Crete officials and UNESCO discuss biosphere reserves and climate change

The Governor of Crete, Stavros Arnaoutakis, met with Michalis Skoullos, President of the Greek Committee of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, to discuss the management of Crete’s biosphere reserves.

The discussions focused on the Samaria Gorge and the Asterousia biosphere reserves. A key topic was the 2026 Asterousia Hybrid University, an initiative involving representatives from ten Mediterranean countries. The central theme of this year’s university program is climate change and the role of UNESCO biosphere reserves in addressing environmental shifts.

The initiative emphasizes dialogue with local communities and education for sustainable development, involving local schools that are part of the UNESCO connected network. UNESCO officials, including advisor Philippe Pypaert, acknowledged the regional government’s ongoing support for the MAB Programme and its role in highlighting Crete’s natural and cultural heritage.