ABOUT MAB LAB
This publication presents findings from the Nordic Council of Ministers - Nordic Working Group for Biological Diversity funded project MAB LAB: Man, and the Biosphere - Local Actions for the new global framework for Biodiversity – part II.
The project is based on a fundamental ambition to foster and support local solutions to global challenges by increasing the number of UNESCO biosphere reserves in the Nordic region.
This aim of the project – MAB-LAB II - has been to elaborate on the work in the MAB-LAB I project that presented a "translation" of the new global biodiversity framework (Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework) into a local context to create ownership, anchoring and action in local communities. Hence work has been done to increase interaction and readiness to work with the biodiversity targets at local, national, and Nordic level and to inspire on a global level.
The project was organized around the following activities:
- Preparation of a collection of examples of local experiences with biodiversity work in Nordic biosphere areas in a short and manageable form. The work is carried out with the involvement of actors from biosphere reserves, candidate areas or potential biosphere areas in all Nordic countries.
- Conduct four digital network meetings for the Nordic biosphere reserves.
- Preparation of an inspiration catalogue for the development of next practices in a short and manageable form involving actors from biosphere areas, candidate areas or potential biosphere areas in all Nordic countries.
- Conducting a side event in connection with CBD COP16 in Cali, Colombia.
During the work on the project in 2024, a number of invitations were received to present the MAB-LAB work, and thus the opportunity to spread information about the Nordic approach in international forums. Specifically, this led to a presentation and discussion during EURO-MAB 2024 in Wittenberg, Germany and later during MAB-ICC in Agadir, Morocco. And finally, the side event at COP16 was carried out in close collaboration with the UNESCO Secretariat in Paris.
On the initiative of UNESCO in Paris, the COP16 presence was followed up in a series of webinars focusing on Latin America and the Caribbean, where the Nordic work was the primary source of inspiration for developing the work on local actions for biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The overall objective of the MAB-LAB project is to contribute to catalyzing the readiness of the Nordic countries for the work of implementing the new Global Biodiversity Framework.
This publication is showcasing how Nordic UNESCO Biosphere Reserves can support the implantation of the Global Biodiversity Framework through local actions for biodiversity in the Nordic Biosphere Reserves.
This publication is showcasing how Nordic UNESCO Biosphere Reserves can support the implantation of the Global Biodiversity Framework through local actions for biodiversity in the Nordic Biosphere Reserves.
Partners and execution
The MAB LAB project has been developed through a Nordic collaboration involving the following actors:
- Denmark: Møn UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (Katrine Dietrich)
- Sweden: Vattenriket, Biosphere Reserve (Carina Wettemark) National coordinator for the Swedish MAB-program (Johanna MacTaggert)
- Norway: Nordhordland Biosphere Reserve (Kari E. Natland), The Norwegian Biosphere Committee (Eva Hauge Fontaine).
- Finland: North Karelia Biosphere Reserve (Vilma Lehtovaara), Skärgårdshavets Biosphere reserve (Katja Bonnevier)
- Iceland: Snaefellsness Biosphere Reserve Candidate (Ragnhildur Sigurðardóttir)
The work was led by Katrine Dietrich (Møn UNESCO Biosphere reserve, DK) and samples was collected by Kari E. Natland and Bigna Lu Abderhalden (Nordhordland Biosphere Reserve, NO) and Ragnhildur Sigurðardóttir (Snaefellsness Biosphere reserve Candidate)
The report was prepared by Kari E. Natland and Bigna Lu Abderhalden (Nordhordland Biosphere Reserve, NO) and Ragnhildur Sigurðardóttir (Snaefellsness Biosphere Reserve Candidate) with help from Mads Randbøll Wolff, Sustainability 2030 and Nikolaj Sveistrup, URBAN AGENDA.