The UNESCO underlined the importance of protecting the Socotra Archipelago through the establishment of a Man And Biosphere Reserve and placed Socotra at the top of the agenda for declaration (UNESCO, 1994, 2000). The Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) assisted the Government of Yemen (GOY) in the formulation of a comprehensive Biodiversity Conservation Zoning Plan, which represents the essential pre-condition for the declaration of Socotra Archipelago as a UNESCO Man and Biosphere reserve. The procedure for MAB nomination is ongoing and is expected to be completed by the end of year 2002.

The Government of Yemen ratified the International Convention on Biodiversity in February 1996. In the same year, Government Decree IV declared Socotra as a special natural area in urgent need of protection. The Decree also called for assistance to formulate a Master Plan for Development of the Socotra Archipelago. In mid-1997, the GEF agreed to fund a project called the "Conservation and Sustainable Use of the Biodiversity of Socotra Archipelago," that was jointly managed by the GOY's Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

The project, which was implemented at the end of 1997, has technical supervision from the UNDP and the GEF. Phase one was completed in 2001 and a second phase is underway with support from the Government of the Netherlands. The second phase is planned to extend until mid 2003. It envisages the consolidation of achievements of phase one, as well as the establishment of a new Coordination Unit -located in the Ministry of Planning and Development- for steering a broader "Socotra Conservation and Development Programme (SCDP)". The new SCDP aims at involving all UN and other donor-assisted projects, government agencies and relevant stakeholders in an integrated Programme for the conservation and sustainable development of the Archipelago.

In June 1999, the first Yemenia Airlines Boeing 737 landed in Socotra. Along with the plane came the President of the Republic, His Excellency Ali Abdallah Saleh. President Saleh inaugurated the new airport that now boasts Yemen's longest runway. His Excellency also announced definitive plans for the construction of a paved road from the airport to Hadibo and Qalansya, the two main villages of Socotra, and the expansion of the port at Hadibo. Today, these major infrastructure plans and achievements are removing historic obstacles to basic development and essential services. Unfortunately, these development activities seriously threaten the terrestrial and marine biodiversity, as well as other natural resources that the people of Socotra have depended on for generations.

As an immediate and pro-active response to this situation, the GEF Socotra Biodiversity Project finalized the Zoning Plan in October 1999. The GOY approved the Plan in April 2000, by Prime Ministerial Decree, and then ratified the decision by Presidential Decree no. 275 of year 2000 (September 2000). This historic achievement is the guiding instrument for future sustainable development and long-term biodiversity conservation. achievement will now hopefully guide future infrastructure development and long-term biodiversity conservation in a sustainable fashion.