Biosphere Reserve Champions 2025

This year too, we are proud to launch Biosphere Reserve Champions, a National Competition for a Sustainable Future, an inspiring initiative by USO in partnership with UNESCO.

This impactful program is designed to equip school students with a deep and scientific understanding of some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Participants will actively explore crucial topics such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable living practices.

Through innovative and experiential learning methods, Biosphere Reserve Champions aims to empower students and schools to raise awareness within their local communities. The program not only enhances environmental literacy but also nurtures a sense of responsibility, encouraging students to take meaningful action. By engaging in hands-on activities, students, teachers, and communities across India are inspired to become proactive advocates for a sustainable and resilient future.

A dynamic partnership between
Empowering Schools for sustainability - environmental Education

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. UNESCO’s programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015. 

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Biosphere Reserve Champions: A Brief

Environmental education plays a critical role in tackling global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation. Recognizing the urgent need for credible, action-oriented learning, Biosphere Reserve Champions 2025, invites students from Classes 6 to 12 to participate in an immersive, nationwide program.

This initiative empowers students with a scientific understanding of key environmental issues while nurturing stewardship, critical thinking, and innovative approaches to sustainable living. Through experiential learning and community engagement, the program aims to inspire the next generation of environmentally conscious citizens and changemakers.

Biosphere Reserve Champions: Purpose

This program aims to provide school students with a strong foundation in understanding critical environmental issues by blending scientific knowledge with practical insights. It seeks to cultivate a deep sense of responsibility and environmental stewardship among students, while empowering schools—through both teachers and learners—to design and implement innovative, impactful solutions for a sustainable future. By nurturing a passion for sustainability, the program inspires young minds to recognize that even small, thoughtful actions can spark significant change, reinforcing the belief that collective efforts lead to lasting impact.

Biosphere Reserve Champions: SDG Focus

Through this program, schools, teachers, and students shall not only learn about critical environmental issues but be also inspired to take meaningful action for a sustainable future. By integrating the principles of the SDGs into the program, we aim to cultivate a generation of environmentally conscious leaders committed to achieving a sustainable future for all. The students will not only learn about the importance of environmental stewardship but also actively participate in creating solutions that align with global sustainability goals. The following SDGs shall strongly apply to this program:

What is Sustainability?

Sustainability is the practice of fulfilling current needs without compromising the capacity of future generations to meet their requirements. It involves a harmonious balance between economic development, environmental protection, and social equity. By implementing sustainable practices, we can ensure the conservation of natural resources, the reduction of pollution, and the promotion of a more just and healthy society. Sustainability is paramount for safeguarding the health of our planet and securing a high quality of life for future generations.

Biosphere Reserve Champions 2025: Details

This unique program shall be conducted in two phases to cultivate a holistic approach to environmental education to inspire a new generation of environmentally conscious leaders and, hence, a more sustainable future. Each phase is strategically designed to progressively immerse students, teachers, and their immediate community in a transformative journey.

Biosphere Reserve Champions: School Registration Form

Biosphere Reserve Champions is open to all schools in India. There is a nominal fee from schools for participation in the program. There is no fee for students to participate. The school registration fees are as follows:

  • USO Member Schools (members as of May 31, 2025): Rs. 350
  • All other schools: Rs. 600
  • No registration fee from students. 

 Schools need to fill out the online registration form, which also includes an online payment link.

Registration Has Concluded

Biosphere Reserve Champions 2024 Highlights

Watch the videos below to relive the inspiring journey of last year’s Biosphere Reserve Champions program, from its impactful beginnings in Phase I to the full journey of the program, showcasing key moments and highlights. These videos bring to life the creativity, passion, and voices of schools, teachers and students across India.

These videos are a valuable tool for schools to understand how the program works, what to expect, and how they too can join this growing movement for a more sustainable future.

Phase I: A Pathway Unfolded

The BRC Journey Unfolded

The program will be conducted online to ensure wide participation and engagement from schools nationally.

Biosphere Reserve Champions: Timeline

Phase I - Awareness and Research

USO Schools may register online by July 10, 2025. 

Orientation Session: An online Orientation Session designed to equip teachers with valuable insights and information about the Challenge shall be conducted on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.

Phase I shall be divided into 2 parts.

  • Part 1 - Webinar Series - July 22, 23, and 24, 2025.      Through a series of 3 webinars led by UNESCO officials, students will learn about the significance of The Biosphere Reserves in India, Ecosystems, Environment, Pollution, and how it is connected to each of us.
  • Part 2 - Community Clean-up Drive - July 25 - August 3, 2025.
    Schools to organise visits to nearby ecological or Biosphere sites, allowing students to observe and analyse environmental conditions and biodiversity firsthand. Students will participate in a cleanup drive during their visit, focusing on waste collection and segregation. (Guidelines will be provided).

    After the cleanup drive, students will conduct an awareness campaign targeting local communities. Campaign methods may include street plays, posters, interactive sessions, or social media outreach.

Report & List Submission

  • Schools must submit a comprehensive Field Report documenting their activities. (Template will be provided).
  • Schools to send the list of participating students and teachers. (Template shall be provided).
July 22 to August 03, 2025
August 04 - August 31, 2025

Phase II - Creativity and Expression

Phase II divided into 2 parts.

School-Level Design the model:

  • As part of the school-level competition under the Biosphere Reserve Champions program, students from Std. 6 to 12 who attended the webinars are invited to participate.
  • Students are encouraged to creatively apply their learning by designing a model of an ideal Biosphere Reserve.
  • Participants will work in teams of 4–5 students.
  • The model should incorporate:
    • Key concepts from the webinars such as core, buffer, and transition zones
    • Biodiversity conservation
    • Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
    • Sustainable practices
    • Integration of local or regional ecological and community knowledge
  • The final output should be a model or prototype made using materials like cardboard, clay, or recycled items.
  • Guidelines for the model-making activity shall be provided.

National Competition: Following the exhibition, each school must select the most outstanding model based on key criteria such as innovation, scientific accuracy, creativity, and clarity of presentation. Each school will select one model, and the team behind it will then prepare a short video that showcases their model. Detailed guidelines for the video submission shall be provided. Schools will submit the final video to USO for evaluation. 

Biosphere Reserve Champions 2025: Registration Form

Register your school for Biosphere Reserve Champions and take the first step toward empowering your students to become environmental changemakers.

Registration Has Concluded

Biosphere Reserve Champions: Frequently Asked Questions

Biosphere Reserve Champions is a program for schools that provides students from Std. 6-12 with a scientific understanding of key environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity, and sustainability. Through innovative approaches, students will raise awareness in their communities and propose creative, sustainable solutions to real-world challenges aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Yes, this is an online program. Phase I and Phase II are conducted online, and the final part of felicitation is also held online with the finalists.

Teachers and students from Std. 6–12 from USO Member Schools are eligible to participate.

No, there is no registration fee for individual students. However, USO Member Schools are required to register their school with a registration fee of Rs. 350. For USO Non-Member Schools, the registration fee is Rs. 600.

To register the school, the online registration form needed to be filled out on the website during the specified registration period.

Yes, students from different classes can collaborate for this competition. Since this is a team-based challenge, we encourage interdisciplinary teamwork and diverse perspectives. Each submission must come from a team of 4–5 students

The students are guided through their teacher mentors. Guidelines for the competition and submission templates are shared with the teachers to help guide the students.

Five SDGs are identified for this program. They are:

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 15: Life on Land

A template with details is provided to the school. A teacher mentor from the school guides the students and assists with the submission. Schools will submit the video online

Submissions are evaluated based on the:

  • SDG Relevance 
  • Creativity 
  • Clarity 
  • Teamwork 
  • Accuracy
  • Impact 
  • Presentation Quality
  • Prototype Quality

The results of the competition will be announced online on Monday, November 10, 2025.

Not A USO Member School?

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