Rationale:
The publics awareness and engagement is a prerequisite for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. While addressing the Agenda, conflicts of interest may arise between goals and targets. UNESCO Biosphere Reserves are places where these conflicts are addressed, where needs are identified and analysed, where synergies are explored and where communities are included in finding solutions to sustainability challenges. With small means and little formal power have biosphere reserves achieved a range of results by connecting local initiatives to national and international strategies, by connecting people and nature, and by stimulating new knowledge development as well as education for sustainable development. The success of the biosphere reserves is based on collaboration, learning and a holistic view on people and nature connecting local and global perspectives. Their thorough experience of integrated work with sustainable development in practice make them interesting as strategic areas to learn from, invest in, and support the implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
There are seven countries involved in the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) around the Baltic Sea and at least nine biosphere reserves that are in direct context of the Baltic Sea. This means that there is a potential good source of interdisciplinary approaches that has generated experiences connected to for example water quality management, sustainable fisheries, processes for community engagement, ecosystem based management, sustainable certification schemes and much more.
Aim:
The aim of the project is to facilitate learning from biosphere reserves (BRs), both within the UNESCO MAB Programme and with other networks, organizations and stakeholders. In order to better share good practices and inspiring activities with regards to implementing the SDGs, the project also aims to extract stories and communicate these to different target audiences.
Project description:
Work package 1: Facilitate learning
- Inventory of other groups, networks, constellations of interest
- Start-up conference: BRs, National commissions, MAB National committees, Central authorities
- Thematic workshop during Baltic Sea Future 2018, March 6-7th in Stockholm
- Thematic workshop during Havs- och vattenforum, May 2018, in Gteborg
Work package 2: Sharing good practices
This work package will communicate the experiences and lessons learned for global diffusion and application. All actions are linked to SDGs.
- Inventory of projects of implementing SDGs in BRs: Collect and chose examples
- Conduct interviews, scouting of websites, etc
- Produce booklet: Summary of good practices
- Show case via websites, visitors centers, social media
Progress reports
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
Type of commitment
NUTRIENTS
- Nutrient sinks (e.g. constructed wetlands)
PLASTICS
- Coastal clean-ups
- Plastics recovery/recycling/reuse
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
Type of commitment
- Community or Locally Managed Marine Areas
- Integrated Coastal Management
- Marine Spatial Planning
- Large Marine Ecosystem approach
- Ecosystem-based Adaptation
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
Type of commitment
- Coastal carbon sinks/blue carbon
- Terrestrial carbon sinks
- Carbon capture and sequestration
By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
Type of commitment
- Compliance, monitoring and enforcement
- Reduction and elimination fishing practices and gear that destroy/degrade marine habitat
- Science-based fisheries management plans
- Ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF)
- Reduction of fisheries by-catch and product waste/losses
- Eco-labelling, traceability, certification programmes
- Market-based instruments (Individually Traded Quotas, Vessel Day Schemes, etc.)
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
Type of commitment
- Multiple use marine protected area
- Locally or community managed marine areas
By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
Type of commitment
- Economic benefits from sustainable fisheries
- Economic benefits from sustainable tourism
Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
Type of commitment
- Access and capacity building for eco-labelling and traceability systems
- Community empowerment for fisheries management
2017
