This open access book offers a timely contribution to global sustainability debates by examining how UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (BRs) address interconnected environmental, socio-economic, and governance challenges. Positioned as “living laboratories,” BRs provide real-world platforms where biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and knowledge generation are pursued in an integrated way.

The volume is structured around three interrelated lenses: BRs as bridging spaces connecting science, policy, and communities; BRs as platforms for innovation in areas such as sustainable land use, resilience, and social inclusion; and BRs as strategic actors within the broader sustainability landscape. Drawing on diverse case studies from Europe, contributors highlight how BRs foster ecological restoration, inclusive governance, and locally grounded solutions.

Combining conceptual insight with practical evidence, this book demonstrates how Biosphere Reserves can help translate global commitments such as the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework into effective, place-based action.