USBN News

The USBN-SEAS Team has been hard at work conducting field visits and research in many of the 28 biosphere regions throughout the U.S. this summer. From coast to coast, this dedicated team of of master’s students from the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) spent their summer break advancing environmental conservation, sustainable economic development, and logistical support for the biosphere regions.

For the first time since 2017 and its recent return as a UNESCO Member, the U.S. participated at the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program’s International Coordinating Council (MAB-ICC) annual meeting from July 1-5, 2024 in Agadir, Morocco. The ICC is the governing body of UNESCO’s MAB Program. Cliff McCreedy, National Park Service, U.S. MAB Focal Point, and Kelly Cerialo, U.S. Member, International Advisory Committee on Biosphere Reserves attended for the USBN as Observers.

On July 4, Xenabeth Lazaro was one of 15 awardees announced at the MAB International Coordinating Council annual meeting to receive a MAB Young Scientist Award. Her award supports her studies on the behavior of bats in the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve in Chile. Xena is a Master’s student in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology program at the University of Helsinki working on her thesis on the behavior and activity of Patagonian bats.

The US Biosphere Network (USBN) is launching a workshop series aimed at empowering leaders to drive collaborative conservation efforts while enhancing socioeconomic well-being in biosphere regions. The series includes three workshops designed to equip biosphere region (BR) leaders with the tools and knowledge needed for the next decade of work.

Growth, energy and progress in the USBN and strong U.S. relationships with UNESCO were highlighted in discussions between Cliff McCreedy and UNESCO representatives in mid-April in New York City.  McCreedy is the U.S. government Focal Point (point of contact) with the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program on behalf of the National Park Service

On March 13th, the US Biosphere Network (USBN) launched the “Biosphere Bites” biweekly seminar series. The 30-minute talks take place every other week on ZOOM to give biosphere regions and partners an opportunity to share knowledge, ideas, and resources across our national and international networks. These informal, virtual presentations are designed to connect the USBN to local, regional, and international partners and highlight the important work that is being done in biosphere regions to improve the human connection to nature and make progress towards the sustainable development goals.

The Youth Board is a youth-led (18 to 35 years old) organization that works in cooperation with the USBN to provide project-based professional development opportunities for its members and further the goals of the USBN, the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program, and the UN Operational Strategy on Youth. Young people interested in active participation within UNESCO, sustainable development, bioregional planning, international collaboration, and management are invited to participate.

In January 2024, the US Biosphere Network (USBN) welcomed a dedicated team of master’s students from the University of Michigan’s School for Environmental and Sustainability (SEAS). Tasked with advancing environmental conservation, sustainable economic development, and logistical support across the network’s 28 biosphere regions, this project holds immense promise for sparking positive change. The SEAS team is working to amplify the USBN’s capacity through enhanced collaboration, provision of resources for successful periodic reviews, and effective showcasing of US biosphere regions’ conservation practices. 

Tom Gilbert, National Park Service (retired) and first President of the George Wright Society, was instrumental in getting the biosphere reserve program established in the United States after its founding by UNESCO in 1971 and has remained a champion for US biosphere regions. Recently, Lisa McInnis (Chief of Resource Management, Great Smoky Mountains National Park), Jonathan Putnam (National Park Service Office of International Affairs), and David Reynolds (President, George Wright Society, Chair of USBN Agriculture Committee) enjoyed a visit with Tom in Pittman Center, Tennessee.

Margery Price, a Cascade Head Biosphere Region local, worked this past summer and fall with the U.S. Geological Survey expanding the accessibility of water chemistry data in Yellowstone National Park. Born and raised in Lincoln City, Oregon – a town contained within the Cascade Head Biosphere Region – Margery attended the University of Oregon and received her bachelor’s degree in Geology in 2022. In March 2021, Margery joined the inaugural Steering Committee of the US Biosphere Network Youth Board, serving as the group’s first secretary until January 2024.