N°5 November 2007
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Latest updates on the
3rd  World Congress of Biosphere Reserves
Madrid, 4-9 February 2008

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Welcome to the electronic newsletter of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves!

Biosphere reserves are sites which seek to reconcile socioeconomic development, and conservation of biodiversity based on local community efforts and sound science. They constitute ideal places to test and demonstrate new approaches to sustainable development at a regional scale providing lessons which can be applied elsewhere.

This newsletter provides a regular overview of new initiatives, events and publications related to the biosphere reserve activities and scientific achievements of the MAB Programme.


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In this issue


life Success of the argan tree reforestation project in the Arganeraie Biosphere
life Grants for sustainable development in Sierra Nevada and Doñana Biosphere Reserves
life Reforestation strategy in the Luki Biosphere Reserve
life Positive results of environmental awareness campaigns in Sunderban
life Saving the Yasuni rainforest from oil exploitation through oil ‘compensation’
life MAB Bureau meeting- Main outcomes
life Twinning between Braunton Burrows and Malindi-Watamu Biosphere Reserves
life Launch of an agreement addressing social and ecological challenges for the Biosphere

life EuroMAB Web platform: Doing together - Learning together
life AfriMAB - Way forward
life Call for evidence on the economics of biodiversity loss
life New Publications

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News


Success of the argan tree reforestation project in the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve
For almost 18 months, the Tamounte project aiming to plant the argan tree and train the inhabitants in Sousse (southwest Morocco) to its development has continued to be promising. It is hoped that the growing popularity of the argan oil on the international market, coupled with increased efforts in the field of conservation, will contribute to the development of the sustainable growing of the Moroccan olive tree.. More
Contact: ddf@athena.online.co.ma


Grants for sustainable development in Sierra Nevada and Doñana Biosphere Reserves
The Spanish Government has allocated 208 grants to foster sustainable development in the transition areas of the Sierra Nevada and Doñana Biosphere Reserves (Spain). These grants are estimated at 3,82 million euros in support to organizations, individuals, city councils and companies in these protected territories, and aimed at socio-economic development and protection of natural heritage. More
Contact: pn.sierranevada.cma@juntadeandalucia.es / pn.donana.cma@juntadeandalucia.es


Reforestation strategy in the Luki Biosphere Reserve
Two reforestation strategies have recently been developed in the framework of a project aiming to sustainably manage and conserve forest ecosystems in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The first strategy consists in a reforestation project in the Luki Biosphere Reserve. More
Contact : lnsenga@yahoo.fr


Positive results of environmental awareness campaigns in
Sunderban
Awareness campaigns, including the creation of 22 nature clubs and the latest World Wildlife Week (1-7 October) campaign called ‘Bagh Bachao’ (Save the tiger) have proven to be a powerful tool for the conservation of tiger populations in the Sunderban Biosphere Reserve (India), where tigers live close to human dwellings. More
Contact : dirsbr@vsnl.com


Saving the Yasuni rainforest from oil exploitation through oil ‘compensation’

A recent Ecuadorian initiative proposes not to exploit the most important oil reserves in the country, the Ishpingo Tambococha Tiputini (ITT) oil fields, located in Yasuni Biosphere Reserve. The idea is to stimulate the national and international society to contribute to this expensive national decision. The government expects, through this mechanism, to recover 50% of the income it would have obtained by extracting the crude oil.More
Contact: asjjaramillo@yahoo.com

More news on the MABNet

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Events


MAB Bureau meeting - Main outcomes
The MAB Bureau met on 18-20 September 2007 at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. With twenty-three new sites included in the UNESCO-MAB World Network of Biosphere Reserves, there are now 529 sites in 105 countries. The Bureau also selected the winners of the MAB Young Scientists and discussed the preparations for the 3rd World Congress of Biosphere Reserves and the 20th session of the MAB ICC (Madrid, 4-9 February 2008).More
Contact : mab@unesco.org


Twinning between Braunton Burrows and Malindi-Watamu Biosphere Reserves
Braunton Burrows (North Devon) Biosphere Reserve (UK) has just entered into a twinning arrangement with Malindi-Watamu Biosphere Reserve in Kenya. In September, the delegation from Malindi visited North Devon to experience the work and governance arrangements of this biosphere reserve. More
Contact: andrew.bell@devon.gov.uk / pmakenzi@yahoo.com


Launch of an agreement addressing social and ecological challenges for the Biosphere
A five-year cooperative agreement between the Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University and UNESCO, addressing social and ecological challenges for the Biosphere, was launched at the General Conference in Paris, France, on 19 October 2007. More
Contact: thomase@ecology.su.se / n.ishwaran@unesco.org


EuroMAB Webplatform: Doing together - Learning together
The EuroMAB Web platform aims to facilitate exchanges and cooperation activities within the EuroMAB Network and to serve as a forum for MAB Coordinators and National Committees for posting their offers of partnerships and cooperation amongst various biosphere reserves. More
Contact: m.bouamrane@unesco.org


AfriMAB - Way forward
AfriMAB Network met in Cape Town, South Africa from 10 to 15 September 2007. The numerous participants discussed zonation of biosphere reserves and land management in the region, the new AfriMAB Charter and the network structure, as well as the main activities of AfriMAB in the forthcoming two years. More
Contact: s.mankoto@unesco.org / n.raondry-rakotoarisoa@unesco.org


Future events on the MABNet

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Publications

·          The Future of Arid Lands – Revisited

·          UNESCO Biosphere Reserves: Model Regions with a Global Reputation

·          Biodiversity of Southernmost Forests and Tundra Ecosystems - Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve
·          Geochemistry & the Biosphere
National and regional newsletters

More publications on the MABNet

 

 

 

 

We appreciate your comments and contributions to next issues of the newsletter!
Contact us at
mab@unesco.org
www.unesco.org/mab

Opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the UNESCO MAB Programme