MAB Governing Bodies
28th Session of the MAB International Co-ordinating Council (ICC) in Lima Peru, on 18-19 March 2016. © SERNANP
International Co-ordinating Council of the MAB Programme
The main MAB governing body, the International Co-ordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, usually referred to as the MAB Council or ICC, consists of 34 Member States elected by UNESCO's biennial General Conference.
The role of the MAB ICC is:
- to guide and supervise the MAB Programme;
- to review the progress made in the implementation of the Programme (cf. Secretariat report and reports of MAB National Committees);
- to recommend research projects to countries and to make proposals on the organization of regional or international cooperation;
- to assess priorities among projects and MAB activities in general;
- to co-ordinate the international cooperation of Member States participating in the MAB Programme;
- to co-ordinate activities with other international scientific programmes;
- to consult with international non-governmental organizations on scientific or technical questions
The MAB ICC also decides upon new biosphere reserves and takes note of recommendations on periodic review reports of biosphere reserves.
At its meetings, the Council elects a chairman and five vice-chairmen, of which one functions as a rapporteur; these form the MAB Bureau.
MAB Bureau
At its meetings, the Council elects a chairman and five vice-chairmen, of which one functions as a rapporteur; these form the MAB Bureau.
The composition of the Bureau, as elected at the 28th session of the MAB ICC:
- Chair: Mr Didier Babin, France (Group I)
- Vice-chairs:
Group II: Russian Federation
Group IV: Republic of Korea
Group V (a): Nigeria
Group V (b): Algeria - Rapporteur: Group III: Peru (Mr Pedro Gamboa)
Government-appointed MAB National Committees play a fundamental role in the implementation of the MAB Programme. In order to ensure maximum national participation in the international programme and to define and implement its national participation, every Member State is invited to establish a permanent and fully-functioning national committee.
- MAB Bureau Meeting: From 27 to 29 March 2017, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, France
- Report of the Bureau meeting (UNESCO Headquarters, Paris, 19-20 September 2016)