Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme

The MAB Programme develops the basis within the natural and social sciences for the rational and sustainable use and conservation of the resources of the biosphere and for the improvement of the overall relationship between people and their environment. It predicts the consequences of today’s actions on tomorrow’s world and thereby increases people’s ability to efficiently manage natural resources for the well-being of both human populations and the environment.

By focusing on sites internationally recognized within the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, the MAB Programme strives to:

• identify and assess the changes in the biosphere resulting from human and natural activities and the effects of these changes on humans and the environment, in particular in the context of climate change;
• study and compare the dynamic interrelationships between natural/near-natural ecosystems and socio-economic processes, in particular in the context of accelerated loss of biological and cultural diversity with unexpected consequences that impact the ability of ecosystems to continue to provide services critical for human well-being;
• ensure basic human welfare and a liveable environment in the context of rapid urbanization and energy consumption as drivers of environmental change;
• promote the exchange and transfer of knowledge on environmental problems and solutions, and to foster environmental education for sustainable development.

The Secretariat implements the Programme's Strategy and Roadmap, which were adopted by Member States. 

The programme’s main governing body is the International Co-ordinating Council of the of the Man and the Biosphere programme (MAB-ICC), which meets annually. In between meetings, the authority of the MAB-ICC is delegated to its MAB Bureau.

Two advisory bodies provide guidance in the implementation of the MAB programme: the Advisory Committee and the International Support Group.

Information materials

MAB Brochure 2019-2020 English | Français | Español

Map of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves Multiligual map (in English, French, Spanish and German)

Official documents

The MAB Programme publishes on specialized subjects in the ecological sciences. Target audiences include policy- and decision-makers, scientists, journalists, students and the general public.

MAB Secretariat

Man and the Biosphere Programme
UNESCO
7, place de Fontenoy 
F-75352 Paris 07 SP
France
E-mail: mab@unesco.org 

Office of the Director

Noeline RAONDRY RAKOTOARISOA
Director, Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences a.i.
Secretary, Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme a.i.
Mail: n.raondry-rakotoarisoa@unesco.org 

Sima TAHERI-GAUTER
Assistant to Division Director
MAB Secretariat
Mail: s.taheri@unesco.org  
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 08 05
 

MAB Networking: Biosphere Reserves and Capacity Building (NBC)

Noeline RAONDRY RAKOTOARISOA
Chief of Section
E-mail: n.raondry-rakotoarisoa@unesco.org 
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 05 57

Marie PRCHALOVA
Programme Specialist
E-mail: m.prchalova@unesco.org 
Tel: +33 1 45 68 05 27

Bandiougou DIAWARA
Project manager 
E-mail: b.diawara@unesco.org 
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 15 37

Sandrine BARON
Programme Assistant
Mail: s.baron@unesco.org 
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 13 43

Amandine CALLENS
Project Assistant
Mail: a.callens@unesco.org 
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 16 71

Yolanda LÓPEZ MALDONADO
Consultant
Mail: yc.lopez-maldonado@unesco.org 
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 11 18

Luc VIVIEN
Consultant
Mail: l.vivien@unesco.org 
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 07 76

MAB Research and Policy: Ecology and Biodiversity

Meriem BOUAMRANE
Chief of Section
E-mail: m.bouamrane@unesco.org 
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 07 09

Yang Bo KIM
Associate Expert
Mail: yb.kim@unesco.org 
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 21 95

María Rosa CARDENAS TOMAZIC
Associate Programme Specialist
Mail: m.cardenas@unesco.org 
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 08 87

Martha-Marie VOGEL
Junior Professional Officer 
Mail: mm.vogel@unesco.org
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 02 85

Maximilien GUÊZE
Associate Project Officer
Mail: m.gueze@unesco.org
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 06 60

Dominique CHEB TERRAB
Associate Project Officer
Mail: d.cheb-terrab@unesco.org
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 06 76

Patricia RAME
Programme Assistant  
Mail: p.rame@unesco.org 
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 21 54

Donara SYDEEVA-BLANC
Project Assistant  
Mail: d.sydeeva-blanc@unesco.org   
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 21 94

Manoel GIFFONI DA SILVEIRA
Communications Consultant
Mail: m.giffoni-da-silveir@unesco.org 
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 01 89

Bárbara ÁVILA
Communications Consultant
Mail: b.avila@unesco.org 

Yasmeen Gloria  ZUFFETTI
Intern
Mail: yg.zuffetti@unesco.org
Tel: +33 (0) 1 45 68 11 69

Regional Officers

The UNESCO Regional Officers are responsible for the implementation of UNESCO's MAB Programme at the regional level. Regional Officers are posted in the field and serve as focal points for all issues relating to the Programme, both at regional and national levels. The following Regional Officers are currently working in coordination with the MAB Secretariat:

AFRICA

Anthony MADUEKWE
UNESCO Office in Dakar 
Mail: a.maduekwe@unesco.org

Mama PLEA
UNESCO Office in Addis Ababa
Mail: m.plea@unesco.org

Jayakumar RAMASAMY
UNESCO Office in Nairobi
Mail: r.jayakumar@unesco.org

Koen VERBIST
UNESCO Office in Harare
Mail: k.verbist@unesco.org

ARAB STATES

Donia ABDELWAHED
UNESCO Office in Doha
Mail: d.abdelwahed@unesco.org

Elsa SATTOUT
UNESCO Office in Cairo
Mail: e.sattout@unesco.org

ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

Guy BROUCKE
UNESCO Office in New Delhi
Mail: g.broucke@unesco.org    

Philippe PYPAERT
UNESCO Office in Beijing
Mail: p.pypaert@unesco.org  

Raza SHAH
UNESCO Office in Islamabad
Mail: r.shah@unesco.org

Hans THULSTRUP
UNESCO Office in Jakarta
Mail: h.thulstrup@unesco.org

Kristine TOVMASYAN
UNESCO Office in Almaty
Mail: k.tovmasyan@unesco.org

EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA

Jonathan BAKER
UNESCO Office in Venice 
Mail: j.baker@unesco.org

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Juan CRIADO
UNESCO Office in San José
Mail: j.criado@unesco.org

Massimiliano LOMBARDO
Oficina de la UNESCO en Kingston
Mail: m.lombardo@unesco.org

Serena HECKLER
UNESCO Office in Montevideo
Mail: s.heckler@unesco.org