The 36th session of the International Coordinating Council of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Man and the Biosphere Programme (ICC-MAB) commenced on Tuesday in Agadir.
The agenda includes a range of topics, including the enhancement of the program and the election of new members of the ICC-MAB Bureau.
At the four-day event’s opening, UNESCO’s Director-General Audrey Azoulay welcomed the event’s venue in Morocco and noted the country’s hospitality as a reflection of its cooperation with UNESCO, which has contributed to the success of the organization’s work.
She noted that “the session of the ICC-MAB is being held in a unique location: a biosphere reserve with an emblematic Argan tree with its roots serving as a natural barrier against soil erosion and desert encroachment.”
“It is also a symbol of resilience, adapting to the region’s arid climate,” she added.
The Head of UNESCO highlighted the MAB Programme’s potential for improvement, citing its success, expansion, and dissemination of knowledge about its relevance to current challenges.
Morocco’s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Samir Addahre, stated that the choice of organizing this session in Morocco is “highly symbolic and strategic.”
“Morocco has been a member of the MAB Programme for over 50 years, during which the country has consistently demonstrated its commitment to implementing the program and promoting its values and objectives,” he said.
The session will address the reports of the ICC Chair and MAB Programme Secretary, including their contributions to the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Open-ended Working Group on Youth Engagement, MAB’s contribution to the UNESCO biodiversity database, as well as preparations for the 2025 World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in China.
Representatives from the UNESCO Member States, Associate Members, UN agencies, and international non-governmental organizations attended the event which UNESCO held in partnership with Morocco’s National Agency for the Development of Oases and Argan Zones (ANDZOA).