21 September 2011: The International Geoscience Programme (IGCP), a cooperative enterprise of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), is calling for proposals for 2012 IGCP projects that investigate the challenges of earth resource extraction (mining and removal of oil and gas) in biosphere reserves.

The call follows on an international expert meeting on earth resource extraction in biosphere reserves held on 15 February 2011, which brought together members of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Advisory Committee, the IGCP Scientific Board and other experts.

Earth resource extraction in biosphere reserves traditionally has been viewed as a threat to biodiversity conservation, according to UNESCO. However, since biosphere reserves aim to offer lessons on sustainable development, and considering the rising demand for mineral resources, examples of best practice and public-private partnerships between companies and biosphere reserve managers have been sought.

Proposals are to be sent to M. Patzak (Global Earth Observations Section) at m.patzak@unesco.org, by 15 October 2011. [UNESCO Press Release]