UNESCO ’s MAB Programme develops the basis, within the natural and the social sciences, for the sustainable use and conservation of biological diversity, and for the improvement of the relationship between people and their environment globally.

About MAB

By taking advantage of UNESCO ’s mandate in education, science, culture and communication, MAB is promoting:

scientific research and information gathering, as well as linking with traditional knowledge on resource use.

involvement of local communities concerned with conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Cultural aspects are also taken into consideration.

Programme Structure

UNESCO ’s intergovernmental structure gives MAB the potential to help national governments support the planning and implementation of research and training programmes.

MAB operates through 157 MAB National Committees and focal points for MAB activities. MAB National Committees involve various research institutions and administrations.

Programme Structure

The International Co-ordinating Council (ICC):

consists of 34 Member States that meet every 2

years

is the governing body of MAB, responsible for guiding and supervising the MAB Programme

delegates its authority to the MAB Bureau in between meetings. The MAB Bureau is comprised of 6 members from each of UNESCO ’s geopolitical regions.

Programme Structure

The MAB Secretariat is provided by UNESCO ’s Division of Ecological Sciences. In 2002, 29 persons are working in the Division, both in Paris and regionally.

Budget - MAB activities are mainly funded by the countries themselves. The regular budget of UNESCO provides seed money. There are also projects with funds-in-trust granted by member states and extra-budgetary funds.

Cooperation

The Major Conservation ConventionsThe CBD, CITES, CCD, the Ramsar Convention, the World Heritage Convention, etc.

Major NGO ’s such as IUCN, ISSC, CI and WWF.

Global Change Programmes of ICSU, SCOPE, IUBS, IUMS and IGBP

Columbia University, New York with the Earth institute

Main themes of activities

Research, monitoring and evaluation, within the framework of the Biosphere Reserve Integrated Monitoring Programme (BRIM).

Building up capacity, through education, technical training, and public awareness.

Exploring novel ecological theory and practice for example relationship between culture and ecology, quality economies, urban ecology etc.

Biosphere Reserves

are “special places for people and nature”.

are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.

are nominated by national governments.

remain under the sovereign jurisdiction of the countries in which they are situated.

Biosphere Reserves

Conservation in situ of natural and semi-natural ecosystems and landscapes

Conservation

Sustainable use

Logistic support

Biosphere reserves perform three main roles:

Demonstration areas for ecologically and socio-culturally sustainable use; and

Logistic support for research, monitoring, education, training and information exchange

Biosphere Reserves - How are they

organized?These functions are associated through a zonation system including:

This schema can be adapted to various ecological, socio-cultural and legal contexts

R Research station or experimental research site

M Monitoring

E Education/training

T Tourism

R

R

M

E

T

T

Core area(s)

Buffer zone(s)

Transition area(s)

Biosphere Reserves - the Vision From

Seville

“...Biosphere reserves offer working examples that encapsulate the ideas of UNCED for promoting both conservation and sustainable development. These examples can only work if they express the social, cultural and economic needs of society and are also based on sound science…”

Biosphere Reserves

Biosphere reserves are essentially supported by national initiatives

UNESCO is not a funding agency but can act as a “neutral broker” to help mobilise support (donor countries, GEF, UNDP)

A periodic review process is serving to improve the functioning of sites designated more than 10 years ago

World Network of Biosphere Reserves Fosters exchanges between biosphere reserves

Facilitates co-operative activities, including scientific research and monitoring, environmental education and training.

Serves as a tool for conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of biological resources.

World Network of Biosphere Reserves Today, the World Network is made up of 440

sites in 97 countries.

Is formally recognized by UNESCO Member States.

UNESCO facilitates regional networking initiatives, information diffusion, training (ex ERAIFT).

Added Value of Biosphere Reserves Official recognition by a UN agency

Participation in a World Network facilitates sharing of information and experiences

Serve as demonstration/testing sites to address issues related to conservation of biodiversity, sustainable development and globalization

Can serve as land-use planning and management tools

Added Value of Biosphere ReservesBiosphere reserves can be considered as reflecting the “ecosystem approach” adopted by the Convention of Biological Diversity

‘Solving the puzzle - the Ecosystem Approach and Biosphere Reserves’.

This publication gives some examples.

The Ecosystem Approach

Aims at reconciling biodiversity conservation and rural/peri-urban development while enhancing and supporting cultural values.

Biosphere reserves can serve as practical examples of the implementation of this approach.

Networking

The MAB programme is supported by regional and sub-regional networks

Currently active networks include:

AfriMAB, amongst African countries, created in 1996.

ArabMAB, amongst Arab countries launched in 1997.

East Asian Biosphere Reserve Network (EABRN), amongst China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation.

Networking

EuroMAB, founded in 1987, with 42 European and North American countries and 212 biosphere reserves.

IberoMAB, together with CYTED promoting co-operation amongst the countries of Latin America, Spain and Portugal.

REDBIOS (Réseau Est Atlantique des Réserves de Biosphère), a joint effort of coastal biosphere reserves of Cap-Vert, Morocco, Senegal and Spain.

Capacity Building

MAB gives priority to interdisciplinary training of specialists in developing countries. Examples include:

ERAIFT - the Regional Post-Graduate School on Integrated Management of Tropical Forests in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Ecotechnie Chairs promote approaches to education, training and research that integrates ecology, economics, technology and the social society in partnership with the Cousteau Society.

Capacity Building

Eco-job training for young people helps young people find an eco-job. A pilot project started in Sao Roque, Brazil, in 1996 and the concept is now spreading to other countries.

The MAB Young Scientist Award supports young scientists around the world to complete research work and projects.

Sultan Qaboos Prize for environmental preservation recognizes outstanding contributions in the management or conservation of the environment.

Future of MAB

Closer cooperation with other environmental programmes and MOST.

Focus on water and ecosystems in 2002-2003.

Use biosphere reserves as sites for integration with work of environmental conventions.

Please visit our website

www.unesco.org/mab