The logo and website of the 5^th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves (5th WCBR)—to be held in Hangzhou from September 22 to 27—were officially unveiled at a press conference on May 16, where organizers also shared updates on event preparations. Sponsored by UNESCO, the congress will be co-hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Zhejiang Provincial Government.

The 5^th WCBR is projected to be the largest and most influential conference under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB), with over 3,000 participants from more than 100 countries and regions expected to attend. It will also be the first time the congress is held outside Europe and the Americas—marking a milestone in the MAB program's development and highlighting its global inclusivity.

Logo Symbolizes Harmony with Biosphere

The newly released logo draws inspiration from the iconic "Three Pools Mirroring the Moon" of Hangzhou's West Lake. At its center is the letter "H" for Hangzhou, integrated with the symbolic figure of a person—representing harmony with the biosphere—and the image of Hangzhou Bridge, signifying the connection between people and nature. The design reflects both the city's unique cultural heritage and the congress' central message of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

The logo's circular shape is composed of multiple "ecological origin dots," symbolizing an interconnected Earth characterized by coexistence and mutual prosperity. The deep-ocean blue and bamboo green color scheme represents Hangzhou's holistic approach to biosphere conservation, encompassing land, water, and air.

Website Designed as Collaborative Hub

The official website of the 5th WCBR serves as the sole authoritative platform for congress information and services. Designed as a global hub for collaboration and knowledge exchange, it connects participants, supporters, and advocates of sustainable development while promoting the core vision of the MAB program.

With green and blue as its main color tones—symbolizing forest vitality and sky purity—the website features dynamic visuals, high-resolution imagery, and short videos that vividly showcase the world's biosphere reserves and their achievements. It offers five main sections: About, Services, Media Hub, Welcome to Hangzhou, and FAQ. Available in Chinese, English, French, and Spanish, the site is compatible with mainstream browsers and optimized for access across all devices and regions.

Preparations for a Memorable, World-Class Congress

As the host city, Hangzhou places great emphasis on excellence in planning and execution to ensure the event's success. All aspects of preparation are being meticulously executed to provide excellent facilities and services for attendees.

The congress will review the MAB program's achievements over the past decade and outline a new global strategy and action plan for the next ten years. A Hangzhou Declaration will be released, and attendees will visit the Tianmushan–Qingliangfeng Biosphere Reserve in Lin’an District to observe local examples of the philosophy that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."

In support of a carbon-neutral event, residents are encouraged to donate green energy accumulated through over 60 low-carbon actions—such as eco-friendly travel and digital services—via Alipay's Ant Forest platform. Over 2.6 million people have already participated, with contributors eligible for badges, tickets, and certificates of recognition. The campaign will run until midnight on September 27.

logo of the 5^th WCBR (Credit: UNESCO)

Website of the 5^th WCBR (Image from the website)