Governance

The MAB Programme operates under the guidance of UNESCO Member States. 

Its main governing body is the International Coordinating Council (MAB-ICC), also known as MAB Council, which is composed of 34 Member States. The MAB-ICC usually meets once a year. In between sessions, its authority is delegated to its Bureau, whose members are nominated from each of UNESCO's geopolitical regions.  

The Programme is implemented by the MAB Secretariat, guided by the Roadmap for 2015-2025. A new roadmap for the period 2025-2035 will be adopted in 2025 during the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, China. 

Two bodies provide advice to the MAB Programme:  

• The International Advisory Committee for Biosphere Reserves provides scientific and technical advice to the UNESCO Director-General and the MAB-ICC regarding the World Network of Biosphere Reserves,  
• The International Support Group (ISG) advises the MAB Secretariat on the implementation of action plans and other relevant aspects of the MAB Programme  

The Secretariat of the MAB Programme implements the decisions the International Coordinating Council, including the Strategy and Roadmap of the Programme. The Secretariat also coordinates the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, as well as its regional and thematic networks. 

In April 2023, Mr Antonio Abreu (Portugal) was appointed Director of the Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences in the Natural Sciences Sector of UNESCO and Secretary of the MAB Programme.

The International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere programme, known as the MAB Council or MAB-ICC, is the main governing body of the MAB Programme. In recent years, the MAB Council has met annually. Its sessions are usually held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris or hosted by a MAB-ICC Member State. 

The role of the Council is to: 

• Guide and supervise the MAB Programme; 
• Review the progress made in the implementation of the Programme (cf. Secretariat report and reports of MAB National Committees); 
• Recommend research projects to countries and to make proposals on the organization of regional or international cooperation; 
• Assess priorities among projects and MAB activities in general; 
• Co-ordinate the international cooperation of Member States participating in the MAB Programme; 
• Co-ordinate activities with other international scientific programmes; and 
• Consult with international non-governmental organizations on scientific or technical questions. 

The MAB-ICC also designates new biosphere reserves and takes note of recommendations on periodic review reports of biosphere reserves. 

At its meetings, the Council elects a chairperson and five vice-chairpersons, of whom one functions as a rapporteur; these form the MAB Bureau. 

The next session of the MAB Council will take place in Agadir, Morocco, from 1 to 5 July 2024.

Members

The International Coordinating Council is composed of 34 Member States, elected by UNESCO's biennial General Conference for four years. Each Member State has one vote, but can chose to send more experts or advisers to the Council sessions. 

Observers

UNESCO Member States that are not current members of the MAB Council can send representatives as observers.

UN Agencies such as UNEP, FAO, UNDP, WMO and WHO are invited to participate as observers, as well as representatives of the International Council for Science (ICSU), the International Social Sciences Council (ISSC) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

In between sessions of the MAB Council, its authority is delegated to its Bureau. The Bureau is composed of a chairperson and five vice-chairpersons, representing each of UNESCO's geopolitical regions. One of the vice-chairpersons also serves as rapporteur. The members of the MAB Bureau are elected by the members of the MAB Council.  

The composition of the Bureau, as elected on 13 June 2022, is as follows: 

Chair: Mr Adepoju Adeshola, Nigeria (Group Va, African States) (re-elected) 
Rapporteur:  Ukraine  (Group II, Eastern European States)

Following the election of the new members of the MAB-ICC during the 42nd UNESCO General Conference in November 2023, a new Bureau will be elected during the 36th session of the MAB-ICC, in June 2024.

The IACBR provides scientific and technical advice to the Director-General of UNESCO and the MAB-ICC regarding the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR). 

It is composed of twelve members, who are appointed for four years by the Director-General of UNESCO, after consultation with the Member States and/or the National Committees for the Man and the Biosphere Programme of the countries concerned.

The members of the Committee are selected for their scientific qualifications and for their experience in promoting and implementing the concept of biosphere reserves. 

Established in 2009, the International Support Group (ISG) to the MAB Programme is open to the participation of all Member States who have a Delegation at UNESCO Headquarters. It advises the MAB Secretariat on relevant aspects of the MAB Programme. This group meets regularly (once or twice per year) and the MAB Secretariat provides first-hand information to the Member States during these meetings.