Over thirty years ago, in 1971 the Man And Biosphere (MAB) programme was launched by UNESCO.
Its aim is to provide a scientific basis to find suitable solutions to the problems of sustainable development of populations and management of natural resources. In its international setting, MAB encourages interdisciplinary research in natural sciences and social sciences, and demonstration and training activities involving questions of natural resource management.
MAB takes an active interest in sustainable development, putting the accent on conservation and the rational utilisation of biodiversity. With the background of interdisciplinary and interculturality inherent to UNESCO, MAB encourages scientific research and the collection of information but never chooses to ignore traditional knowledge of resource management.
MAB contributes to the implementation of the commitments made at the Rio de Janeiro Conference in 1992: agenda 21 and the convention on biodiversity.
The MAB programme is very present at a local level since, at the beginning of 2002, it had 482 biosphere reserves in 102 countries.
If you want to know more ...
Man and Biosphere Program (Site UNESCO)
World network of Biosphere Reserves (Site UNESCO)
