Search the Internet for information concerning UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB). Explain the goals for this project and give one example of a biosphere established for research purposes.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

This question could be answered by text, or students could work in groups, with each
student picking a different biosphere project to illustrate using text and pictures taken
from the Internet. A more in-depth answer could have the students research the role
of UNESCO in general and its history and how people and organizations from different
countries work together through UNESCO.
MAB’s purpose is to improve the relationship of people with their environment globally.
MAB specifically targets the ecological, social, and economic dimensions of biodiversity
loss and promotes the reduction of this loss. Globally, it is composed of many projects
that represent different ecosystems ranging from the mountains to the sea and includes
the social systems (e.g., urban or suburban) that are part of them. A different project is
highlighted at the site each month, including information about its ecosystem, its location
(latitude and longitude), and the research projects being conducted. For example, about
23,500 nomads live in the biosphere reserve belonging to the Caucasus Iranian Highlands
situated in the north of Iran at the border to Armenia and Azebaijan. Economic activities
are mainly agriculture, ranching, horticulture, and tourism, with some business activities
in urban areas. The major ecosystem type is mixed mountain and highland systems.