3rd UNESCO MAB World Youth Forum in Italy: Po Delta and Euganean Hills

3rd UNESCO MAB World Youth Forum in Italy

When: 18-22 May 2026

Where: Po Delta and Euganean Hills Biosphere Reserves (Emilia-Romagna and Veneto)

From 18 to 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 relationship between ecosystem protection, biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic development, bringing together young people from around the world.

What to expect

• Plenary sessions and intergenerational dialogue: exchanges between young leaders, researchers and institutions on sustainability policies.
• Field visits: hands-on inspections in the Po Delta and Euganean Hills Biosphere Reserves to observe conservation best practices.
• Workshops and policy proposals: development of youth-led proposals that can be replicated locally and internationally.
• Inclusion: special attention to participants from low-income countries, with international cooperation measures.

Organization and participants

The forum is promoted in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE), the Veneto and Emilia-Romagna Regions, the Italian National Commission for UNESCO and the involved Biosphere Reserves.

Who should attend: young environmental activists and professionals, researchers, institutional representatives and local reserve operators. The forum provides opportunities to build international networks and turn ideas into concrete actions.

Practical information

• Locations: Po Delta and Euganean Hills, designated Biosphere Reserves known for their biological richness.
• Program and registration: check official channels of the organizing institutions and the individual Biosphere Reserves for details on participation, schedule and access rules.
• Why attend: on-site learning, international networking and the chance to contribute to sustainable policy and project development.

Italy is among the most active countries in the UNESCO MAB programme, with 21 certified Biosphere Reserves that serve as living laboratories for sustainable development models.