TSU/MAB Joint Initiative speaks at the 10th Meeting of the World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves

On Wednesday 19 October 2022, the Tsunami Unit (TSU) of IOC and UNESCO San Jose Office were invited to speak at the 10th Meeting of the World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves (WNICBRs), held in the German Wadden Sea (17-20 October). The presentation focused on the ongoing TSU and UNESCO Man and Biosphere programme Joint Initiative on developing preparedness and resilience to coastal hazards in the Savegre Biosphere Reserve, Costa Rica.

The TSU/MAB Joint Initiative was developed to address the vulnerability of populations in the Savegre Biosphere Reserve to coastal hazards, which are set to become more frequent and intense with climate change. While most coastal hazards cannot be prevented, risks and vulnerability can be reduced by building resilient communities and preparedness capacities. As such, the TSU and MAB established their project based on an integrated, multi-sectoral and multi-hazard approach to coastal hazard preparedness that engages with communities throughout implementation. [For additional information about TSU/MAB, please see the project website here.]

The theme of the 10th Meeting of the World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves was “Ecosystem restoration and connectivity in Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves”. The meeting was attended in person by representatives of 18 Biosphere Reserves from 13 countries, with additional participation facilitated through the hybrid format of the meeting. The TSU/MAB initiative contributed to the overall theme of the meeting, in particular by engaging on topics of ecosystem services, their link to disaster risk reduction, and opportunities provided by nature-based solutions in the context of coastal hazards.

The TSU/MAB had also previously engaged with the WNICBRs through conversations on potential areas of cooperation and collaboration. In addition, an article about the TSU/MAB Joint Initiative was included in the WNICBRs Newsletter (No. 21, July 2022), available here.