Date: Wednesday, 24September 2025
Time: 18:15-19:45 (90 minutes)
Venue: Room 2, Hangzhou International Expo Center.
Organizers: UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme
Languages: Spanish / English (interpretation)

Event description:

This side event will present lessons learned from the implementation of the MangRes Project – "Mangrove Restoration as a Nature-Based Solution in Latin American and Caribbean Biosphere Reserves", launched in 2022 by UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme with support from the Government of Flanders. Working across seven biosphere reserves in Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama, and Peru, MangRes promotes community-based restoration, sustainable use of mangrove ecosystems, and inclusive capacity building.
Fully aligned with the MAB Programme's mission, the project demonstrates how biosphere reserves can serve as platforms for integrating ecological restoration with sustainable development, while advancing key priorities such as climate change adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and food security.
The side event will bring together local actors, biosphere reserve managers, youth leaders, scientists, and government representatives to share concrete experiences, methodologies, and results. It will highlight effective models for participatory restoration, knowledge exchange, and community empowerment.
With over 120 biosphere reserves around the world containing mangrove ecosystems, the event aims to raise the visibility of MangRes within the World Network of Biosphere Reserves and encourage the replication and scaling up of successful approaches in other coastal and island biosphere reserves.

Key Speakers/Panelists(Note: Include names, affiliations, and roles. Diversity and inclusivity of speakers are prioritized.):

·Gert Verreet (Government of Flanders, Belgium)

·Francisco José Cantos (National Parks Autonomous Agency)

·June-Marie Mow (Providence Foundation, Colombia) 

·Henrry Preciado (Consorcio Manglares, Peru)

·Ana Lorena López (Ministry of Environment, Panama)

Moderator: María Rosa Cárdenas

Objective

To strengthen collaboration, share good practices in mangrove restoration, and inspire the upscaling of inclusive, community-centered approaches in biosphere reserves worldwide.

Tentative agenda

Tentative run of show

17:30 – 18:05: Technical test and rehearsal

Speakers, interpreter(s), and UNESCO colleagues come together to practice the session.

Interpreter(s) will carry out technical test with translation devices, with time for final briefings / questions.
Check microphones (sounds) and camera (video/recording).
Arrangement of room and logistics (set-up, light, water etc)

18h05-18h15: Opening room for attendees

18h15-18h20: Welcome and opening remarks

Moderator welcomes everyone to this side event of the WCBR. Mentions the title and explains how the interpretation works. Also mentions if session is being recorded.

Brief introduction of each keynotespeaker: name, organisation, and biosphere reserve.

18h20-18h30: Overview of MangRes Project

Presentation of the MangRes project, including it's history, objectives of MangRes phase 1, quick overview of project implementation per BR, some overall important key figures, and ending with announcement of MangRes phase 2.

18h30-19h10: Panel discussion

18h30-18h35: Moderator briefly reintroduces the speakers. Presents how the panel discussion will go. Mentions that participants will be invited by the moderator to elaborate on their comments during the Q&A.

18h35-18h42: Q1 -Gert Verreet (Government of Flanders)

Moderator:
Gert, Flanders has played a key role in supporting the MangRes project the biosphere reserves in Latin America and the Caribbean.

·From Flanders' perspective as a donor, what are the main motivations for supporting projects like MangRes? Why is it important to invest in nature-based solutions such as mangrove restoration, and how do you see this role evolving in the future?

Gert responds

18h42-18h49: Q2 -June-Marie Mow (Providence Foundation, Colombia)

Moderator:

June-Marie, thank you for being with us today. You've been closely involved in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, which has faced unique challenges in restoring mangrove ecosystems after the devastation caused by hurricanes Iota and Eta.

·In your view, has the MangRes project been more effective than earlier reforestation efforts in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve? If so, what key factors or lessons have contributed to this improved approach?

June Marie responds

18h49-19h00: Q3 -Henrry Preciado (Consorcio Manglares, Peru)

Moderator:

Henrry, one of the objectives of the project was to strengthen community governance and local capacity. In the Noroeste Amotapes-Manglares Biosphere Reserve, you work closely with the Mangroves Consortium of Northwest Peru (CONMANOPE), engaging local users of the mangrove ecosystem, including crab harvesters, fishing organizations, and community groups.This work is part of a co-governance model, in which decisions and management of the protected area are shared between the local associations and the National Service of Natural Protected Areas (SERNANP).

·What have you learned about fostering ownership and long-term commitment among these local actors?

·What opportunities do you see for sustaining mangrove conservation and restoration efforts beyond the duration of the project?

Henrry responds

19h00-19h07: Q4 - Francisco José (National Parks Autonomous Agency)

Moderator:

Francisco José, thanks to the National Parks Autonomous Agency (OAPN)'s support it was possible to incorporate the Xiriualtiuqe-Jiquilisco Biosphere Reserve in El Salvador into the MangRes project, providing additional support that expanded its scope and impact.

·What lessons does your institution highlight regarding cooperation among different donors in projects like MangRes?

Francisco José responds

19h07-19h13: Q5 - Ana Lorena López (Ministry of Environment, Panama)

Moderator:
Ana Lorena, as Darién prepares for forensic ecology evaluations and has already identified key monitoring sites, it has also been working with research institutes such as CINVESTAV to follow up on the scientific evaluation of the mangrove diagnostic.

·How has this cooperation with academic institutions contributed to strengthening the diagnostic, and what opportunities does it open for a more adaptive and efficient restoration strategy in the biosphere reserve?
Answer from Ana Lorena

Ana Lorena responds

19h13-19h17: Q6 -June-Marie Mow (Providence Foundation, Colombia)

Moderator:
June-Marie, to close, the MangRes project has also facilitated exchange opportunities with young female scientists, including the arrival of a student from Flanders who conducted her thesis research on mangroves in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, as a concrete example of North-South collaboration.

·What does this type of academic cooperation and exchange with young researchers mean for the biosphere reserve?

June-Marie responds

19h17-19h40: Audience Q&A

Moderator moderates the comments and questions raised by the audience .
Panellists are free to answer and may complement questions also not directed towards them.

19h40-19h45: Final remarks

Moderator closes the session.

19h45-20h: Arranging room to its original state