Partners

Smithsonian Institution

In 1986, the Smithsonian Institution joined with the United Nations' Man and the Biosphere Biological Diversity Program to create the Monitoring and Assessment of Biodiversity Program (MAB). Since then, the Smithsonian has conducted research and education courses and developed programs around the world.

Conserving biodiversity

Man and the Biosphere's mission is to promote the conservation of biodiversity. The program works by monitoring global forest biodiversity. Three hundred research sites in 23 countries (in Latin America, the Caribbean, North America, Africa and Asia) assess and monitor biodiversity in temperate and tropical forest regions.

The Smithsonian works internationally with governments, industries, academic institutions, non-governmental organisations and communities in assessing and monitoring the biodiversity in their areas. MAB also has its own research sites in places such as Bolivia, Puerto Rica, Peru, the Virgin Islands, Venezuela, Canada and China. Sites were selected either because their habitats were rich in biodiversity or because they were among the most threatened.