As you may already know, the United States recently announced its decision to withdraw from UNESCO once again – a decision that will take effect on December 31, 2026. We expected this decision but still regret it.
UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) represents the universal values of education, science, and culture which stand as bedrock aspects of diplomacy, peace, and international engagement. This decision comes at a time when our international relationships in USBN are at all-time highs with work of varying aspects underway with Canada, Mexico, Germany, China, South Africa, Argentina, Great Britain and Scotland, South Korea, and others forming all the time. During previous periods when the U.S. left UNESCO as a member state the World Heritage sites and biosphere regions continued their work.
“While the US withdrawal removes some of the more formal aspects of US engagement with UNESCO, we fully expect to continue building our partnerships to support quality of life and nature conservation.”
The most significant impact is on the official, U.S. government diplomatic connection with UNESCO. The U.S. will have Observer status instead of the full rights of a Member State, which means that U.S. input on the strategic direction of UNESCO programs will be greatly diminished. While the US withdrawal removes some of the more formal aspects of US engagement with UNESCO, we fully expect to continue building our partnerships to support quality of life and nature conservation.
Three or four members of our nonfederal BR community will travel to China this fall for the upcoming 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, and we currently have plans to attend the EuroMAB Conference in September of 2026 in British Columbia hosted by the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere.
Of equal value to our network, we continue to take part in grant work through the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) that links Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. In the context of environmental, economic, and social linkages between Canada, Mexico and the United States, the CEC facilitates effective cooperation and public participation to conserve, protect and enhance the North American environment in support of sustainable development for the benefit of present and future generations.
We remain resolved to support the work of our 28 Biosphere Regions across the U.S. and to facilitate strong linkages to our broader international community. This moment is our opportunity and obligation to redouble our efforts to manifest the goals of the Biosphere Program, to support the other UNESCO-related programs like World Heritage and UNESCO Chairs, and to show what local engagement and collaborative action can accomplish.
Jon Allan
Chair
United States Biosphere Network
