Proposed Fundy Biosphere Initiative has a New Brunswick Focus
The Fundy Biosphere Initiative planning group is pressing ahead to eventually have a site established in the vicinity of the upper Bay of Fundy. However, the proposed area has been scaled back from the originally proposed site. It had been originally proposed to include all of the area in the upper bay region transcending both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The size of the area and the complexity of issues in the area on all fronts proved to be a daunting task for the volunteer-planning group. So it was decided by the planning group to initiate the project on the New Brunswick side of the upper Bay of Fundy for the time being and take a longer-term view to including additional areas as support and experience grows. A map of the currently proposed area is shown in Fig. 1, it includes the coastal marine environment in the area as well as the watershed that drain into that part of the Bay. This area is rich in cultural history, being the site of some of the earliest settlement by the French and English in eastern North America. The Miq’ ma people in the area are trying hard to preserve their culture and many of the historic communities are still striving to be economically viable. The bay is also famous for its high tides, geological formations and its mixed wood Acadian Forest. Due to past resource utilization practices and landscape some species and ecosystem processes have come under stress. The biosphere initiative will work toward enhancing the balance between the natural and human ecosystems. There are presently many creditable sustainable development efforts on going in each of the resource sectors within this area and rather than compete with those efforts the proposed biosphere will provide a form for communication and sharing of information between the various resource sectors involved in the area such as forestry, fisheries, agriculture, and tourism. The biosphere will also offer the potential to further involve communities and interest groups with recourse managers, scientist, and policy makers. Which is expected to result in a more inclusive approach to resource management in the area that will ensure the availability of resources for future generations so they can enjoy a healthy environment and a means to make a livelihood in the area.

Current Status of the Organization and Planning Process
Most member of the original planning group are still active in the initiative, however the group has been enhanced by additional members from New Brunswick. Dr. Liette Vasseur, Chair of Sustainability, University of Moncton has agreed to take on the position of interim Chair until such time that a general Stakeholders meeting can be held to hold elections for the organization’s executive. Representatives from economic development commissions, planning districts, universities in the region, government departments, and local community groups will be involved in drafting a strategy outline to take to the communities in the region in the near future for discussion, modification and eventual acceptance. Peter Etheridge who is serving as executive director is carrying out the coordination of activities.

The planning group is currently in the process of; enhancing awareness, fund raising and evolving the strategy plan for discussion by the stakeholders. Thus far there the interest and enthusiasm for the proposed project is high. Some Funding has already been obtained from the province of New Brunswick to carry out these organizational processes and additional funds are being sought from various agencies to initiate project and communications activities. One such project underway is a collaborative effort between the Fundy Biosphere Initiative and the Atlantic Salmon Recovery Team. The biosphere initiative will work with the various agencies involved to develop a communications strategy for this restoration project. The planning group is also involved in seeking funds to have in having a socio-economic assessment done for the proposed area.

Outlook for the longer Term
The planning committee understands that the process is approaching a critical point in its development and if it is going succeed then it must have buy-in from communities and local community organizations. The tactic is to address the socio-economic interests of the region first and determine how the biosphere initiative may assist in working with local people to address their interests and concerns for maintaining and enhancing their sources of income. The opportunities within the area of sustainable ecotourism figures prominently in this approach. Sustainability will be stressed throughout the organization process and within all resource sectors and a continuous effort will be made to link sustainable socio-economic structures with healthily terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

In the next year to eighteen months database construction and compilation will form a major part of the project’s long term planning approach. Once the database is in place various analyses and interpretation exercises will help describe to communities and resource managers why we have the landscape we have today and present the possibility to predict what the future landscapes will look like. And indicate that how this may effect the long term sustainability of societies and ecosystems in the area.

The proposed Fundy Biosphere Initiative looks forward to working with and sharing information with other biosphere sites and drawing on their experiences.

The Fundy Biosphere Initiative is continuing in development phase; the partnership is steadily being built, a strategy plan is being developed and information is being gathered to aid n the development of proposal to be submitted to UNESCO for designation as world biosphere site. The planning committee is in the process engaging communities, resource sectors, government departments, economic development agencies, universities, conservation groups, and businesses within the proposed area through a series of personnel contacts and information meetings with larger groups where it can be organized. We are making them aware of the progress to date and by encouraging municipalities and community groups to participate in the planning process and to participate in deciding on the activities that will take place in the biosphere initiative. The rate of progress has been influenced by the availability of operational funds, resources, and the amount of volunteer effort that has gone into the process to date. At present there are thirteen active biosphere sites in Canada and several more are in various stages of development and each has taken any where from six to nine years to develop before designation was achieved.

The highlight activities of this past summer and fall are as follows;

• The stakeholder group and a interim steering committee have been restructured in New Brunswick. Dr. Liette Vasseur of the University of Moncton is the interim chair of the group.
• A bilingual terms of reference is being structured with the assistance of the University of Moncton.
• The Fundy Biosphere initiative has become incorporated in New Brunswick and is presently seeking charitable organization status.
• Meetings and information sessions have been held with various municipalities, government departments, interest groups and resource managers.
• The director attended the Canadian Biosphere Reserve Association meeting held in Manitoba in June, that resulted valuable contacts being made, pertinent information being gathered and collaborative prospects being developed.
• The first general stakeholder meeting was held on July 3^rd at the University of Moncton. There were more than 40 organizations represented at the meeting. There was an good expression of support for the proposal to establish a UNESCO biosphere site on the Upper Bay of Fundy and there was a conditional acceptance of a terms a set of values, goals and objectives pending formalization and a review at the next general stakeholders meeting planned for early 2004.
• Foundational information on both the biophysical and the socio-economic aspects of the proposed area are being colleted. Two working groups have been struck to guide these processes and to search out appropriate databases. This foundational information, along with the development of a well networked stakeholder group will form the basis of the proposal that will be submitted to UNESCO, possibly in 2004, pending the availability of personnel and resources to complete the process.
• A moderate degree of success has been achieved in the fund raising efforts to date. The NB Environmental Trust Fund has awarded Twenty thousand and ten thousand has been awarded by Fundy National Park. Fund raising efforts are continuing to support; the development of a natural resources compendium for the proposed area, development of a socio-economic profile for the area, development of communications materials, and for the completion of the UNESCO proposal. A fund raising committee is to be struck as a subcommittee to the steering committee in the near future to assist in this process.
• A proposal is being developed to assess the needs, issues, and potential for the development of a sustainable tourism strategy within the context of the UNESCO biosphere site for the proposed area.

• Formalize the governance structure through a process of nominations and elections at the next general stakeholders meeting to be held in early 2004.
• Continue with a series of community meetings within the proposed area to increase awareness of the proposed biosphère project and to generate support, as well as, meeting with key policy makers, resource sectors, educators, and business people in the area.
• Continue with proposal development and fund raising efforts in an effort to secure an operational budget.
• Continue work on the natural resources compendium and the socio-economic assessment for the area.
• Continue to network with and develop collaborative strategies with interested organizations within the region, nationally and in New England.
• To lend support to and participate in meeting, conferences and workshops that present opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Notes prepared by Peter Etheridge, Director Fundy Biosphere Initiative

Report to Bay of Fundy Environmental Partnership Steering Committee
On the Progress of the Bay of Fundy Biosphere Initiative
January 30, 2004

The Fundy Biosphere Initiative is continuing in development phase; the partnership is steadily being built, a strategy plan is being developed and information is being gathered to aid n the development of proposal to be submitted to UNESCO for designation as world biosphere site. The planning committee is in the process engaging communities, resource sectors, government departments, economic development agencies, universities, conservation groups, and businesses within the proposed area through a series of personnel contacts and information meetings with larger groups where it can be organized. We are making them aware of the progress to date and by encouraging municipalities and community groups to participate in the planning process and to participate in deciding on the activities that will take place in the biosphere initiative. The rate of progress has been influenced by the availability of operational funds, resources, and the amount of volunteer effort that has gone into the process to date. At present there are thirteen active biosphere sites in Canada and several more are in various stages of development and each has taken any where from six to nine years to develop before designation was achieved.

The highlight activities of this past summer and fall are as follows;

• The stakeholder group and a interim steering committee have been restructured in New Brunswick. Dr. Liette Vasseur of the University of Moncton is the interim chair of the group.
• A bilingual terms of reference is being structured with the assistance of the University of Moncton.
• The Fundy Biosphere initiative has become incorporated in New Brunswick and is presently seeking charitable organization status.
• Meetings and information sessions have been held with various municipalities, government departments, interest groups and resource managers.
• The director attended the Canadian Biosphere Reserve Association meeting held in Manitoba in June, that resulted valuable contacts being made, pertinent information being gathered and collaborative prospects being developed.

• The first general stakeholder meeting was held on July 3^rd at the University of Moncton. There were more than 40 organizations represented at the meeting. There was an good expression of support for the proposal to establish a UNESCO biosphere site on the Upper Bay of Fundy and there was a conditional acceptance of a terms a set of values, goals and objectives pending formalization and a review at the next general stakeholders meeting planned for early 2004.
• Foundational information on both the biophysical and the socio-economic aspects of the proposed area are being colleted. Two working groups have been struck to guide these processes and to search out appropriate databases. This foundational information, along with the development of a well networked stakeholder group will form the basis of the proposal that will be submitted to UNESCO, possibly in 2004, pending the availability of personnel and resources to complete the process.
• A moderate degree of success has been achieved in the fund raising efforts to date. The NB Environmental Trust Fund has awarded Twenty thousand and ten thousand has been awarded by Fundy National Park. Fund raising efforts are continuing to support; the development of a natural resources compendium for the proposed area, development of a socio-economic profile for the area, development of communications materials, and for the completion of the UNESCO proposal. A fund raising committee is to be struck as a subcommittee to the steering committee in the near future to assist in this process.
• A proposal is being developed to assess the needs, issues, and potential for the development of a sustainable tourism strategy within the context of the UNESCO biosphere site for the proposed area.
• In cooperation with the Inner Bay of Fundy Atlantic Salmon Recovery Team the BoFBI in association with Tom Young and Group will compete an public awareness and communications strategy for the project. This will include bilingual brochures, news releases and a classroom interpretation program.

• Formalize the governance structure through a process of nominations and elections at the next general stakeholders meeting to be held in early 2004.
• Continue with a series of community meetings within the proposed area to increase awareness of the proposed biosphère project and to generate support, as well as, meeting with key policy makers, resource sectors, educators, and business people in the area.
• Continue with proposal development and fund raising efforts in an effort to secure an operational budget.
• Continue work on the natural resources compendium and the socio-economic assessment for the area.
• Continue to network with and develop collaborative strategies with interested organizations within the region, nationally and in New England.
• To lend support to and participate in meeting, conferences and workshops that present opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Notes prepared by: Peter Etheridge, Director Fundy Biosphere Initiative

 As  you  are  aware  the  FBR  hosted  a  news  conference  on  November  8 th  at  the  University  of  Moncton  to  announce  the  formal  initiation  of  the  project. The  meeting  was  well  attended  with  a  good  cross  sectional  representation  of  stakeholders, and  the  media  was  also  well  represented. Mr. Roland  Hache’, Minister, NB  Department  of  Environment  was  in  attendance  and  he  provided  some  very  well  received  words  of  encouragement  for  the  stakeholder  group  and  indicated  the  provincial  government’s  support  for  the  project. In  addition  he  presented  the  FBR  with  a  check  for  $30k  for  the  balance  of  the  fiscal  year. The  FBR  Chair, Dr. Yves  Gagnon  gave  an  overview  of  the  project  and  the  UNESCO  Man  and  Biosphere  program, Peter  Etheridge  gave  some  background  on  the  history  of  the  development  of  the  project. Mr. Frank  Tenhave, Executive  Director  of  the  Enterprise  Fundy  gave  some  insight  as  to  the  social  and  economic  importance  of  the  UNESCO  designation  for  the  region  and  it  potential  for  further  development  of  sustainable  businesses  in  the  region. The  event  was  very  effectively  presided  over  by  the  master  of  ceremonies  Mr. Sandy  Burnett, a  founding  stakeholder  member  that  has  help  guide  the  project  from  the  start.   

There  is  a  short  article  and  picture  on  the  NB  Department  of  Environment  Website  at : 
http://www1.gnb.ca/cnb/multimedia/display-f.asp?ID=1263&num=1
The  was  also  an  article  in  the  Moncton  Times  Transcript  on  November  9 th , which  is  attached. In  addition, we  are  glad  to  inform  you  that  we  now  have  a  website  up  and  running  thanks  to  the  technical  staff  at  the  University  of  Moncton, the  address  is  
http://www.fundy-biosphere.ca/  In  the  future  news  notes  such  as  this  one  will  also be  posted  there.