The BoFEP Ecotourism Working Group has also
been cooperating with
other partners in a project seeking to have the Bay of Fundy designated a
UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The following is a brief update on this project.
For additional details contact the Working Group
Chair.
The Bay of Fundy Biosphere
Reserve Project
Update of Activities May 29, 2000
Biosphere reserves are established through a UNESCO program to promote and
demonstrate a balanced relationship between humans and nature. Through coordination and
cooperation at a local level, biosphere reserves provide a framework for communities,
resource users, ecosystem scientists, government and other interested stakeholders to
foster community sustainability and ecosystem protection.
Initial Meeting
A number of stakeholders were invited to an initial meeting on March 23, 2000, in
Sackville, New Brunswick to discuss the potential for a biosphere reserve project in the
Bay of Fundy. A discussion paper, Exploring the Bay of Fundy’s Potential as a
Biosphere Reserve, included in this update, was prepared by Resource Management
Associates (with financial support from the Bay of Fundy Product Club) in March, 2000 and
distributed to participants prior to this meeting. Participants discussed three main
topics: the biosphere reserve concept, objectives and process, and options for a Bay of
Fundy biosphere reserve. Tom Young described the biosphere reserve program and how it
could be used to identify long-term processes for conservation and sustainability of the
Bay of Fundy ecosystem, noting benefits of biosphere reserves to communities, research,
tourism and opportunity to increase awareness of Bay of Fundy issues. Leif Helmer, who
previously worked on a biosphere reserve project in the Thousand Islands in Ontario,
described research and activities in Canadian biosphere reserves and stressed the
importance of community involvement and support in biosphere reserve projects.
Objectives for a Bay of Fundy biosphere reserve proposed in the discussion paper
were modified and a vision statement was included to reflect input at the meeting . At the
meeting it was generally agreed that ecosystem conservation should be a priority for a Bay
of Fundy biosphere reserve, recognizing that an ecologically healthy Bay is necessary to
sustain communities, tourism and other industries in the region. Participants expressed
that the biosphere reserve program is appealing for this region for several reasons. It
would stimulate discussion and engage the public in the many issues relating to the Bay of
Fundy; promote community input; provide opportunities for education and awareness of the
Bay of Fundy; facilitate a conservation strategy for the Bay; encourage inter-agency
cooperation; promote sustainability and stewardship of private land and coastal areas; and
provide links between terrestrial and coastal areas.
Discussion on the shape and form of a Bay of Fundy biosphere reserve included
the challenges of defining zones, potential core area linkages, watershed boundaries, and
the ecological function of potential core sites and their contribution to the overall
integrity of the Bay. It was suggested that both provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick)
should be involved in the project, and that the entire Bay of Fundy could be included in
the biosphere reserve (and identified in the vision statement), with efforts focused on
local areas, habitats and species of concern. Participants expressed the importance of
considering the biological significance of areas such as the intertidal zone, the upper
basins (Bay of Chignecto, Minas Basin) and Passamaquoddy Bay (and islands) in defining the
geographic area of the biosphere reserve. The map of protected/conservation areas in the
Bay of Fundy (attached) has been updated to include the Musquash Estuary "Area of
Interest" (Department of Fisheries and Oceans Marine Protected Areas Program) and
Loch Alva and Caledonia Gorge candidate protected areas (New Brunswick protected areas
program).
Next Steps
Initial interest and feedback from the meeting and from Jim Birtch of the Canadian
Biosphere Reserves Association (CBRA) has been encouraging, therefore we plan to continue
the Bay of Fundy Biosphere Reserve project. As the next step, we are proposing an outreach
and consultation phase (see attached workplan) which will include preliminary meetings
with key stakeholder groups in the region. The goal of this phase will be to provide
groups with information on the biosphere reserve program, identify critical sustainability
issues and invite groups to join the project if they so wish. These groups will include
but not be restricted to the Fisheries Council, Parks Canada, the Minas Basin Project,
research agencies such as the Huntsman Marine Science Centre, and naturalist and
conservation groups such as the Conservation Council of New Brunswick. A meeting will also
be held with CBRA, the organization responsible for forwarding nominations to the Man and
the Biosphere (MAB) committee of UNESCO. Ongoing consultation with the biosphere reserve
working group will continue and informal membership in this group may change based on
stakeholder interest. Resource Management Associates will pursue possible funding sources
for the Bay of Fundy biosphere reserve project and will continue to obtain information on
other biosphere reserves including consultation processes, zoning, and marine and coastal
issues.
Proposed Vision and Objectives
for a Bay of Fundy Biosphere Reserve (Revised April 28, 2000)
Vision:
It is proposed that a biosphere reserve be established in the Bay of Fundy in
recognition of this unique and significant natural region and the responsibility to
conserve this environment. A biosphere reserve will seek to balance conservation of
natural ecosystems, natural processes and biological diversity with sustainability of
resources and communities of the Bay of Fundy. The biosphere reserve initiative will be in
partnership with individuals, businesses and organizations in the Bay of Fundy region. The
biosphere reserve will be implemented only with community support.
Objective 1: To conserve the natural environment of the Bay of
Fundy and sustain the communities that utilize the natural resources of the Bay of Fundy.
Objective 2: Regarding the health, fragility and sustainability of
the diverse, natural ecosystems of the Bay of Fundy, to provide a common reference and
focus for the interests of the scientific community, including research and monitoring of
human-caused stresses and development of indicators of ecological, social and economic
sustainability.
Objective 3: To promote education, training, communication and
stewardship regarding the sustainability and uniqueness of the Bay of Fundy and its
coastal communities.
Objective 4: To provide an opportunity for all interested
stakeholders to cooperatively develop a long term strategy for sustainability of coastal
communities and conservation of biological diversity, with a focus on unique natural
regions, unique habitats and species at risk.
Note: Activities related to the Biosphere Reserve
have now been assumed by a newly created Biosphere Reserve Working Group.
Ecotourism Working Group
Update Report - January 21, 2003
Tom Young, Chair
There are two activities that have been
ongoing:
1) The sustainable tourism study by Sheri Faulkner-Jackson.
Sheri is working on a sustainable tourism model and is basing her study on
the community of Dorchester. She is currently working on a survey
of stakeholders related to this region. I hope
she will have a draft paper by May this year.
She may also be able to present the study at the next BoFEP
symposium.
2) A sustainable tourism workshop
planned for May 2003.
I have proposed to the Bay of Fundy Tourism
Partnership that they proceed with the
Sustainable tourism workshop in conjunction with the spring
conference for Bay of Fundy Tourism operators planned for Wolfville
Nova Scotia. The conference will be largely
industry-focused and will set the ground work
for 2 follow-up steps: i) a sustainable tourism accord that will
lead to guidelines for participants who qualify for the Bay of
Fundy quality assurance program. ii) a proposed
environmental audit program for Bay of Fundy
tourism operators. A preliminary outline of the conference is
attached. If there are any suggestions or ideas, please contact me.
We are just getting into the planning process.
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