Outcomes of the International Conference on Environmental Education hosted by the Centre for Environmental Education in Ahmedabad (India) from 24-28 November 2007 with the support of the Government of India, UNESCO and UNEP. The working group session on “Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage Sites: Learning Laboratories for Sustainable Development” was attended by about 40 participants and generated recommendations. A declaration was developed by the conference in the context of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development. More

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• Millennium Development Goals
• Objectives of the CB

UNESCO actively contributes to these efforts through a number of activities, including:

Global Initiative on Biodiversity Education
Global Initiative on Biodiversity Education, which UNESCO developed jointly with the Convention on Biological Diversity, has led to the agreed CBD Programme of Work on Biodiversity Education and Public Awareness. The main elements of this programme focus on:

• Stimulating and coordinating networks composed of new information technologies and traditional communication mechanisms;
  
• Exchanging of knowledge and expertise among professionals, enhancing development and innovation on communication, education and public awareness;
• Developing capacity of the Parties to market biodiversity to other sectors, and mainstreaming biodiversity into the work of other sectors.

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• GlobalGlobal Initiative on Biodiversity Education

Biodiversity within the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development
In 2002, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 57/254 on a United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) from 2005 to 2014 and designated UNESCO as the lead agency for promoting and coordinating the Decade. The overall goal of the Decade is to integrate the values inherent in sustainable development into all aspects of learning. The aim is to encourage changes in behavior that allow for a more sustainable and just society for all.

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• International Implementation Scheme (IIS) for the Decade

In the context of the UNDESD several UNESCO-MAB education projects and products on nature and biodiversity are available, including educational games, books for children and web-based resources. Efforts are being made to address the tertiary educational level and young researchers' needs in the area of biodiversity, with a focus to developing countries:

• Environmental Education in Drylands

	A Creative Approach to Environmental Education The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO is currently developing a pedagogical kit for environmental education designed to be used in dryland countries. The kit is aimed at primary and secondary school teachers worldwide and is based on an innovative approach appealing to the creativity and artistic sensibilities of pupils aged 6-15 approximately. Conceived with the aim of developing among younger generations the ability to combat desertification while endeavouring to conserve biodiversity, the content of the kit echoes the United Nations General Assembly declaration proclaiming 2006 International Year of Deserts and Desertification. It is also consistent with the activities developed as part of the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014), the promotion of which falls within UNESCO's fields of competence. A sample of the kit is available in English and in French.
	Education Kit on Combating Desertification: everyone has a role to play in Earth's future The Education Kit on Combating Desertification principally targets primary school teachers and their pupils, aged 10-12 years old, in desertification-affected countries. It demonstrates that desertification is not inevitable and that everyone has a role to play in sustainably man aging the world's drylands. The kit comprises: a teacher's guide on desertification case studies on successful dryland projects three copies each of the cartoon "The school where the magic tree grows" a poster of the world's drylands Free interactive web-based versions exist in English, French and Spanish. Hard copies of the kit can be ordered for Arabic, English, French, and Spanish. Also translated into Chinese, German, Hindi, Mongol and Russian, the kit was prepared by UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme in collaboration with the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
	Game on Wetlands and Water With the International Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, 1971), UNESCO developed a Game on Wetlands and Water. Contact: s.arico@unesco.org

Little MAB Come exploring the Biosphere Reserve ... it is full of surprises and secret treasures ... carnivorous plants, rare animals, legends, ancient castles... so many things to discover and protect ... More

Pacific MAB Discovery Kit: A visit to the island Biosphere Reserves in the Pacific (English) This educational kit describes island and coastal Biosphere Reserves for students and educators. The content includes: Atlas: A handbook describes 24 island and coastal Biosphere Reserves in and around the Pacific region, their main features and the interaction between people and their places Activity booklet Poster Enjoy the interactive version of Pacific MAB Discovery Kit Contact for the printed kit: UNESCO office in Apia (Samoa) apia@unesco.org

All products employed in secondary education were developed in collaboration with UNESCO's Associated Schools Project Network.

• Biosphere reserves: learning sites for the UNDESD
  Biosphere reserves under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere programme (MAB) are seen as important contributors to the design and implementation of activities and initiative during the UNDESD.

Many biosphere reserves implement educational (scientific, cultural and recreational) activities that are consistent with DESD. Participative science activities are organized and involve schools pupils visiting biosphere reserves and learning the basic of sciences on the ground. Other activities include intertwining programmes between schools associated with different biosphere reserve sites. A circular letter addressed to MAB National Committees and Focal Points suggesting further action at the local, national and international levels.