RES-MAB: The Alto Bernesga BR participates in the Mid-Term Meeting from RES-MAB Project in Mont-Ventoux (France).

From November 5 to 7, 2025, the Alto Bernesga Biosphere Reserve participated in the RES-MAB Project Mid-Project Meeting, held in the Mont-Ventoux Regional Park and Biosphere Reserve (France).

The meeting brought together the project’s international partners to assess the progress made during the first 18 months, analyze the challenges identified, and plan the next steps for the second half of the project.

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Joint Evaluation and Planning

The first day focused on teamwork and collective reflection. Participants engaged in various group activities to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the actions carried out to date.

The objective was to share experiences and lessons learned among the different partners and find joint solutions to improve the implementation and impact of the project in the Mediterranean territories of Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Lebanon, Jordan, and Morocco.
The day concluded with the Gender Workshop, a practical session dedicated to the Gender Equality Strategy led by the Alto Bernesga Biosphere Reserve.

During the workshop, participants explored how to integrate a gender perspective into the management of Mediterranean reserves, promoting inclusion, equity, and participation at all decision-making levels.

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Visits to Sustainable Projects in Mont-Ventoux

The second day was dedicated to learning about local initiatives for sustainable development and climate change adaptation in the Mont-Ventoux area.

Participants visited a natural lavender fragrance production facility and its fields, where they learned about the organic distillation process and the benefits of sustainable farming practices.
They also visited a local farm-restaurant and an organic vineyard, examples of rural economies that utilize all available resources to improve their sustainability and reduce their environmental impact.
During the visits, the threats that climate change poses to these sectors and the future challenges to which local businesses will have to adapt were discussed.
In the afternoon, the Mid-Project General Assembly was held, where progress was reviewed and the necessary adjustments were agreed upon to maintain the project’s course for the next 18 months.
Concurrently, a technical session was held focusing on ongoing scientific results and upcoming presentations at international and national conferences.