Provide an overview and analysis: How can we strengthen Adaptive Management in BRs? How can we engage and empower stakeholders?

Adaptive management means that there is monitoring, feedback and learning from the results of past decision-making for future decision-making, such that future actions become adapted. A second crucial aspect is embracing uncertainty. A third crucial aspect is participatory management, strengthening interactions of managers with stakeholders and scientists, thereby promoting learning and building relationships (German Commission for UNESCO (ed.) 2015: Management Manual for UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Africa, p. 21).

In the case of our Network, this includes:
• Joint planning among different stakeholders in BRs
• Collaborative conflict resolution and decision taking among different stakeholders in BRs (e.g. zonation issues)
• Role of Citizen Science and involving communities in research planning and implementation (co-design, co-production of knowledge)
• Joint Monitoring and Evaluation among different stakeholders in BRs