Eberswalde celebrates the first supervisory board of the UNESCO Biosphere Institute!

Eberswalde celebrates the first supervisory board of the UNESCO Biosphere Institute!

On June 19, 2025, the constitutive meeting of the Supervisory Board of the Biosphere Reserves Institute (BRI) took place in Eberswalde. This institute at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) is not only unique, but also the first UNESCO Category 2 institute with this focus in the world. One year after the trilateral agreement between UNESCO, the Federal Foreign Office and the HNEE, this meeting represents a significant step in international cooperation to promote the goal of sustainable development. Barnim Current reports that the BRI acts as a think tank - it supports research, policy advice and educational offerings for biosphere reserves and is therefore part of a global network of UNESCO partners.

The UNESCO “Man and the Biosphere” (MAB) program, founded in 1971, plays a central role in this. It aims to improve the relationship between people and nature on a global scale and combines natural and social sciences to develop innovative solutions for sustainable economic development. With over 700 biosphere reserves worldwide, the MAB offers a platform for scientific collaboration and the exchange of information. The reserves act as “open-air laboratories” for sustainable development and safeguard biological diversity in a complex interaction with human activities. UNESCO highlights that recognition as a biosphere reserve requires specific landscape types and model sustainable development.

Strategic direction of the BRI

The BRI Supervisory Board, which meets at least once a year, is responsible for shaping the institute's strategic direction, defining milestones and reviewing its independent working methods. Fundamental decisions were already made at the first meeting. Dr. Stefanie Hedtkamp was elected chairwoman, while Dr. Suk-Kyung Shim took over the role of vice-chairman. The members of the Supervisory Board represent a variety of countries and organizations, including experts from Canada, Ghana, the Republic of Korea and Costa Rica. This makes the international character of the institute clear, which is also of central importance in the evaluation and adaptation of strategies.

In advance of the meeting, members had the opportunity to visit the Schorfheide-Chorin biosphere reserve. This excursion was intended not only to give participants a practical insight into sustainable land use, but also to illustrate the importance of environmental education in biosphere reserves. BfN emphasizes that biosphere reserves serve as model regions for linking sustainable development and nature conservation and thus make essential contributions to global sustainability goals.

Overarching goals

The mission of the BRI also includes training young people. The institute offers a master's degree program in the field of "Biosphere Reserves Management" and cooperates with the Leuphana University of Lüneburg to set up a doctoral college. The focus is on research areas such as the impact and significance of biosphere reserves as model regions for sustainable development. These educational and research offerings are closely linked to the goals of the MAB, which promotes the development of sustainable economies and the safeguarding of biological diversity.

In summary, the first meeting of the BRI Supervisory Board shows how important international cooperation is in the area of ​​nature conservation and sustainable development. At the end of the day, the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss are on the agenda - issues that affect not only the current generation, but also the future generation. The BRI's activities have the potential to bring about numerous positive changes in the use of our natural resources and promote sustainable lifestyles.