WANA (Jun 15) – Iranian environmental researcher and activist Behzad Ghiasi has been awarded the prestigious UNESCO Young Scientist Award 2025 under the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme for his applied research project focused on the restoration of the Miankaleh Biosphere Reserve.

 

The award was presented during a ceremony recognizing outstanding research and innovative initiatives in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. It was granted by UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme, which promotes practical solutions for balancing environmental protection with human development.

 

Ghiasi received the award for his project, titled “Wetland Restoration through Water-Based Tourism: A Strategy for Sustainable Livelihoods in the Miankaleh Biosphere Reserve.” The initiative proposes a model that combines responsible tourism with environmental conservation, creating sustainable economic opportunities for local communities while supporting the restoration and protection of valuable wetland ecosystems.

 

The project was selected by the UNESCO jury for its innovative approach to addressing environmental challenges through community-based and sustainable development strategies.

 

The award ceremony was attended by senior representatives from UNESCO-related institutions in Iran and environmental authorities, who praised Ghiasi’s scientific and field-based efforts in advancing conservation goals and sustainable development within the country’s biosphere reserves.

 

UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme is a global network dedicated to strengthening the relationship between people and nature, conserving biodiversity, and promoting sustainable development across biosphere reserves worldwide. Its Young Scientist Award is presented annually to emerging researchers whose work contributes significantly to these objectives.