Our Team's Experience at EuroMAB 2024

In early June 2024, two members of the CBT team, Colin Robinson and Janessa Dornstauder had the opportunity to attend EuroMAB 2024 in the Elbe River Landscape, Germany – a UNESCO Biosphere. Because there are so few countries in North America, Canada, and the USA participate in the European network, while Mexico participates in the Latin network. Read more about their experience below! 

This event was an invaluable opportunity to be immersed in the wealth of knowledge and collaboration that defines the EuroMAB network and better understand how our community-based work fits into the global context. EuroMAB, a biennial four-day conference for more than 300 UNESCO biosphere regions in 41 countries, serves as a platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and collective action towards conservation and sustainable development. This year's EuroMAB theme, “climate for change” was especially relevant to CBT's local priorities. 

The theme had us take a look at how ongoing global systems change can be shaped through local action. Workshops that we attended focused on biodiversity conservation as a nature-based solution and examined the importance of inclusively convening community in pursuing sustainable development. These workshops provided deep insights and practical strategies that we are excited to bring back to the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region. 

We also had the opportunity to share CBT's work with international peers. Janessa shared about how Canadian biosphere regions are supporting biodiversity conservation through support for stewardship, restoration, and non-traditional approaches to area-based conservation. Colin shared about his involvement with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO’s Toolkit for Youth Engagement and how to encourage meaningful youth engagement and leadership in biosphere regions. Sharing CBT’s successes and challenges in biodiversity conservation and youth leadership was not only gratifying but also highlighted the impact of our initiatives on a global stage. 

EuroMAB participants had the opportunity to draft contributions that will shape the ongoing priorities of the biosphere network. Key learnings during workshops and plenary sessions were drafted to inform the 2026-2035 strategic action plan that will be presented at the next World Network of Biosphere Reserves meeting in 2026. 

We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from, and contribute to, this enlightening experience that provided us with tools and inspiration to advance climate action and biodiversity conservation work at the local level here in the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region.