Earth Resources and Biosphere Reserves. Call for Proposals
The International Geoscience Programme’s (IGCP) welcomes proposals for 2012 IGCP projects that investigate Earth Resources and Biosphere Reserves. Deadline of submission: 15 October 2011.
On 15 February 2011, an international expert meeting - composed of members of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Advisory Committee, the International Geoscience Programme’s (IGCP) Scientific Board and relevant experts - discussed the challenges of earth resource extraction (mining and the removal of oil and gas) in biosphere reserves.
Biosphere reserves are more than just protected areas in that they have a zonedstructure that includes nationally protected “core” areas surrounded by “buffer” and“transition” zones. This structure allows for discussions about landscape level planning for equitable use by many actors.
In most cases earth resource extraction occurring in biosphere reserves has been viewed as a threat to biodiversity conservation. However, since biosphere reserves aim to operate as learning sites for sustainable development, and current trajectories for development continue to rely heavily on mineral resources, examples of best practice and public-private partnerships between companies and biosphere reserve managers have been sought.
The well-recognized trend brought onby increased demand and the corresponding increase in price for mineral resources ofall types has put pressure on biosphere reserves.
The IGCP welcomes proposals for 2012 IGCP projects that investigate this topic in moredetail. These proposals will fall under the Earth Resources theme of IGCP.Projects must fill the standard requirements of IGCP projects and be submitted by15 October 2011.
Please send your proposals to M. Patzak (Global Earth Observations Section)
Deadline of submission: 15 October 2011.
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