EuroMAB 2026 Interwoven Futures
As part of our commitment to the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Network, we exchange knowledge with other Biospheres. Every other year, a Biosphere hosts a five-day conference for members from more than 308 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in 53 countries across Europe, Canada, and the US.
This year, from 14th to 19th September, the Mt Arrowsmith Biosphere Region on Vancouver Island hosted the event at the Tigh-Na-Mara Resort in Parksville. The event was held on the traditional lands of the Qualicum, Snaw-naw as, Snuneymuxw, K'ómoks, Tseshaht, Hupacasath, and Ditidaht First Nations. The theme of this event was Interwoven Futures: Co-creating sustainability with nature and communities.
The week kicked off with opening remarks by Magda Fusaro, President of CCUNESCO, and Antonio D. Abreu, Director of UNESCO’s Division of Ecology and Earth. The 185 delegates who travelled to Vancouver Island enjoyed beautiful weather, and field trips showcased old-growth forests, protected wetlands, migratory bird areas, long stretches of sandy beach, and wildlife recovery areas.
Our biosphere delegation included our organization’s board members Ruth Simons, Joyce Williams, Jonny Williams, and Karen Elliott (day only), as well as project partners Murray Journeay and Niall Bell from Nature Squamish.
In addition to the 40+ workshops, the plenary sessions featured inspiring topics. Academics, artists, and environmental practitioners from Germany, the US, and Nordic countries shared their practices. Inspiring talks came from Indigenous-led and co-led Biospheres such as Tsá Tué, the world's first fully Indigenous-led UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Northwest Territories. The conference also strongly emphasized youth engagement, and youth brought high energy.
The cultural evening is always a highlight. At this conference, the 20 biosphere regions across Canada shared food and beverages from their region. We brought a bountiful harvest of vegetables from the Squamish CAN’s Downtown School Farm, along with Howe Sound Lager. It was an authentic Canadian/BC-themed event, with the DJ getting everyone dancing to Canadian tunes.
It was heartwarming to see the goodwill and new friendships made at this conference. UNESCO Biosphere Regions are models for cooperation, collaboration and caring, and the people who make this happen set the example.
We look forward to the next EuroMAB location, whether it is the newest Biosphere Region in Iceland or in Sweden.
