UNESCO and the Relais & Chateaux Association have signed a partnership agreement to develop and implement joint projects supporting the sustainable conservation and use of biodiversity through the world’s hospitality and culinary traditions and knowledge.
The partnership has two core components: First, UNESCO supports the association’s new commitments, In Harmony with All Life on Earth: Our 12 Commitments to Sustainability, designed to preserve the world’s hospitality and culinary traditions; contribute to the protection and development of biodiversity; and take daily action for a more humane world.
In their day-to-day dedication to cuisine and hospitality, the 580 member properties of the Relais & Chateaux network, spread across 65 countries, are in constant contact with persons of every origin, from all kinds of communities, as well as with nature in its infinite richness and variety. This is the context in which the partnership was established between UNESCO and the Relais & Chateaux Association, whose commitments clearly illustrate the vital interconnectedness of food, health, and the environment.
Second, pilot projects will be conducted by Relais & Chateaux members and UNESCO-designated Sites. In keeping with UNESCO principles, implementation guidelines will be established for future pilot projects, including with the biosphere reserves of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme and World Heritage Sites. The projects, to be led by Relais & Chateaux members, aim to promote UNESCO Sites and traditional knowledge by encouraging sustainable biodiversity conservation and use while respecting local cultures and preserving natural and cultural heritage.
The first pilot projects will be implemented in 2025 by Relais & Châteaux members located near UNESCO Sites.