Empowering Youth through UNESCO’s MAB Programme

The article below is written by Marla Schulz, EUROPARC Youth Council Member from 2023 – 2025. Her engagement with EUROPARC began at the 2023 Conference in Leeuwarden while she was an intern at Nationale Naturlandschaften (EUROPARC Germany). During this time, she was active in setting up a Youth+ group for young people interested in biosphere reserves in Germany and running peer-to-peer capacity building workshops. She recently took on a full-time position at NNL and helped select the next cohort for the Youth Council.

My Perspective on the Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan and its relevance for other young people

My name is Marla Schulz, I am 28 and from Germany, and I have been actively involved in the UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme for several years. This programme is an interdisciplinary, intergovernmental programme with the overarching goal of sustainable use of the biosphere’s natural resources. I work to strengthen youth engagement both nationally, through Germany’s Jugendnetzwerk Biosphäre e.V. (Youth Network Biosphere), and across Europe, via the EuroMAB Youth Network.

The German MAB delegation attending the 37th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, China

Last year, I had the unique opportunity, through my position as youth representative on the MAB National Committee Germany, to participate in the World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, China. This once-in-a-decade gathering brings together the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) to set priorities for the next ten years. At Hangzhou, the new Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan was adopted, defining how the WNBR will operate until 2035. What excites me most is Action Target 20, which specifically focuses on youth.

Action Target 20 aims to strengthen youth networks at national, regional and global levels, secure funding for youth activities, and create opportunities for young people to actively participate in decision-making at all levels of the MAB programme – from local Biosphere Reserves to international advisory bodies. By 2030, the plan envisions youth networks across all continents and 150 youth trained annually in skills that allow them to contribute meaningfully. By 2035, it aims for young people to have a stable voice in all MAB structures, ensuring our perspectives shape the future of biosphere reserves.

Youth networks in the MAB Programme are structured nationally and regionally. In Europe, we have the EuroMAB Youth Network; in other regions, networks include AfroMAB Youth, AsiaPacificMAB Youth, IberoMAB, and the ArabMAB Youth Network. Since September 2025, UNESCO has called on every country to appoint a National Youth Focal Point. Many countries have already implemented this, for example, Germany now has me as a National Youth Focal Point, a young person officially linking national youth activities to UNESCO. The aim is that these focal points, together with biosphere reserve youth representatives, are building strong networks for collaboration, learning, and action within their country.

Biosphere reserves can support Action Target 20 by creating spaces for young people to participate in committees and thematic networks, fostering skills, and ensuring that youth voices influence local management decisions.

Marla Schulz speaking at side events throughout the event

This is not only vital for participation but also helps retain young talent in the region and nurtures future leaders. National committees can further integrate youth representatives into international meetings, such as the MAB ICC or regional conferences like EuroMAB conference 2026 in Canada. Strong support from UNESCO, tailored capacity-building programs, and inclusive opportunities at all levels are essential to make this work.

Looking ahead, 2026 brings the 3rd Global MAB Youth Forum in Italy. Here, young people from across the world will come together to exchange experiences, build skills, and plan collaborative actions. For me, Action Target 20 represents an incredible opportunity: young people must take initiative, learn from each other, and shape their networks – while biosphere reserves, national committees, and UNESCO provide guidance and support. Together, we can ensure youth are a driving force in the future of the MAB Programme.

For those biosphere reserves in the EUROPARC network, we hope you are inspired empower young people within your areas and connect them with the EUROPARC Youth Community. Any questions can be directed to our youth officer, Jessica Micklem-Kolenić.

Kindly hosted by the Alfred Toepfer Stiftung, the annual Siggen Seminar offers a space for EUROPARC members to come together and discuss pressing matters in Protected Area management. Attendance to the seminar is completely free of charge – only travel needs to be covered by the individual. 

Nature Restoration Plans: The path towards implementation

In March 2026, EUROPARC will host the Siggen Seminar 2026. The event aims to bring together leading experts to focus on one of the most pressing challenges for nature conservation in Europe: turning restoration planning into effective action. The seminar will take place from 17–18 March 2026 at the Gut Siggen Seminar Center in Heringsdorf, Germany, with arrival on 16 March and departure on 19 March.

With all EU Member States required to submit their National Nature Restoration Plans by September 2026, this seminar comes at a crucial moment. Protected Areas are expected to play a central role in implementing these plans, particularly within Natura 2000 sites. The Siggen Seminar 2026 will therefore focus on the practical steps needed to move from policy and planning to real, measurable restoration outcomes on the ground. Participants will jointly explore the policy context, restoration priorities, the role of Protected Areas, impact assessment, and the learning needs of Protected Area managers.

A key outcome of the seminar will be the co-creation of a Restoration Action Plan training course curriculum, as well as an accompanying online Nature Restoration Planning Toolkit. These resources, to be finalised in 2026, will support Protected Area managers and national authorities across Europe, especially those at an early stage of their restoration journey, by providing guidance, case studies, lessons learned and practical tools.

Why should you join?

As a participant in the Siggen Seminar 2026, you ensure that your knowledge and experience can be multiplied and made impactful across Europe. It will support you, and users of the Toolkit and potential training course, in fulfilling the obligations set under the Nature Directives and the Nature Restoration Regulation. Furthermore, it is an opportunity to showcase the work of your country or Protected Area to the larger European Protected Area community.

The seminar is free of charge and open exclusively to EUROPARC members, with up to 12 places available. Applications are open until 12 February at 12:00 CET, and early application is strongly recommended due to limited capacity.

Read the full seminar description, eligibility criteria and application details on the dedicated event page:

Siggen Seminar 2026 – Register now

Made possible thanks to the kind support of the Alfred Toepfer Stiftung.

Verde e Moldova (VeM) is a leading environmental NGO in Moldova dedicated to strengthening communities, restoring nature, and supporting sustainable development. Working at the intersection of environmental protection, education, policy support, and socio-economic innovation, VeM delivers practical solutions that connect people with nature and empower local actors to become drivers of change.

With active projects in climate resilience, circular economy, nature restoration, education, and sustainable tourism, Verde e Moldova has become a trusted partner for communities, municipalities, schools, protected area managers, and international networks. Its work spans local action and cross-border cooperation, particularly in ecologically valuable regions such as the Danube Delta and Lower Prut wetlands.

We spoke with the VeM team about how they engage communities, integrate socio-economic development with conservation, respond to policy challenges, and support public institutions.

Engaging Communities Through Practical Action and Education

EUROPARC: You mentioned promoting environmental education in both urban and rural communities. What approaches have proven most effective?

Verde e Moldova: We place people at the centre of environmental action. Across climate resilience, circular economy, nature restoration, and culture-based tourism, we combine participatory planning with visible results that build trust and motivation.

One effective approach is co-creation with communities. In projects such as Plastic Waste in the Circular Economy and Danube Delta Rewilding, local residents helped design eco-tourism opportunities linked to wetland restoration. Together, we installed over 40 mesh collection containers and launched the national #GiveUpPLASTIC campaign, encouraging citizens to adopt circular-economy habits.

Another key area is education and youth engagement. We blend formal, non-formal, and digital learning through teacher toolkits, outdoor activities, and student projects. These resources are already used in schools across Moldova and Europe, helping educators integrate nature-based solutions into curricula.

We also focus on strengthening local authorities and Protected Area managers by facilitating dialogue, planning, and capacity building. This includes consultations with farmers, municipalities, and media, and cross-border coordination between Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine.

Supporting small businesses and local entrepreneurs is another priority. We help develop tourism products rooted in culture and nature, encourage circular practices, and build visitor experiences that generate local income.

Finally, through public communication and social mobilisation, we use storytelling, social media, festivals, and biodiversity days to make sustainability visible and meaningful for communities.

When Nature Restoration Meets Local Development

EUROPARC: Can you share an example where environmental protection and socio-economic development came together successfully?

Verde e Moldova: In the Danube Delta and Lower Prut region, we integrated large-scale ecological restoration with sustainable community development through a cross-border rewilding programme supported by Rewilding Europe.

Together with partners in Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine, we restored degraded wetlands by improving hydrological flows and habitats for migratory birds and aquatic species. Scientific assessments and stakeholder consultations ensured that both ecological data and local knowledge guided decisions.

At the same time, we worked directly with communities to create tangible benefits. Local guides, guesthouses, and youth groups developed birdwatching routes, interpretive materials, and small tourism services. Training in sustainable tourism and circular practices helped residents build new livelihoods connected to restored landscapes.

This created a positive cycle: healthier wetlands attracted visitors and income, while stronger community engagement reinforced long-term stewardship of natural heritage.

Responding to Policy and Regulatory Change

EUROPARC: What policy challenge has been most significant recently, and how has VeM responded?

(c) Beley

Verde e Moldova: Moldova’s rapid alignment with EU environmental legislation has been a major challenge, especially in waste management, circular economy, and nature-based solutions. New regulations created uncertainty for municipalities, schools, and community groups that lacked technical guidance.

VeM acted as a bridge between policy and practice. Through the Plastic Waste in the Circular Economy project, we helped municipalities interpret regulations, develop action plans, pilot collection systems, and apply extended producer responsibility concepts.

In education, our work under NBS EduWORLD and UNESCO programmes translated policy into teacher toolkits and classroom pilots. In biodiversity and Protected Areas, we supported authorities in aligning local strategies with EU restoration and governance standards.

 Turning Technical Support into Real Impact

EUROPARC: What types of technical assistance are most in demand, and how do you ensure real impact?

(c) VeM

Verde e Moldova: Local authorities increasingly request practical tools for implementing circular economy and waste regulations. We co-develop local action plans, train municipal staff, and introduce pilot solutions such as mesh collection points, awareness campaigns, and youth-led initiatives.

These pilots help communities understand how regulations work in real life. Over time, municipalities integrate circular principles into budgets and school programs, while residents adopt new recycling habits and local initiatives.

Our approach combines coaching, monitoring, and long-term partnerships to ensure sustainable results beyond individual projects.

Looking Ahead with EUROPARC

Joining the EUROPARC Federation marks an important milestone for Verde e Moldova. It strengthens international cooperation, enhances knowledge exchange in Protected Area management, and reinforces the organisation’s mission to connect people, nature, and sustainable development.

Together with EUROPARC members across Europe, VeM will continue building resilient communities, restoring ecosystems, and shaping a greener future for Moldova and the wider region.

(c) Beley