Azerbaijan participated at the 29 th session of the International Co-ordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO

The 29 th session of  the International Co-ordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme started at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

The Permanent Delegate of Azerbaijan to UNESCO Mr. Anar Karimov and the rector of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Azerbaijan Republic, Urkhan Alekberov represented our country in the event.

The reports of the Secretary of the MAB Program on activities of Member States, regional and thematic MAB networks, and annual review reports will be discussed during the meeting.

Mr. Anar Karimov, Permanent Delegate of Azerbaijan to UNESCO appreciated the cooperation between our country and the UNESCO in the field of science, especially through “Man and Biosphere” Programme. He mentioned about the biological diversity as one of the priorities of our government, and talked about the activities realized in this direction. He also reminded the adoption of “National Strategy for protection and sustainable use of biological diversity for 2017-2020” by the Decree of the President Ilham Aliyev signed in October 3, 2016.

The rector of the Academy of Public Administration, Head of the National Committee of MAB in Azerbaijan Mr. Urkhan Alekberov touched upon the development of human skills to achieve preservation of biological diversity and sustainable development goals.

He mentioned that the teaching of sustainable development courses are included in national education program. This discipline is taught at Bachelor, Masters and PhD levels. According to the World Bank statistics, the share of production of energy in GDP has decreased 3 times in the last decade. This is the best result among post- Soviet countries, and one of the good results in G7 countries.

UNESCO “Man and Biosphere” Program is a multilateral scientific program which is aimed at to protect biological diversity in the world, and created to improve man-nature relations in the international level, and includes international cooperation. Azerbaijan is elected to the MAB Programme International Coordination Council for 4 years.

The 29 th session Programme International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere of UNESCO will continue till June 15.