The 33rd session of the International Co-ordinating Council of the UNESCO’s MAB (Man and the Biosphere) Programme was held in a hybrid format in Abuja, Nigeria.
This was the first time that it was held in the African continent.
20 new sites in 21 countries were added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (BRs).
This made Biosphere Reserves reach a total number of 727 Biosphere in 131 countries.
The sites from Lesotho (Matseng BR), Libya (Ashaafean BR), and Saudi Arabia (Juzur Farasan BR) are designated for the first time.
UNESCO’s BRs now cover more than 5% of the Earth’s landmass.