantagesand the implementation processes of this kind oftourism, which aims to protect and highlight aterritory’s night sky and connect it to its cultural,historical, gastronomical and ethnological values.

The first Starlight International Awards took placeduring the meeting. These rewarded the work ofterritories, companies and initiatives related with thenight sky whose main objectives are to protect it, toculturally disseminate astronomy, to promote thetourism of the stars and to fight against light pollution.

Moreover, the first Starlight International Awardstook place during the meeting. These rewarded thework of territories, companies and initiatives relatedwith the night sky whose main objectives are toprotect it, to culturally disseminate astronomy, topromote the tourism of the stars and to fight againstlight pollution.

http://www.biosferamenorca.org/Contingut.aspx?IDIOMA=3&idpub=4022

For more information: http://zeroplastic.islandbiosphere.org/

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Starting off as a national research symposium, theConference on Biosphere and Sustainability hasexpanded over the years to an internationalnetworking event of researchers and experts. Incollaboration with academic, government & civilsociety partner through the Palawan KnowledgePlatform, Palawan BR’s management authority(Palawan Council for Sustainable Development), hasbeen hosting the annual conference since 2013.

Around 250 participants joined the 2019 InternationalConference last 24-26 July 2019 held in PuertoPrincesa City in Palawan BR, the Philippines. Local andinternational experts, researchers, delegates andstudents gathered together to share their researchendeavors, and discuss and collaborate on issuestackling the environment and sustainability. Foursessions gave insights into the research fields of (1)Biosphere Reserves, Climate Change Resilience andSustainability; (2) Ecological and Biophysical Systems;(3) Human and Social Systems; and (4) EconomicSystems, Innovation and Technology. The conferenceshowcased a total of 82 researches/studies conductedin Palawan and throughout the Philippines, which wascomposed of 49 oral and 33 poster presentations.

Welcome messages were given by UNESCO-Philippines’ Lindsay Barrientos, Palawan ViceGovernor Victorino Dennis Socrates, Puerto PrincesaCity Vice Mayor Maria Nancy Socrates and PalawanCouncil for Sustainable Development ExecutiveDirector Nelson Devanadera. Keynote speeches weredelivered by Dr. Antonio de Abreu, Biosphere ReserveExpert from Portugal and UNESCO-MAB Consultant,and Ms. Armida Andres of the Department ofEnvironment and Natural Resources-BiodiversityManagement Bureau.

FROM PALAWAN BR AND BEYOND: 2019 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON BIOSPHERE AND SUSTAINABILITY

Dr. Abreu emphasized that UNESCO seeks to buildpeace thru international cooperation in education,science, and culture. A notable plenary presentationwas delivered by Dr. Dai-Yeun Jeong of Asia ClimateChange Education Center and Jeju National University,who presented the framework for achieving a carbon-free society. Other presenters are: Dr. Rafe Brown(University of Kansas), Dr. Devendra Saroj (Universityof Surrey), Dr. Paulina Maria Neisch (City University ofHong Kong), Dr. Dominique Caouette (University ofMontreal), Dr. Anthony Shun Fung Chiu (De La SalleUniversity-Manila), Dr. Roy G. Ponce (Davao OrientalState College of Science and Technology), Mr. AndersHaagen (Lionheart Farms Philippines Corporation), Mr.Frederic Tardieu (Sulubaai Environmental Foundation),Ms. Val Angelie Ungson (Tubbataha Reefs NaturalPark, and Ms. Aubrey Jayne Padilla (Centre forSustainability).

To put emphasis on exchange of ideas and opinions onthe important issues confronting the BRs, paneldiscussions were held on the second and third day ofthe conference, focusing on the topics of 1)Biodiversity and Sustainable Development and 2)Social Sustainability and the United NationsSustainable Development Goals. Diverse opinionswere heard from the discussants representing theacademe, industries, civil society, and governmentinstitution.

The research-conference also featured andshowcased projects and programs being conducted inUNESCO-designated sites, the Tubbataha ReefsNatural Park and Puerto Princesa Subterranean RiverNational Park, and the Palawan BR itself, through theUNESCO-Philippines exhibits. By recognizing the needto continuously improve the knowledge base andprovide the latest scientific information, theorganizers committed to holding this internationalresearch-conference annually. The key local academicpartners in this conference were Palawan StateUniversity, Western Philippines University, HolyTrinity University, Palawan Polytechnic College, Inc.,and Fullbright College.

https://pcsd.gov.ph/igov/biosphere-2019/?fbclid=IwAR3_cVV_IoPf5QjoFstKZFvKLlKIi1Wql1t3eR15T6rtmNZaZCfZyM_riMU

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URDAIBAI BIOSPHERE RESERVE ORGANIZES THE I INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS: CREATING BRIDGES BETWEEN SCIENCE AND MANAGEMENT IN BIOSPHERE RESERVES (NOVEMBER 13 – 15)

Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve has hosted the IInternational Congress from November 13 to 15:Creating Bridges between Science and Managementin Biosphere Reserves. Towards sustainable andresilient societies and territories throughcontributions to the 2030 Sustainability Agenda.

The main objective of the Congress has been toestablish the research lines for the next 10 years,which address the knowledge needs for managementand sustainable development in the BiosphereReserves. The appointment has sought to achieve thePlan for Interpretation, Research, Training andEducation for Sustainable Development (PICE-IGHP)2015-2025 of the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, whosemain objectives are the identification of scientificwork which is carried out around the BiosphereReserves, their possibilities of application tomanagement and the integration of this knowledgewith the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the2030 Agenda.

Participation has been a fundamental axis of theCongress, where discussion tables and work dynamicsthat integrate knowledge needs for management andresearch activity have been raised. The threeconference days have been structured based on theachievement of the Sustainable Development Goals ofthe 2030 Agenda, and have been divided into 4sessions: Planet, Society, Prosperity, and finally,Alliances and Education. The 4 sessions have beenattended by more than 40 experts and almost 100attendees. The day of November 13, has dealt withthe 9 of the 17 SDGs linked to the Planet y Society,with the collaboration of Carlos Montes, Professor ofEcology at the Autonomous University of Madrid. OnNovember 14 instead, the act will deal with the 8remaining SDGs, grouped in the Prosperity andPartnerships sessions, and will be attended by Dr. ErikGómez-Baggethun of the Norwegian University of

Sciences of the Life and the Institute of EnvironmentalChange of the University of Oxford. Finally, onNovember 15, and after the presentation of SergioGuevara, President of the Council InternationalCoordination Program Man and Biosphere, the dayhas focused on the presentation of the results of theparticipation process, both researchers and managersand in establishing the lines of research for the next10 years.

https://www.uik.eus/es/kudeaketa-eta-zientziaren-arteko-zubiak-eraikitzen-iraunkortasunerako-ikerketa-biosfera-erreserbetan

THE XV INTERNATIONAL NATURE CONSERVATION FORUM HAS BEEN HELD IN THE URDAIBAI BIOSPHERE RESERVE FROM OCTOBER 23 TO 25, 2019

The Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve has hosted the XVInternational Nature Conservation Forum, whoseinstitutional opening has been attended by AitorZulueta, director of Natural Heritage and ClimateChange of the Basque Government. In his speech,Zulueta stressed that "we have to reflect on what thevision of society is and how we want to relate tonature." He has also pointed out that “society expectsscience to free us from responsibility and allow us tocontinue consuming. The important thing is that wechange our habits.”

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The XV International Nature Conservation Forum isthe main annual meeting of the Spanish Committee ofthe International Union of Conservation of Nature(IUCN). The Forum began on October 23 with thecelebration of the CeUICN Members Assembly. Theday of October 24, open to the public, has had 90attendees who will have the opportunity to hear thepresentations of experts on conservation, climatechange and nature-based solutions.

Aitor Zulueta has begun the presentations with thepresentation of the draft Basque Law on ClimateChange, noting that "Basque Country assumes theprinciple of shared responsibility aware of the impactsand risks that loom over the planet." The Basque Lawon Climate Change aims to define a framework foraction to achieve the goals set in the Climate ChangeStrategy KLIMA 2050. The act has concluded on the25th, the day on which the draft IUCN Program 2021-2024 has been presented and the strategic lines of theIUCN Mediterranean program 2021-2024. The day hasended with a field trip to the Interpretation Center ofthe Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve and the San KristobalBird Observatory (Busturia, Urdaibai).

http://www.uicn.es/foroceuicn2019/

RACE FOR WATER ODYSSEY VISITS PALAWAN BIOSPHERE RESERVE (PHILIPPINES)

On September 19 to October 6, 2019 students,researchers, government officials, leaders, businessand civil society from Palawan and the Philippinescame to Puerto Princesa City and Pangatalan Island inTaytay Municipality to see the world’s largest solar-powered catamaran in anchorage in Palawan BR.

The Swiss-registered vessel with French crew, underthe auspices of the Race for Water Foundation, is onvoyage around the world to raise awareness on plasticpollution and show innovative solutions and businessmodels that give value to plastic waste and encourageits collection. The vessel gained praises from peoplearound the world due to its special design that modelstransition to renewable energy, as it is hundred-percent powered by the sun, water, and wind.

This is not the first time the Race for WaterFoundation has set out in an odyssey. In 2015, theymade a global assessment of marine plastic pollutionwhere they concluded that “plastic islands” do notexist. Instead, only 1 to 3 percent of plastic pollutionremains on the surface and the rest makes the oceana “veritable toxic soup of microplastics” that isimpossible to clean up. Since then, the foundationdecided to direct its attention in dealing with thesource of the problem-- not on the waters, but on theland.

During the press conference on-board the vessel, thecrew presented the foundation’s biogreen solutionthat converts plastic waste into energy. This greenertechnology was designed by the Race for Water anddeveloped by the company ETIA.

The visit of the Race for Water team in Palawan wasmade possible through the efforts of SulubaaiEnvironmental Foundation (https://sulubaai-foundation.com/), a valuable partner of the PalawanCouncil for Sustainable Development (PCSD), the BR’smanagement authority and the local governmentunits in Palawan. The Foundation recently signed asmember of the Palawan Knowledge Platform forBiodiversity and Sustainable Development(www.pkp.pcsd.gov.ph).