As part of the UNESCO "Men and biosphere" (MAB) programme, biosphere reserves are obliged to submit a progress report on the implementation and further development of their programme to UNESCO every ten years. The Rhön Biosphere Reserve is currently preparing its third progress report ("periodic review") for this purpose.
From 16 to 18 October 2013, the MAB National Committee visited the biosphere reserve to discuss the draft report and gain an impression of developments over the last ten years. To this end, the members of the National Committee visited implementation projects of the transnational biosphere reserve in Hesse, Bavaria and Thuringia. The focus was on issues of ecological as well as social and economic sustainability. The visit programme included large-scale nature conservation projects and a life project as well as projects for inner-city development, the promotion of social cohesion and regional development projects in the field of regional marketing and tourism.
IfLS Consulting and Projects is supporting the Rhön Biosphere Reserve in the preparation of the progress report and in the implementation of an accompanying participation process for regional stakeholders in the three federal states.
Further information:
- Rhön Biosphere Reserve: https://www.biosphaerenreservat-rhoen.de/ [link in German]
- The German MAB National Committee: www.bfn.de/en/german-mab-national-committee
Contact at the IfLS: Dr. Ulrich Gehrlein (gehrlein[at]ifls.de) and Svea Thietje (thietje[at]ifls.de)
