Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve – 2007

Management and Direction Board of Directors – 2008 Ray Frey (Chair) – RM of Park Nick Fiarchuk – RM of Grandview Rudy Usick – RM of Clanwilliam Martin Woodley – RM of Strathclair Daryl Nuestader - member at large Ilse Ketelsen – RM of Rossburn Sandy Walters – member at large John Whitaker (past Chair) – RM of Clanwilliam TBA – First Nations Senior staff includes Valerie Pankratz (Executive Director). Three Functions of a Biosphere Reserve

• They help in the conservation of biological diversity. (they try to make sure all the animals, plants, insects, trees, and fungi remain there for generations to come to see)

• They help in the development of better ways to live and work in the environment so that we do not destroy nature’s resources or the traditional and cultural ways of the people who live in these areas.

• They also help support scientific research by being “open air” laboratories and classrooms for research and for teaching people how to find solutions to some man-made problems in the environment.

Where Canadian Biospheres Excel

• Community-based organizations coordinate biosphere reserve activities • Partners (industry, government, NGOs etc) support research, monitoring, education, training activities to support

biosphere reserve goals • The World Network of Biosphere Reserves exchanges ideas and information • UNESCO sees Canada’s designated sites as the best example of community leadership and good examples of

partner-based cooperation in BRs • Canada’s BRs contain 8 national or marine parks (Parks Canada), 6 national wildlife areas or migratory bird

sanctuaries (Environment Canada) and dozens of provincial parks or reserves • Their working landscapes contain key elements of Canada’s economy: agriculture (12), forestry (12), Great Lakes

– St Lawrence (7), fresh water management (13), coastal (4) • 14 contain First Nations communities and include them in coordination • All address government interests in community capacity and rural revitalization • They are a door to North American, Western Hemisphere and European cooperation on sustainable development

Proposed Membership Fees

• $200.00 Rural Municipality

• $100.00 Business or Corporation within the BR

• $50.00 Non-profit organization

• $20 per individual/family

• $10 student/senior

Benefits of Membership

Municipality - reimbursement of some costs (ie. gas mileage for meetings), raises the profile of the whole community, bring in expertise through workshops, free use of logo (with some restrictions),

reduced rates for workshops and events, invitation to participate in RMBR programs (ie. Tourism - GPS Adventure Quest), acknowledgement of support in literature.

Other Corporation, Business, Non-profit, NGO - raises the profile of the whole community, bring in expertise through workshops, free use of logo (with some restrictions), reduced rates for workshops and events, acknowledgement of support in various literature

Individual/Family/Student/Senior – newsletter, invitation to and reduced rates for workshops and events, reduced rates on RMBR products (ie 10% off books, t-shirts, etc)

Bovine Tb Stakeholders Advisory Committee Since 2003 Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve has organized and chaired the Bovine Tuberculosis Stakeholders Advisory Committee (TbSAC) which brings Federal and Provincial governmental agencies together with local stakeholders and non-governmental organizations to address issues of Bovine Tb within the Riding Mountain Eradication Area. Tb-free status was regained in the summer of 2006, and the TbSAC Committee continues to meet to discuss issues, learn about the progress of Parks Canada and Manitoba Conservation programs. Recommendations to the Parks Canada, Tb Task Group and Manitoba Conservation are created, reviewed and with consensus of the entire group they are put forward. The 2007 TbSAC Recommendations were created and but not finalized as of yet and therefore have not been sent. When this process is complete the document will be provided to the Tb Task Group, Manitoba Conservation. Next meeting will be April 1, 2008. Meeting with RM Councils

Friday December 14 1:30 - ROSEDALE, R.M. January 9 9:15 - CLANWILLIAM, R.M. January 14 about 2:30 - ROSSBURN, R.M. February 12 10:30 am - DAUPHIN, R.M. February 13 10:00 am - SHELLMOUTH - BOULTON R.M. February 13, 2:30 pm - SHOAL LAKE, R.M. March 11 - 8:15 pm - OCHRE RIVER, R.M. March 12, 11:30 am - MCCREARY, R.M. Still to visit

STRATHCLAIR, R.M., HARRISON, R.M., GRANDVIEW, R.M., GILBERT PLAINS, R.M., PARK, R.M., SILVER CREEK, R.M., STE. ROSE, R.M.

Climate Change Seminar Sustainable Woodlot Management Project (Mountain Side Woodlot Project) Education/Workshops and Programs Caching Riding Mountain (CRM)

Many existing treasures are hidden in our communities at this very moment. These rich cultural and natural treasures are now being showcased in RMBR via a new and innovative activity called Geocaching. The intent of the Caching Riding Mountain project is to assist local communities to celebrate and showcase their unique community cultural and nature-based treasures by developing GPS learning experiences which will be available through web-based marketing for travelers, students, international groups, local residents, and passionate Geocachers from all over Canada, and the world. Parkland Tourism, in partnership with CRM and MAFRI facilitated seven Community GPS Workshops throughout Manitoba. We have been to Swan River, Austin and Flin Flon, Morden, Dugald, Teulon and Virden. These workshops help to heighten awareness for this low impact and experiential tourism activity and allow other communities to use the lessons we have learned in Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve to see the

potential in attracting tourists from around the world. The 2nd Annual Caching Riding Mountain Adventure Quest will be held June 7 & 8, 2008. We are in the process of finalizing locations for our participants to find 2007 Parkland Tourism Award and the 2007 Manitoba Tourism Award Nomination Riding Mountain National Park has nominated the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve and Friends of RMNP’s Caching Riding Mountain project for the 2007 Parkland Tourism Award and the 2007 Manitoba Tourism Award for their Product Development Award for the creation and delivery of this product throughout Riding Mountain Biosphere and Manitoba. Scientific Publication – Finally Here The Prairie Mountains: Research in the Riding, Duck and Porcupine Mountains is not the typical science journal. In an attempt to communicate research results and ongoing projects in a format accessible to anyone interested, a publication summarizing these studies using a non-technical language, and a colourful layout with pictures is in production. Topics cover a broad range of species and conservation issues in this region. This publication has been distributed to schools, libraries, RM offices and Conservation Districts. The publication will also be available for sale at a cost per book of $22.95. Education Programs Biosphere Bob Biosphere Bob is still visiting Onanole Elementary School. Biosphere Bob (Best of the Biosphere) is a program geared to Grade’s 2-5, but can be expanded to higher grades. The program enables students to learn about Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve, the Biosphere Reserve concept and to appreciate this special designation through interaction with “Biosphere Bob”, a child-like puppet that travels to each of the schools within the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve as an “Exchange Student” to gather information about the area the students live in. UNESCO ASPnet Schools

Onanole Elementary School has accepted the challenge to become a UNESCO’s Associated Schools. ASPnet Schools are schools which promote an inclusive environment that is safe and caring, respects diversity and the rights of all persons, and provides equitable opportunities for success while incorporating peace education into their curriculum. Peace Education involves teaching

individuals the information, attitudes, values and behavioural competencies needed to resolve conflict without violence and to build mutually beneficial, harmonious relationships. UNESCO ASPnet was established by UNESCO in 1953. Canada joined UNESCO ASPnet in 2001 and today there are now more than 7900 schools in 176 countries involved. This project is in the very preliminary stages and the application for candidacy will be submitted for the 2008/2009 school year. We will be working with the teaching staff at Onanole Elementary to help to create projects that will fit with the UNECO values for this school year as well as future projects for the coming year. Onanole Elementary School has chosen world hunger for this year’s theme in their process to become an ASPnet School. January 8 the Grades 7 and 8 classes of Onanole visited Samaritan House in Brandon to lend a hand in sorting food, packing kits, and distributing food to those in need. The Living Links Art Display is being utilized by the Grades 7 and 8 in their art classes this coming month. Seminar Series Climate Change – What It Means To You February 21, 2008, Rossburn Town Hall, Rossburn, Manitoba 9:30 am - 3:00 pm Seminar Moderator - Margaret Tarleton, Onanole MB Climate Change On The Prairies – An Overview - Dr. Hank Venema – International Institute Of Sustainable Development, Winnipeg MB Climate Change Implications for Agro – Manitoba - Leloni Scott, MB Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Seminar Wrap-up - Bob McNabb, Farm Producer, Minnedosa MB Cost: $10 per person - Includes lunch Woodlot Management Project A new project on the horizon with the objective of sustaining/ maintaining regional woodlots by demonstrating ecologically sound forest management practices designed to deliver ongoing economic return to landowners while developing practices that meet landowner needs with landowner inputs. The anticipated benefits to the RMBR and the communities within its boundaries are:

1. Increased knowledge and expertise within landowner group which range from developing woodlot management plans to harvesting methods to value added marketing. 2. The promotion of biodiversity while providing some economic return to landowner. 3. The production of forest products for local consumption vs. export. 4. The protection of soil and water quality. 5. Enhancement of wildlife habitat. 6. Enhancement of recreational opportunities. 7. Development of local leadership/confidence in the capacity to help ourselves.

RMBR Joined by Two New Biosphere Reserves The international network of biosphere reserves has just approved 18 new sites, including two new biosphere reserves for Canada. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced on September 20 that the Bay of Fundy (New Brunswick) and Manicouagan – Uapishka (Quebec) have been designated world biosphere reserves, bringing the Canadian network up to 15 in eight different provinces and giving the world over 500 of these special places for balancing humans in their natural environment.