From Data to Sustainability: UNESCO Awards Portuguese Biosphere Reserves Platform
The digital platform Reservas da Biosfera (reservasdabiosfera.pt) has been honored with the 2026 HIST Award on Sustainable Development of UNESCO-Designated Sites, an international award promoted by HIST, a UNESCO-affiliated center dedicated to the application of digital technologies in the conservation and sustainable management of designated territories.
The nomination, submitted by the Centre for Functional Ecology (CFE) of the University of Coimbra, received the award through the case study “From Data to Governance: A Digital Territorial Platform for Portuguese Biosphere Reserves”, which was recognized for its contribution to the conservation and sustainable development of UNESCO sites through the use of digital technologies.
Official certificate of the 2nd HIST Award on Sustainable Development of UNESCO-Designated Sites, awarded to the case study “From Data to Governance: A Digital Territorial Platform for Portuguese Biosphere Reserves”, submitted by the University of Coimbra.
From Knowledge to Governance
The award recognizes initiatives that use digital technologies to improve the management and sustainability of UNESCO-designated territories, highlighting innovation, impact, and the potential for replication in other regions.
In the Portuguese case, the platform was recognized for transforming dispersed information into actionable knowledge for decision-making, promoting more informed and collaborative governance models. By bringing together territorial data, indicators, and scientific resources, the platform supports the monitoring and integrated management of Portugal’s Biosphere Reserves.
The Role of Digital Technology in Planetary Sustainability
In the face of global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss, digital technologies are becoming increasingly important in supporting sustainability. By facilitating the collection, analysis, and sharing of information, these tools help deepen understanding of territories and enable better-informed decisions.
This transformative potential is precisely what the HIST Award seeks to highlight. The recognition granted to the Portuguese platform, developed by the University of Coimbra and NOVA University Lisbon through CFE, in partnership with Axians Portugal as the technology partner, demonstrates how technological innovation can contribute to the protection of natural and cultural heritage by bringing together science, management, and society.
Recognition for Portugal and the Biosphere Reserve Network
The distinction awarded to the case study “From Data to Governance: A Digital Territorial Platform for Portuguese Biosphere Reserves” represents international recognition of the work carried out in Portugal at the intersection of science, technology, and territorial development.
More than an award for digital innovation, this recognition highlights the contribution of Portugal’s Biosphere Reserves to global sustainability goals and underscores the growing role of knowledge and technology in building a more sustainable future.