More than fifteen specialists and representatives from various Biosphere Reserves are meeting on 13 and 14 October at the Palacio de Formación y Congresos de Fuerteventura for the International Gathering Biosphere in Action, Climate and Biological Corridors.
The Fuerteventura Biosphere Reserve is organising this event, reinforcing its role as a territory committed to conserving its natural assets, adapting to climate change and seeking ways to move towards sustainable development.
The gathering, which has also been attended by students from local schools, aims to showcase some of the most fascinating Biosphere Reserves and the challenges they face: climate change, biodiversity and biological corridors, with particular attention to priority issues for Fuerteventura such as the protection of the Canary Island palm and the expansion of marine protected areas.
Taking part are the Biosphere Reserves of El Vizcaíno (Mexico), Príncipe Island, El Hierro, La Palma and Fuerteventura — all threatened by challenges such as global warming and its impact on coastal and island communities.
The initiative involves entities linked to UNESCO’s MaB programme, the World Network of Biological Corridors, and various projects and organisations related to ecosystem conservation and sustainability.
The Biosphere Reserve councillor, Marlene Figueroa, highlighted the importance of “sharing knowledge and experiences from other reserves around the world to tackle challenges such as climate change and the conservation of our biodiversity”. She also praised the involvement of young people and students from the Aula Enclave at IES Puerto del Rosario, noting that such gatherings help raise awareness, encourage reflection and generate proposals to address the island’s challenges.
Meanwhile, Miguel Clüsener Godt, former director of UNESCO’s Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences, stressed that islands and coastal areas are on the front line of climate change. He underlined the importance of sharing experiences between territories, noting that “the problems are almost always the same, but the solutions can be different”, and highlighted the role of gatherings like this one in exchanging knowledge and making the most of existing experience.
The Ambassador of São Tomé and Príncipe in Brussels, José Cardoso, focused on the role of Biosphere Reserves in supporting local communities and creating employment opportunities, particularly for young people. He stressed that “it is important to promote projects linked to agriculture, fishing, crafts and tourism in order to create jobs and bring young people closer to the Biosphere Reserve, because it is the future of humanity”.
The president of the World Biological Corridor, Jorge Extramiana, highlighted the importance of cooperation between Biosphere Reserves in connecting natural spaces and supporting biodiversity conservation. He also announced a proposed twinning arrangement between IES Puerto del Rosario and schools from other Biosphere Reserves, aimed at promoting the exchange of knowledge among students on biodiversity, recycling and climate change.
Tuesday 13 October is devoted mainly to climate issues, covering topics such as adaptation, biodiversity, biological corridors and various experiences and projects linked to climate action. The official opening featured addresses by Marlene Figueroa; the island director of Economic Development, Ecological Transition, Environmental Sustainability and the Biosphere Reserve, José Domingo Fernández; the manager of the Fuerteventura Biosphere Reserve, Antonio Gallardo; and, via videoconference, the chair of the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Biosphere Reserve Network, Marisa Tejedor, the director of the National Parks Autonomous Body, Javier Pantoja, and the secretary-general of the MAB Programme, Antonio Abreu.
The programme continues tomorrow, 14 October, with a session dedicated to the biosphere, covering topics related to Canary Island palms, ecosystem conservation, marine protected areas and various initiatives carried out in Biosphere Reserves.
The full programme is available at www.fuerclima.com.
