The UNESCO Office for Science and Culture in Europe, in collaboration with the BRI, organised the international symposium "Catalysing Biodiversity Conservation and Social Transformation – Evidence from UNESCO Biosphere Reserves" in Venice. Prof. Erik Achenbrand was involved as co-organiser and is one of the editors of the planned book.

Authors from 16 countries presented their research findings, including Prof. Benjamin Nölting (HNEE), Dr Ana Filipa Ferreira (BRI) and Saleem Haddad (TU Berlin, BIOM graduate). During the symposium, Kirsten Meuer also presented findings from the ongoing research project on the domestication of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and the diversification of cocoa systems in the Lake Bosumtwe Biosphere Reserve in Ghana.