MAB-BR Program Overview

Man and the Biosphere (MAB) is a UNESCO program on research of sustainable use and conservation of biological diversity, and the improvement of the relationship between people and their environment. The research and monitoring programs are based on a named series of MAB biosphere reserves (MAB-BR). These reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems and the program promotes solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.

Program Management

The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) governing body, the International Coordinating Council (ICC ), consists of 34 Member States elected by UNESCO’s biennial General Conference. MAB currently operates through 153 National Committees.

The MAB Program is supported by regional or sub-regional networks of biosphere reserves. Most work takes place through activities of groups of countries on specific themes and/or geographical sub-regions.

Most of the sub-regional networks maintain web sites. Some of these sites are available in other languages such as French, Spanish and Portuguese. Not all are available in English. Some of these sites provide information on the data sets managed by the programs.

Contact Information

• Mr Natarajan Ishwaran
  UNESCO
  Director, Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences
  Secretary, Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme
  1, rue Miollis
  Paris 75732 Cedex 15
  France
  Telephone: +33 1 45 68 40 67
  Fax: +33 1 45 68 40 67
  Email: n.ishwaran@unesco.org
• Contact points for individual biosphere reserves

Page reviewed or revised June 15, 2007