Five draft working documents for Madrid available for consultation and comments

The work of the Congress will focus on the five-points agenda, which will elaborate an Action Plan for the World Network of Biosphere Reserves for the period 2008-2012. The Points are:

• Working methods and practices of the ICC in relation to the same of the Executive Board and the General Conference of UNESCO as a tool for improving science-policy practice within UNESCO's planning and programming agendas.
• What are the implications for each of the biosphere reserve zones contributing to conservation and development taking into consideration constraints and opportunities inherent in each zone?
• How can biosphere reserves be used for innovative research and capacity building enhancing the role of ecosystem goods and services in development?
• How can the MAB and Biosphere Reserve Regional Networks be strengthened to become the main drivers of MAB and biosphere reserve agendas?
• How can biosphere reserves be used for learning, governance and adaptive management approaches for sustainable development of land/seascapes?

Contributions to the Congress: Participants who represent a biosphere reserve are invited to prepare a technical note on this reserve. All contributions will be compiled in a final document.

Costs for participation: The registration for the Congress is free of charge; however participants must obtain a formal invitation issued by the Organizers. Congress participants are fully assuming all the costs for their participation (travel, lodging, food), with the exception of those whose expenses will be covered by the Organizers.

For more information: http://www.madrid2008mab.es/