Morocco hosts International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program early July

Agadir will host the 36th session of the International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program (ICC-MAB) July 1-5.

The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program is an intergovernmental scientific program that aims to establish a scientific basis for enhancing the relationship between people and their environments. It combines the natural and social sciences with a view to improving human livelihoods and safeguarding natural and managed ecosystems, thus promoting innovative approaches to economic development that are socially and culturally appropriate and environmentally sustainable.

The program’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves is a dynamic and interactive network of sites of excellence that foster harmony between people and nature for sustainable development through participatory dialogue; knowledge sharing; poverty reduction and human well-being improvements; respect for cultural values and society’s ability to cope with change.

The 36th session features on July 1, a one-day Conference on soil and its crucial role in supporting biodiversity and ecosystems and the cycling of nutrients. This conference, entitled “Rooted in Resilience: Unearthing the importance of soil in Sustainable Development,” will discuss activities to measure soil-health in UNESCO designated sites, engage stakeholders for capacity building in sustainable soil usage, and empower development of lighthouse projects demonstrating best practices.

The 36th session is held in partnership with l’Agence Nationale pour le Développement des Zones Oasiennes et de l’Arganier (ANDZOA).