11 February 2020- The Council of Ministers, on the proposal of the Ministries of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge and Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, has authorized the signing of the agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to continue hosting the International Centre for Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves in our country.

This centre, created in 2015 and located in Castellet i la Gornal (province of Barcelona), has been fundamental in the constitution and implementation of the Network of Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves, as well as in the development of other activities aimed at promoting the Man and the Biosphere Programme (MaB), the Spanish Network of Biosphere Reserves, the IberoMab Network and the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, among other activities.

The renewal of this agreement - which was agreed last October in Paris at the UNESCO Executive Board, after analysing the "highly satisfactory" results and the fulfilment of objectives in the four years of operation of the centre - will allow further progress in promoting sustainability in Mediterranean environments, carrying out training and capacity building programmes, coordinating the Network of Mediterranean Biosphere Reserves and hosting events of the UNESCO MaB Programme.

The Castle of Castellet i la Gornal where the centre is located belongs to the Abertis Foundation, which provides the necessary resources to facilitate the premises, equipment, facilities and maintenance of the centre, as well as the expenses arising from the organisation of meetings of the Board of Directors. The Abertis Foundation also provides the administrative staff necessary for its operation.

This centre is considered essential because of its contribution to Spain's role as a link between the various Mediterranean countries, promoting the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development in the Mediterranean.

Spain thus reaffirms its commitment to UNESCO in all its areas of work and its leadership in the Organization's most emblematic programmes.

SPAIN, WORLD LEADER IN NUMBER OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES. Spain is the first country in the world in number of these declared areas, with a total of 52 Biosphere Reserves, covering various ecosystems and landscapes characteristic of Spain. The 52 Spanish spaces that hold this UNESCO award occupy an area of around 12% of the total surface area of Spain, with some 6.2 million hectares where more than 4% of the Spanish population lives.