the beaver hills · pdf filethe beaver hills biosphere . ... (3 levels) academia/ research ....

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Dr. Guy Swinnerton: Professor Emeritus University of Alberta

Chair BHI Protected Areas Working Group

Glen Lawrence: Chair Beaver Hills Initiative

North Saskatchewan Watershed Alliance (NSWA)

Educational Forum

Strathcona Community Center: April 28, 2016

www.beaverhills.ca

The Beaver Hills Biosphere International Recognition for a Special Region

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Designated on March 19, 2016 by the International Co-ordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Programme

Presentation Outline

www.beaverhills.ca 3

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

The Beaver Hills Biosphere

Meeting the nomination criteria

Designation and future prospects

Questions

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

• Through regional collaboration, the Beaver Hills is a resilient landscape that is capable of sustaining natural and cultural resources for current and future generations and where people live, work and play in harmony with nature.

Our Mission

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


BHI: Guiding Principles Open Collaboration

Partners promote the BHI vision in their policies, plans and actions

Partners understand their roles in contributing to the environmental, social, economic and cultural wellbeing of the Beaver Hills region.

Inclusive Engagement Ensure success and support through community participation,

education, involvement, and information sharing.

Respect the diversity of perspectives within the Beaver Hills region.

Shared Knowledge Strive for a common level of knowledge that can be shared among all

partners and stakeholders, enabling informed regional decision making supported by common understanding

Demonstrate excellence in biodiversity conservation and facilitate sustainable development practices so that people can live, work and play in harmony with nature.

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BHI Partners - 2016

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 CPAWS Dark Sky Preserve

Indigenous Peoples

Local communities

The Public

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BHI Members Involved in Conservation Stewardship

BOARD

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

FISCAL AGENT

WORKING GROUPS

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

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BHI Benefits: Growing Recognition for the

Work of the BHI and the Overall Significance of the Area

EINP: global recognition of species at risk conservation

Alberta Minister’s Award for Municipal Excellence (2005)

Alberta Emerald Award Finalist (2005, 2007,2016)

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

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

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www.beaverhills.ca

• Why?

• The “place” exhibits the potential for realizing the benefits of becoming a Biosphere Reserve

• Vision and mission of BHI mirrors the Biosphere programme

• BHI has demonstrated the advantages of applying research science and local knowledge to conservation, land use planning, and sustainable development

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 (2016): 669 Biosphere Reserves

in 120 countries including 16 trans-boundary sites involving 23 different countries.

• 18 Biosphere Reserves in Canada


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

Canadian Biosphere Reserves

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17 - Beaver Hills (2016) 18 – Tsá-Tué (NWT), (2016)


UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Programme: 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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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

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:

Zones as % of Beaver Hills Biosphere area

or z core(s) (legally constituted): 13.6%

buffer zone(s): 61.5%

outer transition area(s): 24.9%



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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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 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(s)” 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 Indigenous Rights, jurisdictional authorities, existing or new regulations, or on the regulatory authorities that develop and enforce such regulations


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Designated on March 19, 2016 by UNESCO’s International Co-ordinating Council - Man and Biosphere Programme

www.beaverhills.ca

• What does designation mean?

• International accolade and 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

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Future Directions and Priorities

MAB Strategy 2015-2025 Lima Action Plan 2016-2025

MAB Strategy 2015-2025

Vision: A world where people are conscious of their common future and interaction with our planet, and act collectively and responsibly to build thriving societies in harmony within the biosphere. The MAB Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR) serve this mission within and outside biosphere reserves.

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Future Directions and Priorities

MAB Strategy 2015-2025: Strategic Objectives

1. Conserve Biodiversity, Restore and Enhance Ecosystem Services and Foster the Sustainable Use of Natural resources. 2. Contribute to Building Sustainable, Healthy and Equitable Societies, Economies and Thriving Human Settlements 3. Facilitate Sustainability Science and Education for Sustainable Development 4. Support Mitigation and Adaptation and Climate Change and other aspects of Global Environmental Change

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BHI Strategic Plan 2016-2019

Focus Area 1: Healthy Environments Goal: Maintain the ecological integrity and landscape character of the Beaver Hills

Focus Area 2: Healthy Communities Goal: Ensure that the Beaver Hills ecosystem is a foundation for economically, environmentally and socially healthy communities Focus Area 3: Capacity Building Goal: Knowledge and pride of the Beaver Hills will be shared throughout the broader region and the global biosphere network

Focus Area 4: Climate Change Goal: Ensure planning within the Beaver Hills will include consideration of potential impacts from, and contributions towards, global climate change

Thank you!

For further information please contact

Brenda Wispinski, Executive Director, BHI

[email protected]
