MAB Masters

The MAB France committee, in conjunction with the University Paul Sabatier of Toulouse, will offer a MAB course at this university from September 2012: a Master gestion de la biodiversité (Master in Biodiversity Management).

The course is taught in French, and is designed as vocational training for coordinators / managers of Biosphere reserves and protected areas, local government officials, or anyone interested in biodiversity management.

The MAB Masters is for those in training, or seeking additional training at fifth year university level. The course is expected to attract around 18 French-speaking students each year. Lectures will be consolidated between 15th September and 15th December at the University Paul Sabatier in Toulouse, followed by a 6-month work assignment in a organization of the student’s choice.

Using the MAB programme as a basis, the course highlights of the conceptual, historical, institutional and contractual aspects specific to protected areas that co-exist with human activities.

It will provide students with essential diagnostic tools (mapping, inventories, and territorial diagnosis), and train them in approaches to participation and involvement of local people in management. Students will be required to participate in a real project – creation of a new Biosphere reserve in France, or a review or management plan of an existing one. International students will be asked to reflect on how this approach could be adapted to a Biosphere reserve in their country of origin.