Training Workshop on Effective Management of Biosphere Reserves

• Training session

A training workshop on Effective Management of Biosphere Reserves in India was organized on 24 to 26 November 2008 at Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. The objective of the workshop was to sensitize Biosphere Reserve (BR) Managers about the new and emerging paradigms in BR management.

The workshop provided an opportunity to the participants to share their experience of the best practices in the management of BRs at the field level and learn through the participatory processes. There were sessions on regulatory and legal issues, zonation concept, research and monitoring, livelihood and conflict issues, ecotourism and education and interpretation. Case studies from all 15 BRs of India were presented during technical sessions. The strategic directions emanating from the Madrid Action Plan developed at 3rd World Congress of Biosphere Reserves particularly using BRs as the leaning laboratory for sustainable development were also discussed.

The workshop was held under the chairmanship of Mr B.S. Parsheera, Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India and Chairman, MAB Committee. In his inaugural speech, Mr Parsheera emphasized on the urgent need to involve the stakeholders in planning and implementation of the action plans in BRs. He also said that the local population, dependent on the biodiversity, should ensure active conservation rather than depleting the resources.

Ms Minja Yang, Director, UNESCO also delivered the inaugural speech and expressed her concerns over managing the environmental changes in the World Heritage Sites. She said that India should lead the way for others to develop replicable models for development of these natural and cultural sites in a sustainable manner.

The event was attended by 34 participants including representatives from Biosphere Reserves, lead institutes, officials of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, MAB Committee members and UNESCO resource persons/experts. Training was imparted by international experts on new developments and skills to plan strategies to face emerging challenges for BR management. The experiences and best practices of all the BRs in terms of biodiversity, conservation measures, research carried out, challenges, livelihood, community involvement, resource use, conflicts, eco-tourism were shared. A deep insight into the management and conflict resolving measures in the Sundarbans Biosphere Reserves was also provided to the participants by means of field visits in the reserve.

Recommendations and other follow up points to the workshop were also presented during the concluding session of the workshop, which were appreciated by the workshop participants.

• Source:UNESCO New Delhi
• 20-03-2009