943 



58 



Preliminary Findings 



1. The Man and the Biosphere Program and related projects in Major 

 Program X, concerned with integrated approaches to natural resource 

 management, include activities that are valuable to the U.S. scientific 

 community. The International Coordinating Council provides scientific 

 guidance to the overall program, which is currently concentrated in 

 four areas: the humid tropics; arid and semiarid zones; urban systems; 

 and conservation. 



2. The United States, which has provided leadership throughout the 

 existence of MAB, will lose its official capacity to be a member of the 

 Coordinating Council and Bureau of Officers. There may be limited 

 impact on MAB activities in the short term assuming funds are provided 

 to both UNESCO and USMAB in support of ongoing projects. However, 

 there could be serious consequences in the longer term to both the 

 United States and international MAB programs if suitable interim 

 alternative mechanisms cannot be worked out to ensure active U.S. 

 participation and association. 



3. Because of the integrated, interdisciplinary nature of the MAB 

 program and UNESCO's broad range of scientific interests, UNESCO has 

 played a unique role of fostering collaboration of natural and social 

 scientists, and coordinating the interactions of scientific groups in 

 105 participating countries. There is no real alternative to UNESCO in 

 carrying out these responsibilities. There have been, on the other 

 hand, serious management problems in UNESCO that may be in process of 

 improvement — a situation that needs to be monitored. 



4. It is of fundamental importance to put the USMAB program on a 

 sound footing in terms of continuity of funding and staff support. 

 Consideration of the impacts of U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO and this 

 examination of interim alternative arrangements are academic questions 

 if the current crisis facing USMAB is not resolved satisfactorily. 



5. Because of the nature of the MAB program and the role played 

 by UNESCO, the simplest and most efficient interim alternative is to 

 make maximum use of direct contributions to UNESCO (Funds-in-Trust, 

 donations, etc.) backed up by a significant level of USMAB-managed 

 international activities. There should be increasing involvement of 

 nongovernmental organizations such as lUCN and ICSU. 



