University of Coimbra at the 5th UNESCO World Congress of Biosphere Reserves

The Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE) of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC) will participate in the 5th UNESCO World Congress of Biosphere Reserves, taking place from 22 to 26 September, in Hangzhou, China.

The research centre will be represented by Helena Freitas, coordinator of CFE and UNESCO Chair in Biodiversity and Conservation for Sustainable Development, and Maria Fernanda Rollo, coordinator of the History, Territories and Communities Group (CFE, FCSH-NOVA). Ms Freitas will also attend as Portugal’s representative on UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) International Coordinating Council.
Held every ten years, the Congress gathers over 2,000 participants—including scientists, policymakers, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and conservationists—to set priorities, strengthen collaboration, and define a Global Action Plan for more than 750 Biosphere Reserves across 136 countries. Portugal currently has 12 Biosphere Reserves (visit the website for details).

Biosphere Reserves are model territories for sustainability that balance human well-being with ecosystem protection. Globally, over 300 million people live, learn, and innovate in these areas. “Part of a global network spanning borders and cultures, Biosphere Reserves demonstrate that degraded ecosystems can be restored, sustainable economies promoted, and communities strengthened to safeguard biodiversity,” Helena Freitas notes.

Freitas also highlights the recent publication Accelerating the Global Biodiversity Framework by Strengthening Biosphere Reserves, co-authored with CFE researcher Joana Alves, which outlines the decisive contribution of these areas to the Global Biodiversity Goals, offering science-based, locally informed solutions that inspire international cooperation.

On 24 September, Helena Freitas will represent the CPLP MAB Network in the plenary session “Strengthening Global, Regional and Thematic Networks,” emphasising networking in Portuguese-speaking countries for knowledge exchange and capacity building. A parallel session, organised by CPLP MAB at 08:30 (01:30 Portugal time), titled “Perspectives and Common Agenda in Promoting the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development,” will allow remote participation.

This edition of the Congress focuses on the contributions of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves to global biodiversity and sustainable development agendas, aligned with frameworks such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development.

More information is available here.