Internationale Workshops für europäische Biosphärenreservate

The multi-day workshop series fosters exchange between European biosphere reserves on current topics of relevance. Between 2019 and 2022, workshops were organised by the Michael Succow Foundation, focusing on insect conservation, participation, and climate neutrality in biosphere reserves. Since 2023, the Biosphere Reserves Institute leads the organization of a series of three workshops focused on advancing research in European Biosphere Reserves, on fostering interchanges between practitioners and academia, collective learning and innovation.

The first workshop of this series - “Research in European Biosphere Reserves” - was held in February 2024 in Eberswalde. It addressed research progress, existing gaps, collaboration, and data accessibility/management. The programme also included an excursion to the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve and an intercultural celebration. The workshop brought together 28 participants from 15 different countries and biosphere reserves, along with numerous professors, researchers, and students from the Biosphere Reserves Institute. The proceedings of the workshop are available here.

The second workshop in the series - “The Potential of Citizen Science in European UNESCO Biosphere Reserves - took place in February 2025 in the Isle of Vilm International Academy for Nature Conservation. The programme featured sessions on citizen science experiences from various perspectives, including UNESCO’s, as well as its connection with research, and a “Story Lenses” group activity. The programme also included an excursion to highlights of the South-East Rügen Biosphere Reserve, a nature walk in the Isle of Vilm, located in the core zone of the reserve, and an intercultural celebration. The workshop brought together 33 participants from 17 countries. The proceedings of the workshop will be published soon.

The third and final workshop of this series - “Collaboration in European UNESCO Biosphere Reserves - took place in November 2025 in Eberswalde. The programme addressed transdisciplinary research, MAB Regional and Thematic Networks and governance. It also included a “Collaborative Design for Wiser Action” group exercise, an intercultural celebration, and a full-day excursion to the Spreewald Biosphere Reserve, where participants learned about a specific collaboration example taking place in a biosphere reserve “Introduction to Göritzer Agrar GmbH and farm site visit”. The workshop brought together 34 participants from 20 different European countries.