UNESCO programme of research and training intended to develop the basis, with the natural and social sciences, for the rational use and conservation of biosphere resources and for the improvement of the global relationship between people and the environment. Current programme interests include: promotion of biosphere reserves; reconciliation of nature conservation and biological diversity with socio-economic development/maintenance of cultural values at the ecosystem/landscape levels; capacity building up at human/institutional levels, including communication networks.
WWW site has information on programme, its publications and a directory of biosphere reserves.