UNESCO Chair on Education in Biosphere Reserves for Sustainable Societies

YOKOHAMA National University

Purpose

The purpose of the Chair shall be to promote an integrated system of research, training, information and documentation on Education for Sustainable Development in Biosphere Reserves in support of the achievement of more sustainable societies. It will facilitate collaboration between high-level, internationally-recognized researchers and teaching staff of the University and other institutions in Japan, as well as elsewhere in the Asia and the Pacific region, and in other regions of the world.

  • Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell - International Summer School at YNU (Aug. 2019)

Partnership Agreement between Japanese Biosphere Reserves Network (JBRN) and YNU at the JBRN Convention 2023 held on July 24, 2023

Professor Miguel Clüsener-Godt was awarded a Honorary Doctorate on March 22, 2023

Urgent call message:
Blue Carbon – Op-Ed on the occasion of World Wetland Day (Feb 2)


International Conference on “Blue Carbon Ecosystems for Sustainable Development with Special Emphasis to Mangrove Ecosystems” was held on Jan 11-13, 2023.

Yokohama National University Spring program 2023 was held on Dec 13, 20, 2022 and Jan 10, 2023.

Yokohama National University Launching Conference of UNESCO Chair on “Education in Biosphere Reserves For Sustainable Societies” was held on Nov 21, 2022.

Urgent call message:
Message from Japan on the occasion of International Day (Nov 3) for Biosphere Reserves




With a view of facilitating interdisciplinary research on sustainable development issues and to provide sound bases for the management of Biosphere Reserves and the achievement of SDGs, in Japan and in the partner countries, the specific objectives of this Chair are to:

  • investigate the mutually benefitting relationship between Biosphere Reserves and the interconnected urban areas benefitting directly or indirectly from the ecosystem services they provide;
  • provide teaching materials and establish the “Minor Education Programme for MAB/SDGs”;
  • develop the “International Project-Based-Learning (PBL) Training Course for MAB/SDGs” at the Yokohama National University, as a pilot education programme- develop a network of learning sites within the Japanese Biosphere Reserves Network as well as other networks related to partner universities in Japan and in the region, and;
  • cooperate closely with UNESCO and existing UNESCO Chairs on relevant programmes and activities.

Period: April 1 2022-
Chair Holder: Prof. Hiroyuki Matsuda (Graduate School of Environmental and Information Sciences, International Strategy Organization)
Location: Yokohama National University, 79-1 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan