MAB Secretariat

The Secretariat of the MAB Programme rolls out the mandate from the International Co-ordinating Council and coordinates the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, as well as its Regional and Thematic Networks.
Last update:11 March 2025

Man and the Biosphere Programme
UNESCO
7, place de Fontenoy 
F-75352 Paris 07 SP
France
E-mail: mab@unesco.org

The Secretary

Secretary of the MAB Programme: Antonio Abreu

Antonio Abreu (Portugal) was appointed Director of the Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences in the Natural Sciences Sector of UNESCO and Secretary of the MAB Programme in April 2023.  

Mr Abreu holds a biology degree from the and a PhD in in marine biology from the , Portugal. Prior to his appointment, since June 2022, Mr Abreu held the position of Representative of Portugal and Vice-President of UNESCO's International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere programme (MAB-ICC). He was also Researcher and Manager of the in Portugal since 2020. 

In addition, he was a member of the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the since 2017, Vice-Chairperson of the , based in The Hague, Netherlands since 2012, adviser to the government of the Autonomous Region of Principe in Sao Tome and Principe since 2010, member of the in Lisbon, Portugal since 1998, and regularly undertakes academic and scientific activities at various universities in Portugal and abroad. 

Office of the Director

´¡²Ô³Ùó²Ô¾±´Ç Abreu
´¡²Ô³Ùó²Ô¾±´Ç
Abreu
Director of the Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences, Secretary of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme
Sima
Taheri-Gauter
Assistant to the Division Director, Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences
Manoel
Giffoni Da Silveira Netto
Associate Communications Officer

Section on MAB Networking:

Biosphere Reserves and Capacity Building (EES/NBC)
Hans Thulstrup
Hans
Thulstrup
Chief of the Section on MAB Networking: Biosphere Reserves and Capacity Building
Amandine Callens
Amandine
Callens
Programme assistant
Kelly Cerialo
Kelly
Cerialo
Programme Specialist
Maria Rosa Cardenas Tomazic
Maria Rosa
Cardenas Tomazic
Programme Specialist
Yueyu Zou
Yueyu
Zou
Programme specialist
Ana Catarina
Luz
Associate project officer
Martin
Delaroche
Project officer
Maximilien
³Ò³Üè³ú±ð
Associate project officer
Kokone
Nakamura
Sponsored trainee
Jazmin
Cevallos Vintimilla
Consultant
Marcelo
Blanco Dos Anjos
Consultant
Erika Eveliina
Haavisto
Assistant
Belgin
Ozbay Yarman
Assistant

Section on MAB Research and Policy:

Ecology and Biodiversity (EES/ESP)
Patricia
Rame
Office assistant
Serena
Heckler
Programme Specialist
Carrie Delayne
Dodds
Project Officer

Regional officers

The UNESCO Regional Officers are responsible for the implementation of UNESCO's MAB Programme at the regional level. Regional Officers are posted in the field and serve as focal points for all issues relating to the Programme, both at regional and national levels.

About the MAB programme