Approaches to the translation

Focus here will be on biodiversity and how the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) translate into local actions. The translation will have two approaches:

 
The point in having the two approaches is that it takes a combination of both top-down and bottom-up instruments to address global challenges in a successful manner. We both need global agreements, and we need local actions. As said many times; Think globally, act locally. Doing so, this document is relevant for those who are looking for contributions to the implementation of the GBF, and for those who are looking for inspiration on how to improve the local actions for the global challenges. 

Many questions arise when talking about the GBF and the role of the UNESCO MAB program. For instance, how does the biosphere reserves contribute to the target on 30 percent protected areas in 2030? The short answer is that since the biosphere reserves are based on existing protected areas, they don’t bring about more protected areas, rather make them more effective by involving the local society in the nature preservation. However, the work with biodiversity and the GBF cannot be reduced to be a simple question on a certain level of protection. Overall, it is the long-term vision to live in harmony with nature, as expressed in the GBF:

The vision of the Global Biodiversity Framework is a world that lives in harmony with nature where “by 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people.”

Hence, the contribution is indirect to the 30 by 30 target. It brings about local acknowledgement, acceptance, and ownership to the protection, and by that it paves the way for a more qualified and successful management for existing protected areas as well as for potential new protected areas. Furthermore, it is being discussed if the buffer zones of the biosphere reserves can be included as Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) in which case the contribution from the biosphere reserves can be more direct.

However, the core of the contribution from the UNESCO biosphere reserves lies in the contribution to pursuing a development, as formulated by the secretary general of the UNESCO Mrs. Audrey Azlouley: “We must develop a new form of environmental ethics where humans learn to preserve biodiversity by living with it, rather than isolating it.” And by that meeting the 2050 goal to live in harmony with nature!”