Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme announces award winners

• © Mata Atlântica BR
• Mata Atlântica Biosphere Reserve, Brazil

Winners of the 2009 MAB Young Scientists Awards and the Michel Batisse Award for Biosphere Reserve Management have been announced by the Bureau of the International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, following its meeting February 12 and 13 in Paris.

Every year since 1989, ten awards worth up to US$5000 per prize have gone to young researchers proposing interdisciplinary projects on ecosystems, natural resources and biodiversity, in keeping with the MAB Programme, which focuses on sustainable interaction between people and their environment.

The laureates for 2009 and their projects are:

Marina Rubtsova (Russian Federation): Effect of environmental awareness/education and tourism development on local communities in middle Siberia
Taher Ghadirian (Iran): Conservation of mangrove forests breeding bird species in Hara Biosphere Reserve
Deni Rayn Villalba (Mexico): Ecosystem integrity and community participation related to water availability, Calakmul Biosphere Reserve
Yun Son Suk (DPR Korea): Establishment of biodiversity monitoring network by 3S technology in Mt Kuwol Biosphere Reserve
Khalid Osman Hiwytala (Sudan): Impact of border migration of Umbararow tribe on Dinder Biosphere Reserve
Peggy Prisca Ouoko Yangounza (Central African Republic): Contribution to study of timber industry impact on cultural and natural heritage of Aka pygmies in Balé-Loko
Steeve Ngama (Gabon): Evaluation of degree of nutritional dependence on wild fauna of communities in Ipassa Biosphere Reserve in Makokou
Ana Maria Abrazua Vasquez (Chile): Establishing the bases for a long term study of endemic biodiversity in Juan Fernandez Archipelago
Paula Irrazabal and Soledad Contreras (Chile): Effect of disturbance of habitats on mammal species in Torres del Paine National Park and Biosphere Reserve
Surima Orto Pozo (Cuba): Management plan for Cuban orchid conservation in its native habitat, Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve

The US$6,000 Michel Batisse grant, awarded every two years for a biosphere reserve management case study, is shared this year by Boshra Salem (Egypt) for “Working together for a better livelihood in Omayed Biosphere Reserve” and Gorshkov Yu (Russian Federation) for “Nature Management, conservation, restoration of biological landscape diversity and social-economic activity on Great Volzhsko-Kamsky Biosphere Reserve”. The award ceremony will take place in May during the next MAB Council meeting in the Republic of Korea.
Biosphere reserves are sites that demonstrate innovative approaches to conservation, ecological sciences and sustainable development, recognized under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme. There are 531 sites in 105 countries worldwide.

• Author(s):UNESCOPRESS
• Source:Press Release No. 2009 - 14
• 19-02-2009