Third UNESCO MAB Youth Forum: May 18–22 in the Po Delta, Italy

Third UNESCO MAB Youth Forum: May 18–22 in the Po Delta

When: 18–22 May 2026

Where: Po Delta and Colli Euganei Biosphere Reserve (Veneto and Emilia-Romagna, Italy)

The Third Youth Forum of UNESCO's "Man and the Biosphere" (MAB) programme brings together more than 150 young people aged 18–35 from 142 countries in Italy. Hosted across the Po Delta and Colli Euganei areas, the forum aims to strengthen youth roles in environmental governance and sustainable territorial management.

The initiative was presented to the press in Rome with an opening greeting from the President of the Veneto Region. This global summit builds on previous MAB youth gatherings, including Italy's 2017 edition.

• Participants: youth aged 18–35 from 142 countries
• Goal: boost Youth Governance and increase youth participation in environmental policy-making
• Activities: workshops on biodiversity and regenerative economy, citizen science projects, field visits
• Side initiatives: launch of the "Generazione MAB" network and adoption of a national commitment charter
• Expected outcome: the "MAB Youth Declaration 2026" to feed into UNESCO's sustainability strategies

The forum is part of the MAB programme, which today comprises 784 Biosphere Reserves in 142 countries and focuses on balancing biodiversity conservation with sustainable development. Key 2026 topics include youth governance, water management, and local conservation practices.

Participants will take part in discussion sessions, hands-on labs and international networking opportunities designed to translate youth proposals into tangible contributions to local and global policies. The Po Delta is highlighted as a living lab for water management and biodiversity, showcasing Italy's best practices within the UNESCO network.

For visitors: the event is also an occasion to explore the Po Delta and Colli Euganei natural areas, learn about active conservation projects and discover effective models of sustainable development.