The more we understand the interaction between man and nature, the more sustainable will be our relationship.

The World Network of Biosphere Reserves established within the scope of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme among others includes the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve, Latvia’s largest protected nature territory that includes the region’s diverse landscape and the Salaca’s river catchment basin.

What is the aim?
The UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme is an intergovernmental scientific programme that aims to establish a scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between people and their environments, promoting ecosystem protection while developing a sustainable economy and collecting good practice from around the world for sustainable management of such territories. Biosphere reserves serve as a place for studying interactions, striving to achieve a balance in the protection of biodiversity, promotion of economic development and preservation of cultural values.

What does it include?
The Network of Biosphere Reserves currently includes 727 sites in 131 countries, including 22 transboundary sites. The Network includes the only Latvian biosphere reserve — the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve. A Landscape Ecological Plan was developed for the Reserve, and the related activities include implementing public monitoring and climate change analysis programmes, actively educating the public and cooperating with municipalities, local entrepreneurs and organizations on environmental management matters, and promoting the involvement of the local community in facilitating harmonious sustainability of the area.

Find out more!
About UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme: https://en.unesco.org/mab
About the World Network of Biosphere Reserves: https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/wnbr
About North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve: https://www.facebook.com/Ziemelvidzeme/ https://www.daba.gov.lv/lv/ziemelvidzemes-biosferas-rezervats

About UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme
About the World Network of Biosphere Reserves
About North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve
And on Facebook

Memories remain as long as there is someone who keeps and shares them, thus building bridges from one generation to another.

Each collection of documentary heritage or object has its own guardian — a memory institution that ensures its identification, preservation, accessibility and recognition on a Latvian and international scale. Within the scope of the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme, the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO collaborates with memory institutions — museums and keepers of collections in Latvia — in order to promote the preservation of evidence of Latvia’s most important documentary heritage for the future.

What is the aim?
The Latvian National Commission for UNESCO cooperates with local memory institutions to promote the implementation of the Memory of the World programme in Latvia with the aim of identifying and preserving the world’s significant documentary heritage, promoting its accessibility and knowledge worldwide, regardless of the documents’ origin.

What does it include?
Latvia has 19 memory institutions which maintain and protect the Latvian nominations included in the international or national register of the UNESCO Memory of the World Programme.

Find out more!
About UNESCO Memory of the World Programme
About internationally recognized nominations from Latvia
About nationally appraised nominations from Latvia

Stories may be a form of experience legacy as well as a continuation — a documentary re-creation of the current time.

The Storytelling Libraries Network of the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO is a cooperation network across Latvia aimed at updating and preserving local heritage through storytelling.

What is the aim?
The aim of the Storytelling Library is to promote the identification, documentation, preservation of the intangible cultural heritage, in particular storytelling, and conveying it to future generations, specifically through encouraging the involvement of the local community.

What does it include?

Currently, the network consists of 32 Storytelling Libraries across Latvia that regularly hosts various events dedicated to storytelling and takes part in thematic activities organized by the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO, collecting local findings and gaining insight into international experience.

Find out more!
About the Storytelling Libraries Network of the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO

Knowledge is a strong cornerstone for purposeful development.

The UNESCO Chairs Network is an important partner in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. UNESCO is convinced that the exchange of experience and knowledge between universities and other higher education institutions contributes to the development of education.

What is the aim?
UNESCO Chairs are set up across the world to strengthen academic mobility and facilitate the dissemination of knowledge through various forms of cooperation.

What does it include?
Five UNESCO Chairs are set up in Latvia, including the UNESCO Chair on Teacher Education and Continuing education: Interplay of Tradition and Innovation in Education for Sustainable Development at the Daugavpils University, the UNESCO Chair on Intangible Cultural Heritage Policy and Law at the Latvian Academy of Culture, the UNESCO Chair on Media and Information Literacy at the Social Sciences Faculty of the University of Latvia, the UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Coastal Development of the Environmental Science and Management Institute of the University of Latvia and the UNESCO Chair on Biosphere and Man at the Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences.

Find out more!
About UNESCO Chairs Network

As the population of cities increase, so do urban development challenges.

The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities was established by the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning as a place to bring learning to families, communities and work, and through the use of modern technologies to strengthen a culture of lifelong learning and promote excellence in education.

What is the aim?
The aim of the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities is to jointly seek solutions to address globalization, urbanization, demography and other 21st century urban development challenges faced by the urban governance. Municipalities need to find solutions to these challenges by demonstrating good governance examples and setting a vision for sustainable development and education that fosters a society in which lifelong learning is an integral part of community life.

What does it include?
Valmiera is the Latvian town that takes pride in its participation in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities Network. It was Valmiera where the first professional Latvian educational institution for teachers — Vidzeme Teachers’ Seminar headed by Jānis Cimze — was established. Nowadays Valmiera is proud to offer modern, competitive and high-quality education to the inhabitants of Valmiera and the surrounding counties, not only from pre-school to university, but also through provision of lifelong learning opportunities.

Find out more!
About the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities Network

Thinking globally, in the name of sustainability, we must start by taking action in our own neighbourhood, learning first and then inspiring others by example.

UNESCO Associated Schools Network (UNESCO ASP NET) is not only the longest-running UNESCO initiative in the field of education, but also the world’s first school network. There are currently more than 30 schools in Latvia whose work supports the tasks of the UNESCO Associated Schools project or the International Cooperation Network – which are to promote inclusive, high-quality and sustainable education.

What is the aim?
The UNESCO Associated Schools Network was established in 1953, demonstrating support and willingness to contribute to the promotion of a culture of peace around the world. Since the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, participating schools have strengthened the knowledge and skills necessary to promote sustainable development, including education on sustainable development and lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and creating awareness of cultural diversity and culture’s contribution to sustainable development.

What does it include?
Currently, the UNESCO Associated Schools Network is an international cooperation network that consists of approximately 11,500 educational institutions of all levels from 182 countries, including 32 schools from Latvia. Schools that form part of this Network enjoy the opportunity to take part in international UNESCO projects, seminars and conferences on topical UNESCO matters in Latvia and around the world.

Find out more!

About the UNESCO Associated Schools Network Project: https://aspnet.unesco.org/en-us https://www.unesco.lv/lv/unesco-asocieto-skolu-tikls

About the UNESCO Associated Schools Network Project
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