Ho Chi Minh City, Nov. 9 -- A declaration has been adopted at the 13th meeting of the World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves (WNICBR), outlining cooperation priorities, experience-sharing activities and management guidelines to harmonise ecosystem conservation with sustainable socio-economic development.

A highlight of the declaration is the commitment to contribute to the Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan, particularly Action Target 18, under which the network will develop guidelines by 2028 to address challenges specific to coastal and marine biosphere reserves, supporting their nomination, management and monitoring.

The joint secretariats and UNESCO will collect case studies in the coming months to prepare the guidelines...