Samarkand: The Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Environment Authority, has been elected as a member of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) affiliated with UNESCO for the period from 2025 to 2029. This significant development occurred during the meetings of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference held in Samarkand, the Republic of Uzbekistan.

According to Oman News Agency, this election is a result of the Sultanate of Oman's ongoing efforts in supporting environmental sustainability initiatives and its contributions to balancing development needs with ecosystem preservation. This aligns with Oman Vision 2040 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The achievement highlights Oman's leading role in environmental protection and biological diversity conservation.

The Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) aims to enhance scientific and research cooperation among member states by expanding nature reserves, conserving biodiversity, encouraging scientific research, and empowering youth and researchers through research grants. The program also focuses on raising environmental awareness and addressing climate change challenges by supporting sustainable innovations and solutions.

This international representation is a strategic move that strengthens Oman's presence on global environmental platforms, establishing the Sultanate as an active partner in efforts to protect the planet and achieve balance between humanity and nature.

It is noteworthy that Oman had previously succeeded in listing two nature reserves within the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves: the Al Sareen Nature Reserve and the Al Jabal Al Akhdar Scenic Reserve.