BIOSPHERE RESERVES
SUSTAINABLE TERRITORIES, RESILIENT COMMUNITIES – LUSOPHONE DIALOGUES
FREE ENTRANCE, with mandatory
registration
Presential and Online link
The access link will be sent by
email on the day before the conference
The
Conference “Biosphere Reserves: sustainable territories, resilient communities
- Lusophone Dialogues”, to be held on 28-29 June at the Serralves Foundation
(Porto, Portugal), is an official event that marks the 50th Anniversary of the UNESCO
MAB global programme. It aims to present the Biosphere Reserves in
Portuguese-speaking countries[1], their
heritage relevance and the valuable contribution they make to development of the
respective territories. The conference will enable participants to learn more
about the natural and cultural heritage of the Biosphere Reserves, and the
experiences that make them unique. The key objective that inspired UNESCO to
create the MaB – Man and the Biosphere – Programme, exactly 50 years ago, was
to foster conservation of natural values in harmony with human activities,
with a view to ensuring the prosperity and well-being of the resident
communities. The conference will mark a moment of celebration of the 50th
anniversary of the MaB Programme, congratulating UNESCO's historic and
visionary decision to affirm a pioneering development strategy to safeguard the
planet’s sustainability. The MaB Programme underpins the constitution of 714
Biosphere Reserves that have been classified worldwide, in territories that are
rightly considered to be living laboratories of sustainability. Safeguarding
these zones is part of a universal desire/motivation to conserve natural
ecosystems and the services they provide to humanity, integrating communities
and economic activity, in a dialogue-based and inclusive coexistence with a
view to fostering the well-being and sustainable prosperity of the territories where
they are located.
The
presence of all Biosphere Reserves from Portuguese-Speaking countries at the
Conference will enable a more in-depth dialogue between the biosphere reserve
management teams, promoting discussion on the respective intervention plans,
sharing experiences and the difficulties faced in terms of functioning and
governance, with a view to creating partnerships that will help overcome
problems and reinforce common goals for the fulfilment of the sustainability
agenda. To this effect, the Network of Biosphere Reserves in
Portuguese-Speaking Countries will be public and its common programme will be
disseminated.
[1]
Castro Verde,
Corvo, Gerês-Xurês International Transboundary, Graciosa, Fajãs de São Jorge,
Flores, Meseta Ibérica International Transboundary, Paúl do Boquilobo, Santana
Madeira, Tejo/Tajo International Transboundary, Berlengas Peniche and Porto
Santo
Program
Workshop 29 June
Related
Helena Freitas received her PhD in Ecology from
the University of Coimbra, in collaboration with the University of Bielefeld,
Germany, in 1993, and did postdoctoral studies at Stanford University, USA,
between 1994 and 1996. She is Full Professor of Biodiversity and Ecology at the
Department of Life Sciences of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the
University of Coimbra since 2003, and holds the UNESCO Chair in Biodiversity
and Conservation for Sustainable Development since 2014. Helena Freitas joined
the General Council of the University of Coimbra (2009-2011), was the Director
of the Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra from 2004 to 2012, the
President of the League for the Protection of Nature (1999 (2002-2005), the
founder and President of the Portuguese Society of Ecology (2004-2013) and the
Vice- President of the European Society of Ecology (2009-2012). She is
currently Coordinator of the Center for Functional Ecology - science for people
and the planet, Scientific Coordinator of FitoLab - Phytosanitary Laboratory of
the Pedro Nunes Institute, and is a member of the Scientific Council of the
Department of Life Sciences of the University of Coimbra. Her research
interests include Ecology; Mediterranean Ecosystems; Forest and Agriculture;
Ecology and Management of exotic and invasive species; Conservation of Nature,
Biodiversity; Physiology of the tree; Diversity of Plants and Fungi; Tolerance
to Stress and Bioremediation; Environmental policy; Bioenergy; Conservation of
Nature; Microbial ecology; Ecology and Society. She is the author of more than
300 international scientific publications and several publications promoting
and disseminating science. In March 2000 he was awarded the Commendation of the
Order of Prince Henry the Infant by the President of the Portuguese Republic
Jorge Sampaio.