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.