REPORT on the Belarus MAB National Committee activity for 2010-2011 The main directions of activity of the Belarus MAB National Committee in 2010-2011 included coordination of the activity of national sites of the UNESCO World Network of the Biosphere Reserves, transboundary cooperation with neighbouring countries on the MAB Program, development of educational network in environment on the basis of national biosphere reserves, special education of different groups of population. Three Biosphere Reserves in Belarus are included into the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR), they are - Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve (1978), Belovezhskaya Pushcha Biosphere Reserve (1993) and Pribuzhskoye Polesie Biosphere Reserve (2004), Belarusian part of Transboundary West Polesie Biosphere Reserve, Belarus - Poland Ukraine under establishing. The idea of Biosphere Reserves found adherents in Belarus, and numerous national and international activities on present and planning biosphere reserves are running. Transboundary territories, such as "Pripyatsky, Belarus-Ukraine" in Ancient Valley of the Pripyat River in south of the country, "Augustovskaya Pushcha, Belarus-Lithuania-Poland" in the north-western borders of Belarus are considering as potential biosphere reserves. Activities on transboundary biosphere reserves establishing on basis of natural valuable objects in Belarus, Latvia and Russian Federation are carrying out. About 20 special meetings and seminars with participation of local authorities, representatives of local population and partners from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Russian Federation were conducted in 2010-2012 in Belarus (Grodno, Grodno district, Vitebsk, Vitebsk District, Miory, Brest, Brest District), Russian Federation (Smolensk Lakeland BR). For example, the results of the Sub-regional workshop "Biosphere reserve concept in the framework of national legislations: challenges, best practices and steps forward of cluster countries of the UNESCO Moscow Office and neighbouring European states (Baltic States and Ukraine)" and other events were included into elaboration of national and multilateral strategy on preparation of nomination application to UNESCO to obtain the status of a biosphere reserve.
Sustainable development is impossible without the proper use of the achievements of nature conservation. Possession of the objects of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves requires certain commitments. Countriesowners of the WNBR objects should maintain the status of the Biosphere Reserves, and implement certain commitments concerning environmental education of the local population and ecologically friendly behavior of the people, and also a constant awareness on environmental activities of people living in and around the UNESCO biosphere reserves. Members of the Belarus MAB National Committee took part at the international workshops organized by UNESCO BRESCE-UNESCO MO on Development of the Biosphere Reserves Network, Turkey, 2010 and EuroMAB meeting Sharing sustainable Futures, Sweden, 2011. The results and experience of the sites of the UNESCO WNBR with their achievements presented at the workshops and meetings were penetrated into practice of sustainable development and ecological education of the Belarusian national Biosphere Reserves. The activity of the Belarus MAB National Committee aims to create permanent ecological training courses schools for improving environmental education of local people, especially for people who live in and near the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. Total goal is increasing a level of ecological education of various groups of local population, within the project priority population groups of education courses should be determined, for which groups environmental training program "Man and Biosphere" should be held. The main groups for environmental education have been determined as following officials of local authorities, educators, teacher and mentors, pupils and students, and other groups of local people involved into the active life of the local community. To maintain a constant environmental education of the population it is necessary to organize constantly acting environmental schools - training courses, to conduct lectures and practical activities, disseminate information materials on UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme biosphere reserves concept. Current programs of training courses are elaborated for exposition and orientation of different groups of population: (i) environmental education for pupils and students should motivate young people s enthusiasm for its productive future, the courses are a
start point to recruit talented youth into activity within UNESCO Biosphere Reserves 3 environment courses in basic environment for scholars (May, June July, August 2011), 4 training courses in life sciences for students of the Belarusian State University, Brest State University (May August 2011) were conducted in Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve and Pribuzhskoye Polesie Biosphere Reserve. (ii) concept for educators includes information on reliable linkage on environmental education of population and sustainable management of natural resources, prevention of man-made disasters and mitigation of their consequences 2 training courses for local teachers in natural sciences were conducted in 2011 (June, August) in the Pribuzhskoye Polesie Biosphere Reserve. 2 young teachers from the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve and Pribuzhskoye Polesie Biosphere Reserve October 2011 in Slovakia within the Trilateral Eastern Carpathians Biosphere Reserve (iii) another education approach is elaborated for local people older age group it includes attracting basic point of environmental friendly behavior of people for example, explanation and elucidation of main rules and benefits of environmental friendly behavior - such as Environmental thinking also helps raise people s living standards in and around the Biosphere Reserves. Special meetings for local people were organized in three national Biosphere Reserves (more than ten events) in 2011. The work continues and expands in 2012 to involve the local population into activity of popularization of the Biosphere Reserve concept. To be in course of innovative technologies of environment education members of the Belarus MAB National Committee attended important international Forum - European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategy Positive Visions on Biodiversity (November 2010, Brussels). FP7 IncoNet EECA Information & Brokerage Event Environment (Including climate change), October, 2010, Yerevan, Armenia. Vice-Chairperson of the Belarus MAB National Committee a. Prof. Natallia Rybianets is a member of the EuroMAB UNESCO Working Group on Education.
Popular information materials were prepared and published in print and electronic formats, information materials were used as handouts at the training seminars for raising awareness of local people about the problems of conservation and utilization of water resources, biodiversity and landscape, the relationship of natural and cultural diversity. In accordance with the provisions of the MAB program the development of cross-border scientific cooperation is included into the education program of the training courses (shall be demonstrated at the 24 th Session of the ICC MAB). UNESCO Chair in Science Education with Emphasis on Natural Sciences at Belarusian State University (UNESCO Chair SEENS BSU) was setting up in 2011. The specific objective of the UNESCO Chair SEENS BSU is producing expertly trained professionals in research in chemistry, physics, biology and environmental sciences with international experience and skills in holding scientific and methodological research. UNESCO Chair SEENS BSU has close scientific and educational links with institutions of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus that provides training of students in specialized scientific courses with use of modern equipment for scientific research. Belarusian sites of the UNESCO World Network Biosphere Reserves are planned to be used as experimental and educative laboratories for research and management. Agreements on cooperation UNESCO Chair and Belarusian Biosphere Reserves are prepared for development of special education courses. The training process of professionals in management of biosphere reserves includes teaching students at the practice-oriented master-classes under special Agreements between Belarusian State University and national Biosphere Reserves: Berezinsky BR, Belovezhskaya Pushcha BR and Pribuzhskoye Polesie BR. Elaboration of interdisciplinary educational programs for training managers of the UNESCO biosphere reserves - objects of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserve is an important task for implementation of integrated approach in science education with emphasis on natural sciences. The programs
based on the real experience of long term international activity in biosphere reserves of the UNESCO WNBR and other natural protected areas. It allows using in practice new approach of involving young generation into studying natural sciences and developing their knowledge and skills in real life. Project N5655004008 BYE of the UNESCO Participation Programme 2010-2011 Introducing the system of Global and European threatened plant species protection in Belarus on national and regional levels was carried out with participation of the members MAB National Committee. In the frame of the Project studying and development of concrete measures for protection of populations of European and Global rare and threatened plant species on the territory of Belarus in accordance with new methodology and priorities of the global and European strategies for plant conservation was implemented. Elaboration and introduction of appropriate official legal documents (passports and protective liabilities) for population of the European rare and threatened plant species in the territory of Belarus were started. Series of methodological and educational seminars on concerning themes with participation of regional specialists, especially specialists from the national Biosphere Reserves, and nongovernmental organizations were conducted (October 2011, January 2012). The results of the UNESCO Project will be widely implemented in the national Biosphere Reserves and other protected areas. Materials of the Project were used for preparation of the European Red List of Vascular plants (2011) and new edition of the Red Data Book of European Bryophytes (under edition of 2012). Members of the Belarus MAB National Committees and UNESCO Chair SEENS BSU carried out scientific investigation in UNESCO-MAB Project Biodiversity and Climate Change Interactions Learning from the West Polesie Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO Contract 4500152324, 2010-2011). The results of the Project research are included into educational programs of the UNESCO Chair. Financial support of the Project by the Japanese Fund in Trust allows to implement the recommendation of the Madrid action Plan (Madrid, 2008) and recommendation of the Forum For life, for the Future /Biosphere Reserve and Climate Change, Germany, 2011 into development of the Pribuzhskoye Polesie Biosphere Reserve, Belarusian part of a potential West Polesie Transboundary Biosphere Reserve, Belarus/Poland/Ukraine.
Belarusian national Biosphere Reserves are widely used as learning platform for students and scholars in environment. There are plans for organizing students and scholars field work in Transboundary European Biosphere Reserves, namely in a potential West Polesie Transboundary Biosphere Reserve, Belarus-Poland- Ukraine. Elaboration of the special educational programs to train specialists for the natural science of biosphere reserves in the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves has been started in 2011. Student special forums in direction of protection and use of water resources, biodiversity and landscape diversity, climate change, and also natural resources and climate change interaction in and about biosphere reserves are included into educational programs of the national Biosphere Reserves. The list of publication includes scientific papers and popular brochures for different groups of population, scholars and decision makers, students and teachers. Special guidelines for learning the world of biosphere reserves are published and circulated. Web-sites of the national Biosphere Reserves are currently updated with the information and news on themes of Biosphere Reserves: - Berezinsky BR (http://berezinsky.by) - Belovezhskaya Pushcha BR (http://www.npbp.brestobl.com) - Pribuzhskoye Polesie BR (http://brpp.by), Belarusian part of a potential West Polesie Transboundary Biosphere Reserve, Belarus Poland - Ukraine.The website is worked out with the support of Japanese Fund-in-Trust in the framework of UNESCO project «Biodiversity and climate change interactions learning from the West Polesie transboundary biosphere reserve». In the frame of the mentioned Project the common Web-site of the West Polesie TBR with links to national Web-sites of the Biosphere Reserves was created - http://westpolesie.org/. In 2011 the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus, the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of Ukraine on the Establishment of the West Polesie Transboundary Biosphere Reserve was signed. The legal framework for activities in the territory of the West Polesie Transboundary Biosphere Reserve was created during the Project activity by signing the above mentioned Intergovernmental Agreement. The holding of the ceremony of inauguration of the West Polesie Transboundary Biosphere Reserve is planning in 2012.
Recommendation of the 23 rd session of the ICC of MAB concerning implementing the principles of Biosphere reserves in the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve included notes that along with the excellent results achieved by the Reserve to protect and optimize its territory, there is a tendency to reduce the population in the vicinity. In connection with the mentioned recommendations the following activity was conducted for improvement an implementing function of sustainable development in the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve. In order to attract young professionals to work in the Reserve in recent years: - two houses for 20 apartments were built - hostel with 20 rooms was equipped - there is building the third house on the 8 apartments In order to increase attractiveness of the Reserve and promote environmental education and tourism the infrastructure for this type of activity was greatly expanded, especially in the transition zone, namely: several new guest houses were constructed on the lakes Palika, Plavno, Olshitsa; Nivki recreation and tourism base was expanded and equipped. The activity really increased attractiveness of the Reserve and allowed to create new additional jobs, especially for local youth. New Regulation on the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve was elaborated and adopted (February 2012), those greatly expanded opportunities for the sustainable management of the local population living in the Reserve. Expanding the area of cooperation of the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve was considered at the Session of the Scientific and Technical Council of the Berezinsky BR (June, 2012). The planned modification of the territory due to the inclusion in the specified zone experimental farm "Barsuki" is 13.8 thousand hectares. Thus, the total area of the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve will be 131.7 thousand hectares. On the national level decision of the Scientific and Technical Council of the Berezinsky BR is supported by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Republic of Belarus. Mentioned modification of the territory
allowed increasing the local population involved in the activity of the reserve about 15%. In order to bring its operations into compliance with the legislative framework for Biosphere Reserves as set out in the Millennium 8 and 9 of the Madrid Plan of Action a Project proposal "Development Plan for the implementation of sustainable development functions for the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve" is under consideration in the national and international foundations.