The 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves will take place in Hangzhou, China, from 22 to 26 September 2025. This is the first time the Congress will be held outside Europe or the Americas. Organized under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, the Congress convenes every ten years to assess progress, address challenges, and set a new strategic action plan for the global network of biosphere reserves.

The event will bring together over 2,000 participants, including scientists, policymakers, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and environmental experts. It will focus on how biosphere reserves can advance the global sustainability agenda, in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the UN Decade of Science for Sustainable Development. The Congress will feature sessions reviewing the MAB Programme’s achievements and will launch a new strategic vision for biosphere reserves moving forward.