Man and the Biosphere Programme

The Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) is a global programme aiming to set a basis for wise and sustainable use of natural resources and the improvement of the relationships between people and their environment. The programme was established by UNESCO in 1970's.

The MAB Program is governed by the International Coordinating Council of the MAB Programme (ICC-MAB), including 34 member states, elected every two years by the UNESCO's General Conference. Day to day coordination is provided by the MAB Secretariat, operating as a part of UNESCO's Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences.

The biosphere reserves are the areas designated to reach the goals of the MAB Programme.

The biosphere reserves (BR) should help harmonize conservation of biodiversity and natural resources with their sustainable development and socio-economic development.

Recommended function model of any BR is a complex cooperation of environmental and social scientists, conservation as well as the development groups, representatives of the governments and local authorities and in the first place the local people and stakeholders.

All BRs must fulfill three basic, equal and mutually complementary functions:

(1) Conservation - conservation of natural and cultural diversity

(2) Development - support of sustainable economic development

(3) Logistics - support of model projects, environmental training and education, research and monitoring linked to nature conservation and sustainable development on local, national as well as global scale

Some states adopted specific legislation to acknowledge BRs. However the institution of a biosphere reserve has no reference in legislation of the Czech Republic.

Vision and Mission of the MAB Programme

Our vision is a world where people are conscious of their common future and interaction with our planet, and act collectively and responsibly to build thriving societies in harmony within the biosphere. The MAB Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) serve this vision within and outside biosphere reserves.

Our mission for the period 2015-2025 is to:

• develop and strengthen models for sustainable development in the WNBR;
• communicate the experiences and lessons learned, facilitating the global diffusion and application of these models;
• support evaluation and high-quality management, strategies and policies for sustainable development and planning, as well as accountable and resilient institutions;
• help Member States and stakeholders to urgently meet the Sustainable Development Goals through experiences from the WNBR, in particularly through exploring and testing policies, technologies and innovations for the sustainable management of biodiversity and natural resources and mitigation and adaptation to climate change.

The Man and the Biosphere Program celebrated 50th aniversary in 2021 !!!

The Lower Morava Biosphere Reserve marks 20 years since its designation.

Attachments:

MaB Program information

[MaB Program information]

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