| Origin | By Resolution 16 C/Res. 2.313, adopted at its 16th session in 1970, the General Conference decided to launch a long-term intergovernmental and interdisciplinary programme on “Man and the Biosphere”.
Statutes amended by the General Conference at its 19th (19C/Res. 2.152) (1976), 20th (20 C/Res. 36.1) (1978) 23rd (1985), 25th (1989) and 28th (28 C/Res. 22) (1995) sessions. | ||||||||||||
| Mission of the Programme | To develop the basis, within the natural and the social sciences, for the sustainable use and conservation of biological diversity, and for the improvement of the relationship between people and their environment globally.
The MAB Programme encourages interdisciplinary research, demonstration and training in natural resource management. MAB contributes to better understanding of the environment, including global change and greater involvement of science and scientists in policy development concerning the wise use of biological diversity. | ||||||||||||
| Mandate of the Council | - To guide and supervise the Programme;
- to review the progress made in its implementation; - to recommend research projects and to assess priorities among them; - to coordinate the international cooperation of Member States participating in the Programme; - to facilitate the development of national projects; - to take all appropriate - practical and scientific - measures necessary for a successful implementation of the Programme. | ||||||||||||
| Composition | The Council consists of 34 Member States. Their 4-year term of office extends from the end of the ordinary session of the General Conference during which they are elected until the end of its second subsequent ordinary session.
Member States elected at the 31st session until the end of the 33rd session:
Other members of the Council, elected at the 32nd session and whose term of office expires at the end of the 34th session of the General Conference:
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| Geographical distribution among electoral groups | As amended by 28C/Res.22, in 1995:
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| Current Membership | Member - End of term of office
Austria - 2005 Belarus - 2007 Benin - 2005 Colombia - 2005 Czech Republic - 2007 Democratic People's Republic of Korea - 2007 Denmark - 2007 Dominica - 2007 Dominican Republic - 2005 Germany - 2007 Ghana - 2007 Hungary - 2005 Indonesia - 2005 Italy - 2007 Japan - 2005 Malawi - 2005 Mexico - 2007 Morocco - 2005 Mozambique - 2007 Myanmar - 2007 Nicaragua - 2007 Nigeria - 2007 Norway - 2005 Oman - 2005 Peru - 2007 Republic of Korea - 2007 Russian Federation - 2007 Saudi Arabia - 2007 South Africa - 2005 Spain - 2005 Sri Lanka - 2007 Switzerland - 2005 Tunisia - 2005 United Republic of Tanzania - 2007 | ||||||||||||
| Bureau | The Bureau was elected for 2004-2005 by the 18th session of the MAB International Co-ordinating Council, which was held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris from 25-29 October 2004.
Chairperson: - Mr Gonzalo Halffter Salas (Mexico) Vice-chairpersons: - Mr Georg Grabherr (Austria) - Mr Daniel Amlalo (Ghana) - Mr Chung Il Choi (Republic of Korea) - Mr Valery Neronov (Russian Federation) - Mr Nouri Soussi (Tunisia) The MAB Bureau meets between Council sessions. | ||||||||||||
| Meetings foreseen during the biennium | The Council meets once every two years. | ||||||||||||
| Sector/Division responsible | Natural Sciences Sector
Division of Ecological Sciences | ||||||||||||
| MAB website | http://www.unesco.org/mab/ | ||||||||||||
