Biosphere Reserves (MaB_ES)

The Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB), launched in the early 1970s, is an Intergovernmental Programme created with the aim of establishing a scientific basis for improving people's relationship with their environment. The MaB Programme promotes interdisciplinary research in natural and social sciences and training in natural resource management, in particular on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. In this way, the MaB contributes not only to a better understanding of the environment, including global change, but also to a greater commitment of science and scientists to the development of policies relating to the rational use of biological and cultural diversity. The International Secretariat of the MaB Programme is located at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, and its governing body is the International Coordinating Council (ICC), composed at any given time, on a rotating basis, of thirty-four States of which UNESCO is a member. The Executive Bureau (or Bureau) is composed of six members, one from each of the six world regions of the United Nations, one of whom is the President and the others are Vice-Presidents. Each country that is interested and committed in implementing this Program must organize a National Commission or MaB Committee as an advisor, coordinator and manager of actions, which integrates as members representatives of the bodies and institutions most related to the contents of the MAB Program. For the execution of its work in the field, the MaB Program focuses its actions on the Global Network of Biosphere Reserves, promoting the exchange of knowledge between reserves, research and monitoring, education, training and participatory decision-making. The geographical data come from the different competent administrations. During 2022, the El Hierro and Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserves were expanded and two new Reserves, Irati and Val de Arán, were declared in 2024.