UNESCO Biosphere Reserves for transboundary ecosystem management and conflict prevention

UNESCO Biosphere Reserves are an important tool for ecosystem-based biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. At the core of Biosphere Reserve management is the dialogue with stakeholders to ensure their participation in decision-making and for conflict resolution related to natural resource use. They promote ecosystem management to assure the provision of important ecosystem services, which influence human well-being and hence increase local and regional resilience. At the same time, sustainable management of ecosystems can be strongly influenced by social and/or political conflicts, transformation processes and risks.

In this respect, the transboundary area of Bjeshket e Nemuna/ Prokletije between Albania, Kosovo and Montenegro served as example region of a summer school which was organized by the Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management. In August 2019 a group of 20 students and 10 lecturers from five partnering universities were invited to participate in the summer school and explore the potentials of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves for transboundary ecosystem management and conflict prevention. From Eberswalde, four students of the Bachelor Degree Programs ‘International Forest Ecosystem Management’, ‘Forestry’ and ‘Landscape Management and Nature Conservation’ selected the summer school on facultative basis as a specialization module.

Project objectives:

1. To increase knowledge and enhance skills of all participants by implementing an international transboundary cooperation in teaching,
2. To develop prototypes for international practice-oriented academic teaching in transboundary ecosystem management with the involvement of conservation practitioners,
3. To further strengthen the existing network between the participating universities resulting in long-term partnerships with a portfolio of joint teaching and research.

Bjeshket e Nemuna Mountains, Kosovo, © J. Kloiber