The International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO has named the recipients of the 2020 Young Scientists Awards, which seeks to promote a new generation of scientists worldwide poised to address ecological and sustainability issues.

Six young scientists will receive the award in 2020:

Radisti Ayu PRAPTIWI (Indonesia): Understanding the impact of climate change to cultural ecosystem services in tropical marine areas of the Taka Bonerate Kepulauan Selayar Biosphere Reserve.
Babajide Charles FALEMARA (Nigeria): Economic valuation of tropical tree species and soil carbon sequestration potential as ecosystem services in the context of climate change in the Omo Biosphere Reserve.
Opeyemi ADEYEMI (Nigeria): Assessing and mapping communities' preferences for ecosystem services in Omo Biosphere Reserve. An approach to enhance sustainable management of the biosphere reserve and promote people's livelihood.
Sandra DELFIN DE LEON (Cuba): Farming, propagation and assisted reproduction of stony corals for the study of reef restoration.
Laure THIERRY DE VILLE D'AVRAY (Philippines): The influence of artificial reefs on fish communities and their potential socio-economic benefits, a study in the Palawan Biosphere Reserve.
Iolanda-Veronica GANEA (Romania): Designing efficient strategies for the implementation of an ecotourism network in the Sfântu Gheorghe Channel area of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.

The MAB Programme has been granting awards of up to $5,000 (USD) each year since 1989 to encourage young researchers to undertake work on ecosystems, natural resources and biodiversity in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. The selection was announced during the MAB Council’s annual meeting, held virtually on 27 and 28 October.

Biosphere reserves are areas that promote innovative solutions for sustainable development and serve as laboratories of ideas and good practices on biodiversity conservation. The World Network of Biosphere Reserves includes 714 sites in 129 countries. It is managed by the MAB Programme, which pioneered the idea of sustainable development.