Oryx roaming in Al Reem Biosphere Reserve in Qatar. The General Directorate of Nature Reserves (GDNR) and Qatar Shell have signed a collaboration agreement for the development and implementation of the master plan for Al Reem Biosphere Reserve, which covers almost 10% of the total land area of Qatar. The biosphere reserve was declared in 2007 under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme, that aims to efficiently manage natural resources for the well-being of both human populations and the environment.