Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve – November 13, 2008

Management and Direction Board of Directors – 2008 Ray Frey (Chair) – RM of Park Nick Fiarchuk – RM of Grandview Martin Woodley – RM of Strathclair Dwayne Blackbird – First Nations Daryl Nuestader - member at large Ilse Ketelsen – RM of Rossburn Sandy Walters – member at large John Whitaker (past Chair) – RM of Clanwilliam 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.

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. In 2008 meetings were held April 7, May 22, June 26 and October 13. The next TbSAC meeting is scheduled for December 1, 2008.

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. In total this year we have done 28 different GPS events, workshops and programs. The 3rd Annual Caching Riding Mountain Adventure Quest will be held June 13 & 14, 2009. This is a GPS based, 26-hour race through-out the entire Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve. During the 2008 GPS Adventure Quest there were 75 GPS locations to locate – in tribute to the 75th Anniversary of our core protected area, Riding Mountain National Park. Fifteen of these locations

were activity caches where teams had to participate in various challenges from carding wool at the Fairmount B&B and saddling a horse to ride through a designated route at a Parkland Ranch in Inglis to donning full fireman’s-gear and blowing a steel drum through a course using a fire hose with the Ochre River Fire Department. The remainder of the locations were a variety of cache types from virtual caches where information had to be acquired to barely discernable micro caches and larger containers hidden in plain sight. The weather was not terrific leading up to the Adventure Quest with lots of rain that led to fairly mucky back roads but not one complaint was heard from any of the participants – not even those that had to wait three hours in the early morning hours for a tow truck to extricate them from a mud-bogged road. This event had 65 participants in 15 teams who traveled anywhere from 500 to 1000 km and visited between 30 - 60 locations. During this 26-hour event, approximately $8,000.00 was spent within the communities of the Biosphere Reserve on food, lodgings, gas, art, clothing, tow trucks and the like. This year we will be looking for approximately 50 GPS locations and once again we will be sending out notices to all RMBR members to help find interesting locations to send participants to as well as small or large businesses or organizations that might want to help challenge teams with fun, interesting and hands-on activities.

2008 Caching Riding Mountain Photo Contest This year 1st Prize Winner is Tricia Fisher of Dauphin for her photo entitled “Winds of Time”. This photo is of the weather vane atop the Bethel Church south of Onanole. Tricia received a Garmin Geko 201. Second prize of $75.00 went to Diane Heckl of Winnipeg for her

photo “Serenity” This photo of a moose was taken along highway 10 during one of the family’s animal viewing drives through the area. Third prize of $50.00 went to Luc Gamache of McGregor for his photo entitled “Web by Design. Taken at Lake Audy the early morning fog made this web a wonderful sight. 2007 Manitoba Tourism Award Caching Riding Mountain was chosen as a finalist for the 2007 Manitoba Tourism - Product Development Award. Unfortunately we did not win but it was an honour to be nominated along with the likes of The Manitoba Museum and the winners, recognized for the development of Thompson's major tourism initiative, which includes a walking and biking trail, murals, sculptures and scenic vistas that portray the city's scenery, geology, industry, art, heritage, recreation and culture. The Caching Riding Mountain program was also selected as a finalist for the Parkland Tourism Award – Product Development in which it did win first place.

GPS Workshops, Events, Programs We have delivered 28 different GPS events, workshops and programs. We are working on a pilot project with Riding Mountain National Park to deliver Intro to GPS Basics to Grades 7 and 10 in the region in conjunction with their Intro to GIS interpretive school program this fall. So far we have been to St. Rose du Lac and Dauphin Regional Comprehensive. Scientific Publication – 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. The publication is for sale through Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve and The Nature Shop in Wasagaming. The cost per book is $22.95. Woodlot Management Project – Mountain Side Woodlot Program 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. Upcoming Seminar/Tour:

November 19 and 20 – From the Forest to Your Home – Locally-produced forest products tour. A one hour tour on each of these two days will show how managing your woodlot can not only provide a source of income, but will improve the overall health and biodiversity of your community, as well as sustain water quality. The demonstrations include tree selection, and marking of trees, and sawmilling to maximize profit. Also available for viewing will be a selection of products made from locally harvested wood by local producers.

Parkland Habitat Partnership – Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve administers funds for the Parkland Habitat Partnership projects which sponsor landowner workshops that increase awareness and appreciation for conservation within the RMBR and surrounding area, educational opportunities for youth and survey of the conservation potential of selected private lands between Riding Mountain National Park and Duck Mountain Provincial Park.

Sharla Boychuk has been contracted to assist the PHP in meeting its GIS data needs by acquiring and organizing existing data layers, and by synthesizing new data layers where appropriate. She will produce maps as required for partners and prepare and conduct presentations on the GIS work and attend meetings/workshops when requested.

CBRA National Funding for Canadian Biosphere Reserves Promoting Conservation and Sustainable Economic Development

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has recognized 15 regions in Canada that demonstrate a balanced approach to conservation and economic development. These biosphere reserves are geographical regions in which community-based initiatives protect the natural environment, while ensuring the continued growth of the local economy in an ecologically sustainable way. The Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association is a not-for-profit organization that provides networking and expert support to communities in the designated biosphere reserves. The February 2008 federal budget announced annual funding for CBRA of $1 million per year for 2 years through Environment Canada Neither Environment Canada nor CBRA had any forewarning, so a process to flow the money from the department to the biosphere reserves had to be developed from scratch. Environment Canada will have separate contribution agreements with each of the 14 biosphere reserves (Clayoquot Sound will not share in this funding) and another one for the CBRA Secretariat. A relationship of trust developed over the months and the Department decided to pursue funding for a 5 year period. This has not been finalized however the work plan for each of the biosphere reserves has included this eventuality. Funding should be forthcoming in November however this has not been received as of yet.

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)

Upcoming Nov 15 – GPS Program - Elkhorn Nov 16 – GPS Workshop – Shoal Lake Nov17 – GPS Program – Elkhorn Nov 17 – Value Chains Workshop – Dauphin - MAFRI Nov 19-20 – Mountainside Community Woodland Tours Nov 20 – Buy Local workshop – Carberry - MAFRI Nov 21 – GPS Program - Elkhorn Nov 22 – GPS Program - Elkhorn Nov 23-26 – Regina Agribition – Trade Show Nov 26-28 - Sustainable Development in Education Conference Dec 1 – TbSAC Meeting Dec 03-05 – Conservation Districts Conference Dec 10 – PHP meeting Dec 11 – ASPnet meeting - Rossburn

For more information please contact: Valerie Pankratz, Executive Director Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve Box 232 Onanole, Manitoba R0J 1N0 Phone 204.848.4574 Email rmbr@mts.net