UNESCO, Earth and Ecological Science Division

Paris, France

Alexandra Deprez ’12 Anthropology and Environmental Studies

UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) and World Network of Biosphere Reserves

-Founded in 1971 by Richard Nixon and Nikita Krushchev

-Currently 580 sites in 114 countries

Work I did: Follow up on expert meeting on sustainable agriculture and food security in Biosphere Reserves

-Created case studies of agriculture initiatives in specific Biosphere Reserves: Yayu Coffee Forest, Ethiopia, Sierra Gorda, Mexico

-Researched ways of connecting such initiatives to commodities markets and ecosystem services markets

-Interviewed experts and met with organizations that develop agro-forestry and conservation projects connected with ecosystem services payment schemes

-Developed report that exposed the present state and linked food security, sustainable agriculture and agro-biodiversity in Biosphere Reserves

Impact of my work on MAB and World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR)

-Initiated contact with potential future MAB partners EcoLogic development fund and Pur Projet

-Developed report that will prove useful to the International Biosphere Trust in jumpstarting their agricultural involvement in the WNBR

-Contributed to the continuation of MAB secretariat’s interest in and focus on agricultural topics within Biosphere Reserves