UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme names laureates of Young Scientists and Michel Batisse awards

The International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO has named the recipients of the 2017 Young Scientists Awards and the Michel Batisse Award for Biosphere Reserve Management. The selection was announced during the MAB Council’s annual meeting in Paris, France (12 to 15 June).

The MAB Programme has been granting awards of up to $5,000 each since 1989 to encourage young researchers to undertake work on ecosystems, natural resources and biodiversity.

Seven young scientists are to receive the 2017 UNESCO MAB Young Scientists Awards :

Isma Merad (Algeria): Impact of human activity on Lake El Mellah (El Kala, Algeria): health assessment using the Cerastoderma glaucum (Mollusca, Bivalvia) as a sentinel species.

Stella Marlène B. F.Sokpon (Benin): Involvement of local communities in ecotourism activities and attitudes regarding conservation at the Pendjari biosphere.

Marie Florence Sandrine Ngo Ngwe (Cameroon): Genetic and biochemical features of forests at the Dja Biosphere Reserve to improve knowledge and conservation of its biodiversity.

Amirhosein Mosavi (Hungary): Monitoring and assessing sustainability in Biosphere Reserves utilizing sustainable business models.

Luiza Abdurasulova (Kazakhstan): Study on the biodiversity, monitoring and management of insects of the Karatau Biosphere Reserve.

Eduardo Luna Sanchez (Mexico): Case studies of organizations that implement natural resource management projects in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve

Adeeb Hayyan (Malaysia): Physiochemical properties and cellular toxicity of oil plant seeds available in Tasik Chini Biosphere Reserve as an alternative for conventional natural oils with regards to nutraceutical and food industry.

The US$6,000 Michel Batisse Award for a case study concerning the management of a biosphere reserve goes to Vladimira Fabriciusova (Slovakia), coordinator of the Polana Biosphere Reserve for her case study “Biosphere Reserve: an opportunity for humans and nature.”

Biosphere reserves are areas that promote innovative solutions to issues of conservation, ecology and sustainable development recognized as such by UNESCO’s MAB Programme.

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Media Contact: Agnès Bardon, UNESCO Media Section,: +33(0)145681764, a.bardon(at)unesco.org