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Bay of Fundy Biosphere Reserve
The Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership (BoFEP) and the Bay of Fundy
Product Club are proposing the establishment of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
in the Bay of Fundy to provide recognition of this unique and significant
natural region. The general goals of this project are to increase awareness
of conservation and sustainability issues of the Bay of Fundy and to
balance conservation of natural ecosystems, natural processes and biological
diversity with sustainability of resources and communities. The biosphere
reserve initiative will be in partnership with individuals, businesses
and organizations and will be implemented only with community support.
Biosphere Reserves are terrestrial and marine/coastal areas or a combination
thereof, which are internationally recognized within UNESCO’s Man and
the Biosphere (MAB) Program. Biosphere Reserves are established for
promoting and demonstrating a balanced relationship between humans and
nature. Biosphere Reserves have three functions: 1) contributing to
the conservation of biodiversity, 2) fostering sustainable economic
development, and 3) promoting logistics support for conservation and
development activities. The biosphere reserve program has both international
and national components, however administrative and management decisions
are locally-based and the support and involvement of local communities
is key to the program.
The initial phase of the Bay of Fundy Biosphere Reserve Project will
provide required information and identify management strategies in order
to qualify for designation as a biosphere reserve under UNESCO’s MAB
program. For a proposed biosphere reserve to be recommended to UNESCO,
it must have at least one legally protected area and a buffer area,
support of key stakeholders in the area, a committee to coordinate activities,
capacity for local coordination and a biosphere reserve activity or
project underway.
Through an outreach and consultation phase, the biosphere reserve project
will target resource users, coastal communities, First Nations, industries,
scientists, governments, managers, and other individuals and groups
with interests in the sustainability of the Bay of Fundy. Meetings with
stakeholder groups in the Chignecto Bay and Minas Basin regions are
in progress. Groups outside these two regions will also be included
in subsequent steps. These meetings provide an opportunity for determining
the scope and priorities of the project and identifying the three zones
of a biosphere reserve; developing sustainability guidelines for zones
outside conservation areas; and determining the structure of the biosphere
reserve .
Documentation prepared for the Bay of Fundy Biosphere Reserve Project
has been distributed to the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association
(CBRA). In June, 2000, the Bay of Fundy Biosphere Reserve concept was
presented at the national CBRA meeting in Tofino, British Columbia.
Input from CBRA has been very positive, and the Bay of Fundy is recognized
by the association as a potential biosphere reserve candidate. The Bay
of Fundy Biosphere Reserve Project is being coordinated by Thomas Young,
chair of BoFEP’s ecotourism working group and project manager for the
Bay of Fundy Product Club.
A partnership group for Chignecto Bay is currently being formed. For
more information on the Bay of Fundy Biosphere Reserve Project, please
contact:
Thomas Young
Resource Management Associates
PO Box 818
Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, Canada
B0M 1S0
Phone: (902) 254-2772
Fax: (902) 254-2711
Email: tmyoung@auracom.com
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