Abstract

UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BRs) have long been regarded as model regions for the conservation of biodiversity, sustainable development, and grassroots innovations. In the face of mounting global challenges, these model regions provide fertile ground for innovation, collaboration, and systemic change within socio-ecological systems. In a recent review, Dabard, Mann, and Martín-López (2025) contend that BRs are not merely conservation areas but also dynamic catalysts for place-based sustainability transformations.