Monday 09 / February / 2026
Muscat: The Environment Authority organised on Monday a national workshop titled “Man and the Biosphere Reserves.”
The opening of the four-day event was held under the auspices of Sheikh Hilal Said Al Hajri, Governor of Al Dakhiliyah.
The event features participation from representatives of government and private entities, members of the National Committee for Man and the Biosphere Reserves, and various community segments, alongside an international expert specializing in the field of Man and the Biosphere (MAB) reserves.
The workshop aims to enhance national capacities in managing biosphere reserves following the inclusion of the Jabal Akhdar and Al Sareen reserves in the World Network of Biosphere Reserves under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The first day included introductory sessions on Man and the Biosphere reserves presented by Dr. Nabiha Mubarak, an international expert in natural systems and biodiversity.
She discussed the concept and objectives of the reserves, their functional zones (core, buffer, and transition), and their legal and administrative frameworks, while also reviewing successful Arab and international experiences.
Additionally, Eng. Majid Hamad Al Khanbashi, a Nature Reserves Management Specialist at the Environment Authority, delivered a presentation on the economic services provided by ecosystems.
The second and third days will focus on practical aspects, including workshops on developing management plans, engaging relevant stakeholders and local communities, and analysing outcomes from field visits.
Participants will also design simplified templates for the periodic reports submitted to UNESCO every five and ten years, in addition to addressing performance indicators and evaluation components.
The fourth day will feature a field visit to the Jabal Al Akhdar Biosphere Reserve, where participants will tour the core, buffer, and transition zones. This will be followed by a dialogue session with the reserve management team and the local community to reinforce the concept of participatory management and bridge the gap between theory and practical application.
This workshop reflects the Sultanate of Oman’s commitment to strengthening the management system of nature reserves according to international best practices, contributing to the protection of ecosystems, supporting local communities, achieving sustainable development goals, and consolidating Oman’s position in regional and international environmental initiatives.
-ONA
