International Strategy of Man and the Biosphere Programme of Germany and Its Implications to China postprint

Abstract: Since mid-1990s, Germany has developed the UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) together with its biosphere reserves into a pathway of enhancing the nation’s role in global governance. Measures took by Germany include: clarifying the national position in the globalization of German MAB, including putting more emphasis on partnership development, highlighting the effectiveness of development assistance, and ensuring the clearance and feasibility of action plan; collecting resources from foreign affairs, finance, intellectual, technology, etc., by multi-federal sector collaborative mechanism, to support the development of biosphere reserves of other countries; thinking globally and taking priority over Africa region. The example indicated that the driving force behind the globalization of German MAB includes the flexibility on mechanism of MAB itself, and the correspondence and unification of common benefits of the nation and international community by the core mission of MAB. Based on the experience of Germany and in view of the challenge and opportunity in the area of international cooperation of China, the authors suggest Chinese government to: enhance the awareness of the advantage inherited in the brand, topic, and mechanism of MAB; incorporate MAB into the international strategy and action plan of China, and mobilize multi-sector resources especially coordinating governmental sectors of the area to collaboratively lead the globalization of China MAB with Chinese Academy of Sciences, and facilitating a full-chain support mechanism in the integration of policy makers, scientific researchers, finance suppliers, and livelihood service providers; consolidate the functions of demonstration and leadership of science and technology which have had a long term of accumulation in the development of MAB in China; further the future-oriented international cooperation between China and Germany in the area of MAB. From a long perspective, international strategy of China MAB aims on approaching global consensus favorably by ideas of ecological civilization and community of shared future for humans, and to enhance the South-South cooperation and South-North cooperation by the extensive and flexible platform of MAB, so as to make contributions to the sustainable development and other common issues in global governance. Moreover, in view of the current international situations full of huge challenges, globalization of China MAB would help to open a new window for the international cooperation of China from the enhanced effort for Europe and other regions thus further support the holistic diplomacy of China.