The Pacific Man and Biosphere Network (PacMAB) is an informal collection and association of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in the Pacific. Established in 2006, the network serves as a vehicle for exchange and cooperation among current and emerging Biosphere Reserves and national MAB focal points in the Pacific. The network aims to confront a multitude of common issues and opportunities experienced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Pacific. These issues and challenges broadly straddle concerns of poverty, biodiversity loss, erosion and climate change impacts.

The information provided through the web pages aims to document and demonstrate how the Biosphere Reserves of the Pacific are living laboratories and real life learning sites for sustainable development, thereby improving the relationships between people and the environment. The new web pages provide detailed information on the history of the network, on meeting deliberations and statements, news, current biosphere reserves in the Pacific, future potential biosphere reserves, information and forms about establishing new biosphere reserves, photo galleries, videos, links to the MAB site based at Headquarters in Paris as well as educational tool kits.

In his opening statement, the Director of the UNESCO Office for the Pacific States, Mr. Etienne Clement, recalled that the concept of biosphere reserves is a powerful tool for national and local decision-makers. It aims at reconciling the conservation of biodiversity with the aspiration of local population living around protected areas to benefit from income-generating activities. He suggested that the biosphere reserves’ model, based on a core area, a buffer zone and a transition zone, be considered by other UN Agencies in the Pacific when they advise national authorities on the governance of their protected natural sites. He offered the close collaboration of UNESCO Office in Apia in this respect.

The UNESCO Natural Science Programme Specialist for the Pacific States,Mr. Denis Chang Seng, pointed out that at both the 3rd and 4th Pacific Man and Biosphere (PacMAB) network meetings, participating countries agreed and reiterated the need to develop a website for MAB activities in the Pacific in order to gain visibility and share information. These webpages are the result of this agreement, developed within the UNESCO Apia website to address the need to improving visibility and information sharing in the Pacific region. The information presented links with existing biosphere reserve related websites in the respective Pacific Island countries. He also highlighted that it is the first time since its establishment that UNESCO has developed a logo for the Pacific Man and Biosphere network. The logo gives a new focus on the MAB programme in the Pacific. For more information visit the link below

www.unesco.org/new/en/apia/natural-sciences/biosphere-reserves/the-pacific-man-and-biosphere-network-pacmab/