3rd UNESCO MAB World Youth Forum in Italy (18–22 May 2026)

3rd UNESCO MAB World Youth Forum in Italy

When: 18–22 May 2026
Where: Po Delta and Euganean Hills Biosphere Reserves

Between 18 and 22 May 2026 Italy will host the third edition of the UNESCO MAB (Man and the Biosphere) World Youth Forum. The event focuses on the balance between ecosystem protection, biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic development, bringing together young people from around the globe.

• Venues: Po Delta and Euganean Hills, both UNESCO Biosphere Reserves noted for their biodiversity.
• Organisers: supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE), the Regions of Veneto and Emilia-Romagna, the Italian National Commission for UNESCO and the local Biosphere Reserves.
• Objectives: strengthen international cooperation, promote youth-led policy proposals and showcase practical approaches that combine conservation and sustainable development.
• Inclusion: emphasis on enabling participation of young people from low-income countries, with initiatives tied to international cooperation and support mechanisms.

Italy counts 21 UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and plays an active role in the MAB network. The forum will include field visits, workshops and networking sessions aimed at turning ideas into actionable projects at local and international levels.

Who should attend: young environmental leaders, researchers, institutional representatives and local managers of biosphere reserves. The event is designed to foster knowledge exchange and the dissemination of scalable sustainable solutions.

For full programme details, participation rules and related initiatives, please refer to the official channels of the organising institutions and the involved Biosphere Reserves.