UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION

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1 SC-13/CONF.5/5 Paris, 10 April 2013 Original: English UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION International Co-ordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme Twenty-fifth session UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, Room XII (Fontenoy Building) May 2013 ITEM 7 OF THE PROVISIONAL AGENDA: EVALUATION OF THE MADRID ACTION PLAN (MAP) 1. The 20 th Session of the International Coordinating Council (ICC) of the MAB Programme adopted the Madrid Action Plan (MAP) for Biosphere Reserves ( ), which is available in the six official UN languages on the MAB website at 2. At its 24 th session, several ICC members underlined the fact that the evaluation of the MAP is a process to help shape the future of the MAB Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves beyond the termination of the MAP. Moreover, the evaluation should be considered as a strategic thinking tool to also evaluate the Seville Strategy and to place the World Network of Biosphere Reserves into the context of the follow up to Rio+20, green economy, biodiversity conservation, combating desertification and the challenges imposed by climate change. Preliminary ideas by the MAB on post Rio+20 opportunities and towards a strategy for are presented to the MAB ICC for its consideration in document SC-13/CONF.5.6. This document, therefore, primarily informs on actions taken with regard to technically handling the evaluation of the MAP. 3. At its 24 th session, the MAB Council recommended that an internal, rather than an external evaluation (as had been earlier decided at the rd session of the MAB Council) should be implemented so as to keep evaluation costs as low as possible. A small working group (with a maximum of ten members) deriving from the MAB Community and with the involvement of the MAB should be established to reflect on the key issues that the MAP evaluation should focus on, rather than covering all 67 actions of the MAP. Moreover, the actions to be addressed should be primarily those targeting the role of MAB National and individual biosphere reserves. This working group should report on its work to the th session of the MAB Council. 4. With the above recommendations in mind, an electronic working group has been established which comprises the six members of the MAB Bureau (covering the six regional electoral groups of UNESCO) as well as four managers of biosphere reserves from different world regions. The group started its work in early 2013 when each member of the working group provided an individual ranking of MAP actions according to a priority scale from 1 to 3 (with 3 points per action for high priority, 2 points for medium priority and 1 point for low priority ). The MAB then aggregated the results of this ranking exercise and communicated the results to the working group. Out of the total of 67 actions, and at the time of preparing this document for the MAB ICC, the electronic working group has identified actions of high priority, 34 actions of medium priority, and 4 actions of low priority (note that Action 1.4 on the updating of the nomination and periodic review forms for has already been accomplished and therefore has not been considered for the ranking of the priority actions). Six actions refer to the MAB only (including Action 30.2) and will be duly addressed by the at the time of the evaluation. The high, medium and low priority actions, as well as the actions to be 1

2 addressed by the only, are listed in the attached table for information and will be removed when the SurveyMonkey questionnaire is created. 5. As had been proposed by UNESCO s Internal Oversight Service (IOS) at the 24 th session of the MAB ICC and as had been approved by the MAB Council, a web-based online questionnaire (e.g. using SurveyMonkey for which UNESCO has the professional license) should be created which will allow MAB National and individual biosphere reserve managers to provide information on the individual actions of the MAP. Members of the working group are suggesting to the MAB ICC that all actions marked as high priority must be covered by the online questionnaire, actions which are considered as of medium priority should be answered, and actions of low priority may be replied to. 6. With regard to timelines for the final evaluation of the MAP, the members of the electronic working group propose the following dates: a) High, medium and low priority actions of the MAP identified and endorsed by the MAB Council at its th session (May 2013); b) Internet-based questionnaire worked out by IOS, the members of the electronic working group and the MAB and put online by the end of October 2013; c) Filling-in of questionnaire between November and December 2013, with 31 December 2013 as ultimate deadline; d) Assessment of results of questionnaire by external evaluators starting in early 2014; e) Results of final evaluation of the MAP submitted to the MAB Council for its consideration at its 26 th session (mid-2014); f) Following the main results of the MAP evaluation, the MAB Council may provide guidance for the elaboration of a strategy and future directions of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves under the MAB Programme, in case this is desired. 7. It is recalled that the MAB Council decided at its 24 th session that the MAB National (and where they don t exist, UNESCO National or other appropriate national bodies) should take the lead role with regard to soliciting inputs from individual biosphere reserves needed for the evaluation of the MAP, supplemented by the work of relevant regional and thematic MAB networks. 8. The MAB ICC is invited to comment on the technical handling of the final evaluation of the MAP as proposed above. It may also wish to extend the duration of the mandate of the Electronic working group for the evaluation of the Madrid Action Plan so that the electronic working group can provide guidance on the substantive issues related to the MAP final evaluation. 2

3 Table: Priority of Madrid Action Plan for Biosphere Reserves (1) High priority actions: Action 2.2: Work closely with the authorities responsible for the implementation of relevant biodiversity and environmental multilateral agreements to ensure coordination between international designations at the national level Action 4.2: Ensure that each network has partnerships and long-term financing mechanisms from within its membership to ensure sustainability of its operations and activities Action 5.1: Create and strengthen existing regional and inter-regional Thematic formed around key ecosystems, such as mountains, freshwater, oceans, dry-lands, forests, urban areas, small islands Action 6.1: Implement a communication strategy on environmental, economic, social, spiritual, cultural and political importance and benefits of and the WNBR directed to national governments, policy makers, journalists, local communities and other target groups Action 7.1: Functional MAB National in each country, managed in a manner assuring adequate representation of biosphere reserve co-ordinators and other key stakeholders Ranking Action 7.2: Create or restructure MAB National 24 Action 8.1: Encourage and enable individual to collaborate with UN-led policies, strategies and action plans towards sustainable development, as well as other initiatives outside the UN system. Action 10.1: Every BR should carry out a participatory planning process, such as Local Agenda 21, to guide BR implementation assuring participatory management especially for traditional, local and indigenous communities Action 10.2: Every BR should establish a management committee comprising stakeholders representing different activity sectors in all three zones Action 14.1: Use appropriate tools such as the Ecosystem Approach, gap analysis, the concept of corridors, ecological networks, etc. for (a) a better connectivity of ecologically important sites and elements in the landscape, (b) a better inter-linkage of areas/zones and enhanced buffering, and (c) a better consistency in planning Action 15.3: Develop actions to increase synergies among international, regional and national programmes currently developed and executed in parallel, such as CBD, Agenda 21 and One-UN activities Action 16.2: Improve access to information and new ways to communicate knowledge to a large variety of non-scientific target groups Action 16.3: Strengthen the role of science in decision-making through problem oriented, applied research in order to increase the availability of funding for both science and management, and ensure good science-informed participatory and collaborative management for Action,,,,,,,, 3

4 Action 17.2: Promote capacity enhancement programmes for BR administrators and managers, such as on adaptive management, including conflict resolution and negotiation skills Action 19.1: Mobilize scientific and non-scientific actors combining all knowledge systems in order to strengthen the scientific functions of Action 20.1: Ensure stakeholder involvement in the production of a research agenda to be incorporated in the management plan for the whole BR Action 20.2: Use as sites for applied, problem oriented research for sustainable development linked to the zoning and management plan. Incorporate the results of applied ecological and socio-economic research into ecosystem management of all areas and link educational activities to the different functions in all zones of Action 21.1: Promote the BR as a learning site of excellence for sustainable development, for demonstrating trade-offs and balance amongst ecosystem services, human environment interactions and well-being, in the framework of DESD Action.2: Provide appropriate staff and funding (a) to enable BR managers/coordinators to actively contribute to the WNBR, i.e. translation of best practices report into local languages, and (b) to feed this information into the Internet website of UNESCO-MAB Action.2: Establish partnership agreements, such as for water, forest and carbon funds Action.3: Seek national and international support for and Regional with the organizations responsible for projects on biodiversity conservation, international waters, climate change, poverty reduction, etc. Action 27.1: Create or strengthen partnerships with businesses to identify, develop and promote markets and fair trade for goods and services in and to support management and communication relating to Action 28.2: Encourage and enable twinning programmes between sharing specific issues,,,,,,, BR 4

5 (2) Medium priority actions: Action 1.2: Compile and synthesize first-hand information on the functioning of, which should then be shared inter-regionally and globally Ranking for Action,, Action 2.1: Utilize in UNESCO s intergovernmental programmes,, Action 3.2: Produce regional, sub-regional, country- and ecosystem specific publications on, MAB and other related themes. Action 4.1: Develop a structure, strategy and action plan for each regional network to meet their responsibilities within the MAB programme and regularly report to MAB National and individual BR s. Action 9.1: Screen new BR proposals as well as devise schemes to support periodic review processes in the view of the evolution of the mission and vision contained in the MAP in particular through field visits by teams of regional and national experts in co-operation with the UNESCO Regional, Cluster and National Offices as appropriate 21, Action 11.1: Encourage States to include in their own legislation 20, Action 12.1: Carry out a survey on the present zoning system of the WNBR (including the proportions of the different zones) and investigate how well they fulfil the three functions in each zone 20, Action 13.1: Develop and apply practical tools and guidelines for zoning at the national level Action 13.2: Use to manage large biome as a BR system and for extensive terrestrial and marine areas as a series of units linking up relatively small protected areas with significant larger buffer and transition zones Action 13.3: Determine the most suitable zonation patters and define performance standards for each zone. Ensure sufficient size of each zone for the BR functions and identify contribution of each zone to the whole BR Action 13.4: Clearly identify the outer boundary of the BR in determining the transition areas through stakeholder consultation. (Each BR should consider natural, e.g. watershed, ecosystem, etc. as well as political and administrative boundaries in defining its delimitation, and clearly explain the rationale behind the determination in the nomination/periodic review forms) 18, 19, 21, 20, Action 13.5: Encourage national recognition of BR zonation schemes as an important tolls for programmes linked to protected areas in production landscapes Action 15.1: Undertake a critical analysis and synthesis of existing data based on experience of implementing the management plans/cooperation plans of around the world, including their relationship to ecosystem services Action 16.1: Coordinate with UNESCO ISPs and other relevant international, regional and national authorities to promote policy relevant research Action 17.1: Provide training to BR managers on science-policy practice interaction and participatory management for science and other relevant areas, 20, 17, 21, 5

6 Action 18.1: Work with other ISPs to include the use of as research and demonstration sites in their programmes Action 18.2: Enhance the widespread use of by IHP, IOC, IGCP and MOST for research, information generation and policy advice Action.1: Improve capacity of WNBR with the aim of building strong learning organizations, alliances and empowering all stakeholders at each BR 19, 18 UNESCO ISPs, 21, Action.1: Facilitate the integration of urban areas into 17 Urban group, Action 24.1: Use mountain as field observatories of global change impacts on the environment, economy and human well-being, based on the GLOCHAMORE Research Strategy 20, Action 24.2: Use of research results to assist countries in developing and implementing policies for sustainable mountain development Action 24.3: Develop strategies for other ecosystems in collaboration with relevant national and international organizations Action 24.4: Carry out training courses for different ecosystem types related to climate change, in particular using the ERAIFT regional flagship project for tropical forests and certified forestry as a climate change mitigation approach 21,, 18,, 20,, Action.1: Establish partnership agreements with relevant institutions/organizations to carry out Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) projects Action 26.1: At least one pilot BR in each Regional Network chosen to carry out an assessment of the economic contribution of to local economies with the active involvement of local communities Action 26.2: Further the work of the Task Force on Quality Economies by creating or strengthening partnerships with businesses to identify, develop and promote markets and fair trade for goods using the BR brand Action 26.3: Promotion of alternative and sustainable livelihoods primarily targeting vulnerable populations within such as local communities, minorities, indigenous and ethnic groups 20 MAB ICC, 21 21,, 20 Member States, Action 27.2: Promote incentives for product labelling in 20, Action 28.1: Support study tours/site visits between stakeholder groups in Action 28.3: Encourage South-South cooperation and triangular South- North-South cooperation Action 29.1: Establish cooperation plans including all sectors of society to champion cooperative activities ranging from education and research to sustainable use of environmental goods and services Action 29.2: Establish partnerships with regional economic and financial institutions Action 30.1: Support the development of new and strengthen existing transboundary as well as other forms of transboundary cooperation Action 31.1: Promote and use as mechanisms for peace and security 20, 18, , 6

7 (3) Low priority actions: Action 1.3: Create and implement a system of recognizing performance of the Seville Strategy Action 3.4: Creation of journalism award directed at the mass communication media for their role on promoting the importance of Action 6.2: Create an incentive programme to recognize the efforts of communities, individuals, institutions, networks and nations in creating, managing and promoting Action 15.2: Promote the MAB Programme s global network function through the systematic recording of policy relevant case studies and ensuring their availability and dissemination Ranking for Action,, Member States,, (4) to be handled by MAB : Ranking Action 1.1: Assess the achievements of the Seville Strategy 18 Action 1.4: Update the nomination and periodic review forms for Action 3.1: Creation of a web-based information clearing house and information centre, to exchange and share technology, research, training, education and cooperation opportunities, findings and experience, and to help to solve problems at local, regional and international levels Action 3.3: Elaboration of a map presenting the WNBR according to ecosystem types, including human-impacted ecosystems such as rural and urban areas Action 3.5: Develop an integrated international promotion and communication strategy targeting the general public Action 30.2: Update the nomination and periodic review forms for transboundary Note: Action accomplished for Action 19 ( ) 7