We will contribute to develop integrated area-based management for harmony between man and the biosphere, including catchment management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, branding organic agriculture, human-wildlife conflict, disaster risk reduction, and environmental risk management. We can also contribute to The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), World Heritage Center, etc.

We will contribute to the development of Education for the Sustainable Development (ESD) using in biosphere reserves (BRs), especially for urban dwellers (revising and translating “ESD Guidebook for Teachers Utilizing Biosphere Reserves” that benefit from ecosystem services of BRs).

We promote research and educational contributions to local communities with respect to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goal 4 (quality education), 6 (clean water), 11 (sustainable city), 13 (climate), 14 (life below water), 15 (living on land), 17 (partnership). We also contribute other Goals of the SDGs. We develop research, teaching and training, exchanges and publications that should benefit first of all young scientists, researchers, scholars, and students.

We will establish joint lecture programmes with partner universities in emerging and developing countries to develop human resources who will comprehensively work on reconnecting urban citizens to their environment. These programmers discuss on the long-term perspective on sustainable society from the viewpoint of conservation of the natural environment through discussions between faculty members and selected students at our university and the partner universities. In Japan and Asia, developing in new generations contributes a wider vision of the world and the SDGs, a bigger sense of respect and solidarity.

To be concrete, the UNESCO Chair will (1) promote joint research on utilization of the MAB Programme for urban dwellers, (2) provide teaching materials including lecture videos and establish the “Minor Education Programme for MAB/SDGs”, (3) develop the “International PBL Training Course for MAB/SDGs” at YNU as a pilot education program, and (4) develop a network of learning sites within JBRN and other BRs linked by the partner universities. The UNESCO Chair will provide international short-term training courses held at YNU.

from “ESD Guidebook for Teachers Utilizing Biosphere Reserves”