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The World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves (WNICBR) was created in 2012 by the Man and the Biosphere Programme of UNESCO to foster sustainable development in islands and coastal areas and to promote adaptation and mitigation strategies on climate change. As of today, there are 235 biosphere reserves in island and coastal areas. Twenty seven of them are in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Together they represent 235 efforts to sustainably manage island and coastal areas where humans and nature co-exist. Eighty of these sites belong to the World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves (WNICBR).

The 10th meeting of the World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves (WNICBR) – which celebrates the 10th anniversary of the network – took place from 17 to 21 October 2022 at the Wadden Biosphere Reserve in Germany. The meeting presented an opportunity to exchange experiences and unite efforts to tackle common challenges, particularly the threat that climate change poses to island and coastal zones. It also offered opportunities to enhance collaboration among members of the network and to advance work for and with Small Island Developing States.

During this meeting, 18 representatives of island and coastal biosphere reserves from 13 countries reflected on the best ways to engage with these important challenges and opportunities within the framework on the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the UN Decade on Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, and the concrete aims that should be integrated into the next workplan. The representatives also discussed the optimum means to promote and integrate further the contributions and leadership potential of young people into the activities of your global network.

This meeting also presented an opportunity to highlight the work of the WNICBR, including the ‘Zero Plastic’ working group, which focuses on reducing the threat of plastics and microplastics that make up more than 60% of the waste accumulating in the world's oceans and along its coastlines. This essential work has contributed to a multilateral agreement agreed by the international community to halt plastic pollution, which represents a growing threat to the entire biosphere.

Another key function of the WNICBR is support for the implementation of local projects to address global changes affecting island and coastal biosphere reserves. While these sites are particularly vulnerable, they also present great potential to study these changes and to implement and test policies for sustainable development.

The most recent project is the MangRes initiative, which was launched in September 2022, and aims to restore mangroves in seven countries of Latin American and Caribbean. The project brings together scientists from participating countries, experts from Belgium, biosphere reserve managers, and local and Indigenous knowledge holders.

One of the main outcomes of the WNICBR meeting was the development of a work plan for the period 2023–2027, a period of operation that will be formalized with the forthcoming signing of a new agreement (MoU) between UNESCO, the biosphere reserves of Jeju and Menorca, and the MAB National Committees of Korea and Spain. This agreement will provide continuity to the network.

The meeting was organized by the Wadden Sea Biosphere Reserve with the collaboration of the UNESCO MAB Secretariat, the Jeju Biosphere Reserve, the Menorca Biosphere Reserve Agency, the National Parks Autonomous Agency (OAPN) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Environment of Spain, and the MAB National Committee of South Korea. Menorca, together with the Jeju Biosphere Reserve (Republic of Korea) and the UNESCO MAB programme, is responsible for coordinating and management of the Network.