Asterousia 2024 - 2025 Phase B

Integrated Management in Biosphere Reserves and other Designated Sites of South-East Europe & the Mediterranean.

Asterousia Hybrid University - Phase A

The e-course of Phase B comes as follow up of Phase A, that took place live from 21 to 25 October in and around Asterousia Biosphere Reserve in Crete (Greece), with 30 participants from 11 countries.

Read more on Phase A below.

 

Phase A in MEdIES Phase A in UNESCO

PHASE B IN A NUTSHEL

When: 27 January to 16 February 2025 (3 weeks)

Where: online

For whom:  The course is targeting primarily post graduate students, young researchers, educators and managers of existing and candidate Biosphere Reserves  and other designated areas, such as Global Geoparks, Ecohydrology sites, World Heritage Properties (WH), Protected Areas (PAs), Natura 2000 sites, etc., globally. Anyone with an interest, study or work on such sites can participate.

Class size: Up to approx. 100 online learners.

Format: It combines asynchronous (self-paced) and synchronous sessions (weekly live meetings).

Commitment: The total training time for learners is approx. 15 hours (~5 hours/week).

Language: English

Platform: https://envirolearning.net/

Fees: Free of charge

Certification: Learners who successfully complete the course assignments will get the certificate co-signed by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe and the UNESCO Chair & Network on Sustainable Development Management and Education in the Mediterranean from the Univesity of Athens.

Register onlineConcept Note Phase B

LEARNING GOALS

What are learners expected to gain from this e-course?

  • A better understanding of the Man and the Biosphere Programme and its Biosphere Reserves as beacons of sustainability and ideal places to apply Integrated Resources Management.
  • An increased understanding on the global and regional policies for effective integrated water management in Biosphere Reserves and other UNESCO designated sites.
  • An increased knowledge of the challenges and threats of water resources today pressed by the climate crisis, especially droughts
  • An overview of current integrated management approaches such as IWRM/ICZM, the Source-to-sea & nexus approaches in water resources management and applications insights
  • Case studies highlighting the possible ways to overcome the challenges through application of integrated best practices e.g. Nature based Solutions, non-conventional water resources (NCWRs), small dams and built terraces; etc.
  • A better understanding of how Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) focusing on Water and Climate Change is applied in various sectors (science, culture and education), ecosystems and disciplines
  • Access to a wealth of online resources.
  • Networking with people with similar interests and concerns.
Organisers

The main organisers & sponsors of the 2024 Hybrid University are:

  • The UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe (Link)
  • Region of Crete (Link)
  • Heraklion Development Agency (Link)
  • The Local Management Committee of Asterousia 
  • UNESCO Chair and Network on Sustainable Development Management and Education at the University of Athens (UoA)
  • The Greek National Committee of the MAB/UNESCO Programme
  • Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE) through the MEdIES initiative (Link MIO-ECSDE, Link MEdIES)
  • Romanian Science UNESCO network
  • Association for the Protection of Asterousia (Link)