News
Fundy to Host Meeting of Canadian Biosphere Reserves
Posted September 22nd, 2010
UNESCO Biosphere Reserves across Canada are descending on Alma, NB this week for the Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Biosphere Reserve Association (CBRA). Hosted by the UNESCO Fundy Biosphere Reserve, this meeting will allow representatives from the 15 Canadian Biosphere Reserves to compare notes, discuss initiatives and strengthen the national network. Set against the inspirational backdrop of Fundy National Park and the Bay of Fundy, this meeting looks to establish the role of the national organization in supporting Biosphere Reserves across Canada.
Lesser known than the other UNESCO program of World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves are areas designated by UNESCO for their unique environment, culture, and history. They serve as living laboratories for conservation and sustainable development initiatives to improve the relationship between humans and their environment. “Biosphere Reserves play an important role in fostering sustainable development and conservation initiatives in Canada,” says Dr. Yves Gagnon, Chair of the Fundy Biosphere Reserve. “Working together with other UNESCO designated Biosphere Reserves across Canada to build a strong network of project sharing and cooperation will help what we are doing here in this region.” The meeting opens on Wednesday September 22 with a welcome dinner for participants, which begins two days of meetings and workshops in the Alma Activity Centre. A tour of sites in Albert County, including Hopewell Rocks, the Albert County Museum and Cape Enrage are also planned to give visitors a taste of what this region has to offer. “Hosting this meeting gives us the chance to show off, not only one of the beautiful Biosphere Reserves in Canada, but the great work we have been doing over the past few years” said Andrew Spring, Executive Director of the Fundy Biosphere Reserve. The Fundy Biosphere Reserve, designated by UNESCO in 2007, is an active Biosphere Reserve in the network. With projects like a summer education program called the Fundy Biosphere Explorer, conservation and monitoring projects, Sustainable Tourism workshops, trail initiatives, Local Food forums and much more, the organization is building momentum. “As one of the youngest Biosphere Reserve in Canada, the Fundy Biosphere Reserve has been able to achieve a lot,” says Marc-André Guertin, Chief Executive Officer of CBRA. “As the Fundy Biosphere Reserve gains recognition in the region and people realize the importance of the UNESCO designation, there is the potential to do great things”. In September 2007, the Fundy Biosphere Reserve was given UNESCO designation as a world Biosphere Reserve. It joined a network of 15 Biosphere Reserves across Canada and over 500 worldwide, whose overall goal is to improve the relationship between people and their environment by promoting the conservation of biodiversity and fostering sustainable development initiatives. The Fundy Biosphere Reserve is an area of over 430,000 hectares of the Upper Bay of Fundy coast, stretching from St. Martins to the Tantramar Marsh, near Sackville, and inland to Moncton, with Fundy National Park acting as the Core Area. It is a community-based initiative comprised of individuals and representatives of various stakeholder groups, organizations and local communities working to promote the sustainable development of the region by enhancing the research and innovation capacity and by creating a forum for various groups to share information, knowledge and best practices. The Canadian Biosphere Reserve Association is an association representing the 15 UNESCO designated Biosphere Reserves in Canada. CBRA supports Canadian Biosphere Reserves in the achievement of their mandates and demonstrates their collective value nationally and internationally.
