Project details

Periodic review of the Biosphere Berchtesgadener Land

Every ten years, UNESCO reviews whether their recognised biosphere reserves may also retain their designation. The biosphere region Berchtesgadener Land was recognised as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1990, successfully passed the first periodic review in 2012 and will undergo the second evaluation process in 2021/2022. The IfLS was commissioned to prepare the 'Periodic Review Report'. In a UNESCO biosphere region, model approaches for a sustainable life in harmony with nature are to be tested and implemented. The basis for the activities are the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and the 'Man and Biosphere' Programme.

The periodic review should therefore present the developments of the past 10 years within the biosphere region and specifically address the activities of the biosphere region's administrative body and other relevant regional actors. In order to provide a holistic picture, regional actors supported by the IfLS were comprehensively involved in an online survey of the municipalities, an evaluation workshop and bilateral interviews. Thus, the periodic review offers the opportunity to comprehensively reflect on the work in the biosphere region.

Based on this, the work of the biosphere region can be adjusted accordingly for the next 10 years and further developed in the sense of a 'model region for sustainable development'.