Zambia Hosts AfriMAB Assembly to Advance Sustainable Management of Africa's Biosphere Reserves
Livingstone, Zambia, hosted the 8th AfriMAB General Assembly from 8 to 14 March 2026, bringing together representatives from UNESCO, national Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) committees, biosphere reserve managers, government institutions, research organisations, development partners and youth networks. Held under the theme "Harnessing Africa's Natural Resources through Ecosystem-Friendly Technologies," the Assembly served as a strategic platform for shaping the implementation of the Hangzhou MAB Strategic Action Plan (2026 - 2035), with discussions centred on biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, sustainable livelihoods and the role of ecosystem-friendly technologies in addressing land degradation and environmental governance across the continent.
A key highlight was the presentation of the Mt. Elgon Transboundary Biosphere Reserve case study spanning Kenya and Uganda, which demonstrated the practical application of agroecology across a landscape covering approximately 588,347 hectares and supporting over 2.1 million people. The initiative, funded by McKnight, integrates scientific research, Indigenous knowledge systems and community-led approaches - including agroforestry, soil restoration, water harvesting and citizen science - to address food insecurity, land degradation and climate-related pressures. The Assembly identified the Mt. Elgon model as a replicable framework for linking biodiversity conservation with community resilience across similar African landscapes, with youth engagement and Indigenous knowledge integration highlighted as essential components of long-term sustainable resource management.
Source: UNESCO
