Launch of the National Committee for Man and the Biosphere of Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO: National Synergy for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development

The first meeting of the National Committee for Man and the Biosphere of Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO was held on Sunday, 31 May 2026, at the premises of Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO, with the participation of the Committee’s individual and institutional members. The meeting was convened as part of the new term of activities of the specialized committees of Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO.

At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Hassan Fartousi, Secretary-General of Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO, welcomed the Committee members and emphasized the importance of launching the National Committee for Man and the Biosphere and its role in advancing the objectives of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program in the country. He also provided an overview of Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO, the structure of its specialized committees, and the new regulations governing their activities, familiarizing members with the mission, objectives, and operational mechanisms of the National Committee for Man and the Biosphere.

Review of the Latest Developments in the Man and the Biosphere Program and the Status of the Country’s Biosphere Reserves

During the meeting, Ms. Ahmadizadeh, Head of the Natural Sciences Sector at Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO and Secretary of the National Committee for Man and the Biosphere, presented a report on the latest developments, plans, and activities related to UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program. She also outlined the Committee’s national priorities for biodiversity conservation and strengthening cross-sectoral cooperation.

A report was also presented on the latest status of the country’s biosphere reserves. Participants discussed and exchanged views on the capacities, opportunities, and challenges facing these reserves, as well as ways to strengthen national and international cooperation within the framework of the Man and the Biosphere Program.

Election of the Chair and Vice-Chair of the National Man and the Biosphere Committee

Under the approved regulations of the National Committee for Man and the Biosphere, its institutional members comprise Hamid Zohorabí, Deputy Head for the Natural Environment and Biodiversity at the Department of Environment; Reza Aflaṭouni, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Head of the Forests, Rangelands and Watershed Management Organization; Seyed Mohammad Sadati-Nejad, Director-General for International Specialized Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Jabbar Vatanfada, Director-General of the Office for Border Rivers and Shared Water Resources at the Ministry of Energy; Ali Darabi, Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts; Saeed Shojaei, Deputy for Planning, Innovation and Smartization at the Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade; Omid Shakeri, Deputy for Engineering, Research and Technology at the Ministry of Petroleum; Ebrahim Fattahi, Head of the Atmospheric Science and Meteorological Research Institute; and Allahmorad Afifipour, Deputy for Maritime Affairs at the Ports and Maritime Organization.

The meeting was also attended by Lobat Taghavi, Seyed Mohammad Shabiri, Maryam Shahbazi, Masoud Shamsbakhsh, Zahra Gholichipour, and Mohsen Abdollahi. They were nominated by the Secretary-General as individual members of the National Committee for Man and the Biosphere and appointed for a two-year term by the Minister of Science, Research and Technology, who also serves as Chair of Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO.

In the final part of the meeting, elections for the Committee’s executive board were held in accordance with the new regulations governing the specialized committees of Iran’s National Commission for UNESCO. Based on the members’ votes, Dr. Hamid Zohorabí was elected Chair and Dr. Reza Aflaṭouni Vice-Chair of the National Committee for Man and the Biosphere. The appointment certificates of the Committee’s individual members, signed by the Minister of Science, Research and Technology, were also presented to them.

The inaugural meeting of the National Committee for Man and the Biosphere represents an important step towards strengthening cooperation among relevant institutions, developing the country’s scientific and specialized capacities, and making greater use of the potential of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program to conserve biodiversity and achieve sustainable development.