the beaver hills biosphere nomination · presenting the case for the beaver hills biosphere ......

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Dr. Guy Swinnerton, Professor Emeritus University of Alberta

Chair BHI Protected Areas Working Group

Victoria, BC

April 23, 2015

www.beaverhills.ca

The Beaver Hills Biosphere Nomination: Guidelines for preparing and submitting a

biosphere reserve nomination

Presentation Outline

www.beaverhills.ca 2

The Beaver Hills

Regional location – geopolitical and landscape

The Beaver Hills Initiative

Evolution, vision and mission

Achievements

Biosphere Reserves

MAB programme and the nomination process

Presenting the case for the Beaver Hills Biosphere

Preparing the nomination form

Meeting the nomination criteria

Closing comments

The location of the Beaver Hills in relation to the five local municipal government authorities

8.5% 5.3%

7.9% 4.6%

43.9% 55.2%

12.1% 100.0%

19.8% 8.7%

7.8% 3.4%

Key

% % of Beaver Hills area by County

% Beaver Hills as % of County area

Beaver Hills Moraine


Beaver Hills Moraine


EINP

MLGBS

MLPP

CLBPRA

Beaver Hills Initiative

• Catalyst – 2000: Proposed development in proximity to Elk Island National Park

• Recognition of the need to develop a collaborative strategy that would develop a proactive and long term approach to land-use planning within the Beaver Hills Moraine

• BHI – 2002: Stakeholder workshop results in a vision and mission statement and partner commitments


BHI: Vision & Mission

Our Vision

• The Beaver Hills Initiative values the region for its natural beauty, quality of life, and supports co-operative efforts to sustain quality of water, land, air, natural resources and community development

Our Mission

• Working together for a sustainable region, through shared initiatives and coordinated action


Beaver Hills Initiative: Working Together

Authority for decision-making rests with each municipality.

BHI does NOT make decisions for the municipalities or any of the other partners.

BHI acts in a supporting role by providing science-based information and a “tool box” to decision makers.

Cooperation and teamwork is key.

Recognition of the varied skill sets and expertise of all partners.

Leverage in-kind expertise, resources and grant funding.

BHI Partners - 2015

Government

(3 levels)

Academia/ Research

Industry

NGOs

4 Counties 4 Provincial Depts. 2 Federal (including EINP)

University of Alberta (Main & Augustana Campus) Alberta Innovates Technology Futures

Fort Air Partnership Strathcona Industrial Association

10 Groups: DUC AFG NCC NSWA BH Dark Sky Preserve …

Local communities

The Public

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BOARD

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

FISCAL AGENT

WORKING GROUPS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

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BHI Organizational Chart

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BHI Sources of Funding Partner Funding 2014

• $136,243.50

• Strathcona, Beaver, Lamont Counties

(Covers operational costs)

Grant Funding for projects and research 2002-2014

• $1.0 million

• Alberta Municipal Affairs, Elk Island National Park,

Ag Canada, Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation,

Carthy Foundation, Williams Energy

In-kind support 2002-2014

• $1.5 million

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BHI Benefits Member Recognition

EINP: species at risk conservation

Alberta Minister’s Award for Municipal Excellence (2005)

Alberta Emerald Award Finalist (2005, 2007)

Provincial, national, and international conferences (ICLEI -2009, ISSRM-2012)

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) case study area for ‘collective action’ (2011)

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BHI Benefits Specific Outcomes

Sustainable Land Management Application of science-based information to strategic

and site-specific land-use planning (LMF)

Transfer of Development Credits (TDC) Model

Diversification of economic opportunity – Sustainable Tourism (TDOA)

Collaboration capacity Miquelon Growth Management Plan

Protected Areas Cooperation Plan

Miquelon Lake Research Station

Public – private collaboration Stewardship Engagement Strategy

Mesocarnivore Project

Golden Ranches Conservation Site

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www.beaverhills.ca

• Why?

• The conditions of the “place” favour the potential realization of the benefits of becoming a Biosphere Reserve

• Vision and mission of BHI mirrors Biosphere programme

• BHI has allowed us to link research science with applied conservation and land use planning

BHI Biosphere

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UNESCO Biosphere Reserves

• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Man and Biosphere Programme (MAB) • Biosphere Reserves are the only global

designation or accreditation for an area demonstrating excellence in sustainable development in practice.

• Global network: 631 Biosphere Reserves in

119 countries (16 in Canada) 14 Trans-boundary Biosphere Reserves

involving 23 countries.


2008

A coordinated World Network of Biosphere Reserves integrating

humans and nature to foster sustainable development through participation, well-being, cultural

values, and society’s capacity to cope with change

Man & Biosphere (MAB) Programme Vision Statement

Biosphere Reserves: Structure & Function

Three inter-connected functions 1. Conservation: landscapes,

ecosystems, species & genetic variation, cultural diversity and heritage

2. Logistic support: (Capacity

building) research, monitoring, education, training, information exchange and demonstration projects

3. Development: socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable economic and human development

Demonstrating sustainable development:

Living and working in harmony with people and nature

Adapted from Bullock (2007)

Core

Buffer

Transition

Biosphere Reserves Conceptual Representation


Lived-in and working landscape

Zone of cooperation


Biosphere Reserves constitute a network of world class places for people and nature

Canadian Biosphere Reserves

Typical Governance Structure for a Biosphere Reserve

Working Groups

Secretariat & Coordinating

team

Executive Group

Biodiversity

Economy

Society

Research

Others ?

Community and

Environment Biosphere Reserve Board

Local community engagement and representation

Source: Adapted from Bell, Bolomey & Courtney (2013)

Sustainable development:

Living and working in harmony with people

and nature

Promoting local & regional

economies

Research/science

management & local knowledge

Promoting biodiversity &

cultural heritage

Inter- agency & inter - jurisdictional

cooperation

Active involvement of local & regional

communities

Promoting international

cooperation & networking

Promoting environmental education and stewardship

International recognition as a

unique brand

Biosphere Benefits

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UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Organizational Structure

MAB ICC (UNESCO)

IACBR (UNESCO)

Canadian Commission for UNESCO

Euro MAB

Canada MAB (advisory)

CBRA (advocacy)

MAB ICC – MAB governing body, the International Co-ordinating Council IACBR – International Advisory Committee for Biosphere Reserves CBRA - Canadian Biosphere Reserve Association

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Biosphere Reserves: Designation Procedure 1. Biosphere reserves are designated for inclusion in the Network by the International

Co-ordinating Council (ICC) of the MAB programme in accordance with the following procedure:

a) States, through National MAB Committees where appropriate, forward nominations

with supporting documentation to the secretariat after having reviewed potential sites, taking into account the criteria as defined in Article 4;

b) the secretariat verifies the content and supporting documentation: in the case of

incomplete nomination, the secretariat requests the missing information from the nominating State;

c) nominations will be considered by the Advisory Committee for Biosphere Reserves for

recommendation to ICC; d) ICC of the MAB programme takes a decision on nominations for designation. The Director-General of UNESCO notifies the State concerned of the decision of ICC .

MAB Programme Key Documents


The Seville Strategy (1995) and the Statutory Framework of the World Network

The Madrid Action Plan for Biosphere Reserves (2008 – 2013) Climate change

Provision of ecosystem services

Urbanization as a principal driver for ecosystem-wide-pressures

The MAB Strategy 2015‐2025 (draft) 1. Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, ecosystem

services and natural resources

2. Support climate change mitigation and adaptation action

3. Promote the development and applications of sustainability science

4. Contribute to building green economies, societies and human settlements

Biosphere Reserve Criteria

1. Encompasses a mosaic of ecological systems representative of major bio-geographic regions, including a gradation of human interventions.


Dry Mixedwood Boreal Forest

Central Aspen Parkland

Beaver Hills


2. Should be of significance for biological diversity conservation.



3. Provide an opportunity to explore and demonstrate approaches to sustainable development at a regional scale.



4. An appropriate size to serve the three functions of biosphere reserves: (1) conservation (2) development (3) logistic support



5. Include the three functions – conservation, development, and logistic support – through appropriate zonation:

core: legally constituted

buffer zone or zones

outer transition area



6. Organizational arrangements are in place for the involvement and participation of a suitable range of public authorities, local communities, and private interests in the design and carrying out the functions of the Biosphere Reserve

Biosphere Reserve Criteria Biosphere Reserve Criteria

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7. Provision should be made for:

a) Mechanisms to manage human use and activities in the buffer zone or zones

b) Management policy or plan for the area as a biosphere reserve

c) Designated authority or mechanism to implement this policy or plan

d) Programs for research, monitoring, education and training

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Biosphere Reserve Designation Clarifying Issues of Authority

A Biosphere Reserve will not own or manage land. It will not buy land nor will it have the authority to expropriate property. Lands in the “core area” are normally already owned by Federal or Provincial agencies

The rights of property owners to manage their lands are not affected by Biosphere Reserve designation. The Biosphere Reserve designation has no impact on Aboriginal Rights, jurisdictional authorities, existing or new regulations, or on the regulatory authorities that develop and enforce such regulations


Biosphere Reserve Nomination Form: Table of Contents February 2004

Part I: Summary 1. Proposed name of the Biosphere Reserve

2. Country

3. Fulfillment of the three functions of BRs

4. Criteria for designation as a BR

5. Endorsements

Part II: Description

6. Location

7. Area

8. Biogeographical region

9. Land use history

10. Human population of proposed BR

11. Physical characteristics

12. Biological characteristics

13. Conservation function

14. Development function

15. Logistic support function

16. Use and activities

17. Institutional aspects

18. Special designations

19. Supporting documents

20. Addresses

January 2013

Part I: Summary 1. Proposed name of the Biosphere Reserve

2. Name of the Country

3. Fulfillment of the three functions of BRs

4. Criteria for designation of a BR

5. Endorsements

Part II: Description

6. Location

7. Area

8. Biogeographical region

9. Land Use

10. Human population of the proposed BR

11. Biophysical characteristics

12. Ecosystem services

13. Main objectives for the BR designation

14. Conservation function

15. Development function

16. Logistic support function

17. Governance, BR management and coordination

18. Special designation

19. Supporting documents

20. Addresses

Schematic Process for Completing a Biosphere Reserve Nomination Form

Governance and adaptive management

Core

Buffer

Transition

Strategy Impact Analysis Zones

Conservation

Development

Logistics/ Knowledge

Summary

Value statements

Land-use &

Socio-economic status,

Cultural diversity

& Bio-physical Ecosystem

Services

Factual

Description

Source: Adapted from Bell, Bolomey & Courtney (2013)

2012 Nomination

Overall positive feedback from the Canadian Commission for UNESCO

“We encourage the continued regional efforts that embrace a vision of sustainable development.”

“Impressive accomplishments and strong potential to become an

outstanding Biosphere Reserve.”

Following to be addressed with resubmission:

1) First Nations engagement and Treaties honored

2) General public and citizen engagement

3) Clear explanation of why we want to become a UNESCO Biosphere


2015 Resubmission

Change of emphasis in criteria

Demonstrate how we’ve addressed the initial submission comments:

1) Develop and implement an Aboriginal Strategy

2) Develop and implement a Communications and Public Involvement Strategy

3) Clearly explain and demonstrate the values and inspirational forces driving the local willingness to become a UNESCO Biosphere

Nomination document to be submitted to the Canadian Commission for UNESCO by May 31, 2015



Aboriginal Engagement Strategy

Establishing a dialogue with the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations

Establishing a dialogue with the Métis Nation of Alberta

Overall purpose of the dialogue: Acknowledge the cultural significance of the Beaver Hills

for Aboriginal Peoples in the nomination document Incorporating indigenous knowledge and understanding of

this landscape in the on-going work of the BHI Working cooperatively on activities of mutual interest, to

ensure that First Nations and Métis connections to this landscape are maintained and explained

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Communications and Public Engagement Strategy


Broad based media strategy

Use of the website and social media as BHI portals for public involvement

Deliberate outreach and public involvement


More than 25 presentations to county, city and town councils, NGOs, volunteer organizations and conferences

More than 60 Letters of support

More than 800 “hits” on the website

Support for the Beaver Hills Nomination


Case Studies of Collaborative Benefits resulting from the BHI and Future Benefits of Becoming a Biosphere Reserve

Mesocarnivore Project Biodiversity Trail

Golden Ranches International Snow Day:

Bioblitz

Revised LMF: 2015 State of the Beaver Hills

Reporting

Environmental Reserve Mapping Project

“MindFuel” Project

Miquelon Lake Research Station

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Biosphere Benefits

Biosphere Benefits

Fosters the region’s environmental,

economic, and social sustainability.

Expands the capacity of residents and

local communities to direct their future.

Provides a “brand name” to improve and

diversify the local economy.

Gains access to information and support

through national and international

networks.

Attracts research activity that addresses

local & global issues.

Increases national and international

recognition.


www.beaverhills.ca

• What if we’re successful?

• International recognition of the commitment and success of the BHI in applying innovative approaches to sustainable development and addressing environmental global issues.

• Contribute to and benefit from being a member of a globally recognized network of Biosphere Reserves.

BHI Biosphere

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Local Global

www.beaverhills.ca

• How can you help?

• www.beaverhills.ca

• Letter of Support

• Endorsement

• Join a Working Group!

• Be a Board Member!

• Be an Ambassador

and inspire others

BHI Biosphere

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http://www.beaverhills.ca/

Community Engagement and Public Awareness

• Partnership is essential

• Takes time, effort, patience and trust

• Need to develop mutual understanding

• Needs commitment

• Needs continued support by partners

• External goals valuable

• Charter rather than strategy

• Community engagement is vital but is only part of the issue

• Need to obtain and maintain public-sector buy-in and support.

• No single tool kit of community engagement – try everything.

• Communities will become engaged and committed if they believe in it.

Source: Nigel Wallace (2013) – Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Reserve, Scotland

By far the most important characteristic is the presence of a group of motivated and capable people, broadly representative of the interests of local society, who believe in the idea. This may be an influential individual, the local council, or a strong and effective partnership of interests.

This suggests that Biosphere Reserves should not be selected and “designated” according to detailed criteria and a top down process. This is bottom-up self selection rather than top down designation,

and has the capacity to positively influence a far greater range of people.

Strong support from local government and local politicians, together with representatives of resource users and a cross-section of the local business and civic community, will be critical to the success of any Biosphere Reserve.

Biosphere Reserves around the world are special places designed to be sites of excellence in sustainable development. Such an accolade adds to the identity of a place that can be turned into a variety of social, economic and environmental benefits for the area and its people.

However, the nomination procedure is a large investment to make, and

therefore before embarking on such a project it is important to know why you wish to do this.

Once a reserve is designated, there are duties and responsibilities, and

the on-going management of the reserve requires the commitment and investment of human and financial resources.

This investment has be considered as being worthwhile to be successful.

Are you Really Committed to Supporting a Biosphere Reserve ?

Thank you!

[email protected]
