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Italy’s Monte Peglia UNESCO MAB Biosphere Reserve joins the MedMAB network, bringing the network to 73 Biosphere Reserves.

From 14 to 18 September 2026, EuroMAB 2026 brought together members of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) community in the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region, Canada, to exchange knowledge, share experiences and explore new ways of working together for people and nature.

• UNESCOMED contributed to the International Workshop on Standards for  Promoting Forest Restoration in the Mediterranean, reinforcing its commitment  to advancing science-based, collaborative restoration across the Mediterranean  region.
• UNESCO Biosphere Reserves already embody many  of the 10 Principles to guide the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021 -  2030, integrating science, adaptive management and local knowledge.
• Field visits to Sierra Espuña and the Mar Menor demonstrated how  long-term, science-based restoration can successfully address complex  environmental challenges across Mediterranean landscapes.

• UNESCOMED and MedMAB met with UNESCO Venice to explore opportunities for  future cooperation in the Mediterranean region.
• The meeting provided an opportunity to present the UNESCOMED Centre’s  2025–2030 Strategy and the activities of the MedMAB Network.
• The exchange allowed both institutions to identify synergies and areas  of common interest for future collaboration.

A new scientific paper analyses how the MAB Programme is implemented across Mediterranean biosphere reserves.  

The study was made possible thanks to the involvement of 38 MedMAB members who responded to a survey circulated within the network. 

 The paper is a collaborative work of international experts in the framework of the International University Campus on Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves. 

Mediterranean biosphere reserves are facing rapidly evolving policy expectations. Understanding how they interpret and apply UNESCO’s guidance has never been more important. A new study sheds light on how these sites translate into local action.  

The paper, “Exploring implementation differences of UNESCO policy ...

The Abertis Foundation and the OAPN have renewed the agreement that ensures four more years of institutional support—a decisive step towards strengthening sustainability, knowledge exchange, and socio-ecological resilience across the Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves. 

Last week, the International Centre for the Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves participated in the workshop “Collaboration in European UNESCO Biosphere Reserves” (November 4–7), organised by the Biosphere Reserves Institute of Fachhochschule Eberswalde (Germany), aUNESCO Category 2 Centre. 

Representing the Centre, Núria Pou, Coordinator of the International Centre for the Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves, contributed to discussions by explaining how the Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves Network (MedMAB) strengthens collaboration among its members through dynamic participation and joint initiatives such as the RES-MAB Project. Pou also presented how the Centre’s research and innovation activities support biosphere reserves in addressing key challenges and ...

The 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves confirmed the Mediterranean’s leading role in science, innovation, and cooperation. 

On 29–30 May 2025, the International Centre for the Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves (UNESCOMED) hosted the 4th Mediterranean Biosphere Reserve Managers’ Meeting under the theme: "Towards a Resilient Mediterranean: The Contribution of Biosphere Reserves to Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation." 

This well-established forum brought together managers and stakeholders from the MedMAB Network to exchange experiences and foster joint action. Georgina Flamme from the Abertis Foundation inaugurated the meeting, highlighting the importance of public-private collaboration in tackling shared challenges such as climate change. The opening session also featured an intervention by Natalia Beltrán, representing Spain’s Autonomous National Parks ...