Oman Elected to UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Council, Advancing Global Conservation Leadership

Oman has been elected to the International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme for the 2025–2029 term, marking a major milestone in its global environmental leadership. The election, held during the 43rd UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, highlights the Sultanate’s growing influence in the field of sustainability and reflects its commitment to ecological preservation aligned with Oman Vision 2040 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

As a member of the MAB Council, Oman will play a central role in shaping international strategies for biodiversity conservation, scientific research collaboration, youth engagement, and climate resilience.

The MAB Programme’s objectives-ranging from expanding protected areas to supporting research innovation-align closely with Oman’s national priorities. The country’s membership enables it to share best practices, contribute to global policy discussions, and strengthen collective efforts to protect ecosystems while supporting sustainable development.

Oman’s proven environmental track record further reinforces the significance of this achievement. The Sultanate has already registered two sites-Al-Sareen Nature Reserve and Al Jabal Al Akhdar Landscape Reserve-in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves, demonstrating its long-standing dedication to biodiversity protection.

Its participation in the MAB Council underscores a broader strategic role, enhancing Oman’s voice in global environmental platforms, promoting climate solutions, and advancing cooperation that balances human progress with the preservation of natural resources.

Biosphere Council positioning tends to shape jurisdictional biodiversity-credit and conservation-finance pipelines - and Oman's election opens genuine nature-linked investment opportunities in the Gulf. Our nature-based-solutions and impact-assessment teams help clients evaluate biodiversity and nature-restoration investment against emerging Gulf frameworks and TNFD alignment.