... dedicated to conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable economic development

 
 
Fundy Biosphere Reserve
© Parks Canada 04.40.03.01(36) © Parks Canada 04.40.03.23(01)
  
  • Overview
  • Brief History
  • Functions
  • Zoning
  • Benefits

The Bay of Fundy and its adjacent landscape is unique in its geological formations, terrestrial and marine ecosystems, cultural heritage, and its cross section of rural communities and urban areas. It compares with more than 529 significant landscapes in 108 countries in the world that have been recognized as World UNESCO biosphere sites. The Fundy Biosphere Reserve designation by UNESCO provides not only international recognition for the uniqueness of the upper Bay of Fundy and its culture and history, but in addition emphasizes the importance of conservation and sustainability in the region.

The Fundy Biosphere Reserve is a diverse non-profit group comprised of organizations and individuals that represent local communities, conservation groups, natural resource sectors, tourism organizations and academics. This is a multi-stakeholder process.

The Fundy Biosphere Reserve includes an area of over 430,000 hectares of the upper Bay of Fundy coast, stretching from St. Martins to the Tantramar Marsh near Sackville and inland to Moncton.

Mission: The UNESCO Fundy Biosphere Reserve is dedicated to conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable economic development.

Vision: To create a diverse network of partners and stakeholders who will work to assist communities and resource sectors on the upper Bay of Fundy achieve a greater level of sustainability, while preserving the area’s natural heritage. This will be achieved by focusing on the following:

Conservation

  • To contribute to the knowledge and practices concerning the conservation of ecosystems, species and the natural genetic diversity of the region.

Sustainable Development

  • To foster and promote sustainable development, i.e. development that is ecologically, culturally, economically sustainable across human generations.

Capacity Building

  • Provide a forum for dialogue and information sharing between communities, resource sectors, government agencies and researchers. It will achieve this through strategies that will focus on: outreach, education, monitoring and research.

The objectives are to :

Provide a forum for dialogue and information sharing between communities, resource sectors, government agencies and researchers.

Create a cooperative network of partners who will work to assist communities to achieve greater sustainable development.

Develop a governance model based on Research, Monitoring Education and Outreach Committees.

The Fundy Biosphere Reserve was designated by the United Nations Education Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on September 21, 2007. The conceptualization and development process leading up to this event occurred over a period of eight years. The project was initiated by a group of volunteers in 1999.

The project was named the ‘Fundy Biosphere Reserve Initiative (FBRI)’ and the core group that came together to pursue UNESCO designation was called the ‘Planning Committee’. The committee met at regular intervals to establish the basic concepts and to familiarize themselves with the UNESCO Man and Biosphere program and several other biosphere sites were visited in eastern Canada. The group also became involved with the Canadian Biosphere Reserve Association (CBRA) that also provide valuable information for the formative stages and access to resource materials that helped guide the development of the New Brunswick initiative. Following the development of an initial strategy, the planning committee began its outreach to potential stakeholders that included communities, conservation groups, resource sectors, academic institutions, senior government departments, research and monitoring agencies, policy makers and scientists. The network of cooperating agencies and individuals that was structured is considered to be a major stepping stone that facilitated the eventual achievement of UNESCO Biosphere site designation.

The land area that the planning committee decided to propose for designation is the watersheds and coastal areas that extend from St. Martins through to the Tantramar Marsh that drain into the upper Bay of Fundy. The area is unique in its geological formations, terrestrial and marine ecosystems, cultural heritage, and its cross section of rural communities and urban areas. The area also has many protected, conservation and special management areas that facilitate the land categorization into Core area, Buffers zones and transitional area as required of an UNESCO Biosphere site. See map of the area.

The initial outreach and communication strategy developed by the planning committee emphasized the principles and standards established by UNESCO to guide the establishment and operation of world biosphere sites. Although intended to bring recognition to the world’s special ecosystems, landscapes, heritage, and sustainable development initiatives, a UNESCO designation has the potential to enhance the profile of the area nationally and internationally and assist with sustainable economic development opportunities. And as such, the FBRI presentations and communications noted that among its objectives it would encourage public and private sector investment, attract technical expertise, and enable scientists and resource managers to participate in the development of sustainability strategies.

Throughout the development process the planning committee made a special effort to communicate that the proposed FBRI would work toward fulfilling three complementary and mutually reinforcing functions

  • A conservation function - to contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species, and genetic variation
  • A development function - to foster economic and human development that is socially, culturally and ecologically sustainable.
  • A support function - to provide a framework for research, monitoring, education and information exchange related to issues of conservation and development at all levels, from local to global.

Based on these primary functions, the planning committee evolved its vision for the Fundy Biosphere Reserve and based its UNESCO proposal on:

    • Recognition of a special piece of the Atlantic Canada maritime landscape and the uniqueness of the Bay of Fundy
    • Recognition of the area’s history and its cultural identity in the region and within Canada
    • Recognition of the past and continued commitment of residents, policy makers, resource sectors and scientists to seek continued improvement in intergenerational sustainability

The Nomination document developed by the FBRI planning committee went through several drafts based on the comments of stakeholders, communities, resource groups, policy makers and scientists. The stakeholder group and planning committee struck an interim board of directors in the autumn of 2006 and approval was given to proceed with the nomination process through to the UNESCO international level. The proposal review process included stakeholders, 16 individual communities within the proposed FBR area, five provincial government departments, the UNESCO Canada Commission and a multi-national review committee administered by the UNESCO head office in Paris, France.

The Board of directors submitted the proposal to UNESCO in the summer of 2007 and designation was achieved in the autumn of 2007. A joint news conference was held by the FBR Stakeholder network, the New Brunswick provincial government, represented by the Minister of the Department of Environment, to officially announce the UNESCO designation in November, 2007.  Following which the Board of Directors proceeded to establish a governance model, identify staff and responsibilities, set a short term work plan and plan for a fund raising and communication strategy.

Following official UNESCO designation the project’s official name of the land area recognized became the ‘Fundy Biosphere Reserve’ (FBR) and the organization name became the ‘Fundy Biosphere Reserve Regional Network (FBRRN).

The intent of the Fundy Biosphere Reserve is to provide a forum for dialogue and information sharing between communities, resource sectors, government agencies and researchers. This cooperative network of partners will assist communities in developing a more sustainable way of life based on  a common understanding that healthy economy can only be supported by a healthy environment.

Each Biosphere Site is intended to fulfill three complementary and mutually reinforcing functions:

A conservation function - to contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species, and genetic variation.

A development function - to foster economic and human development that is socially, culturally and ecologically sustainable.

A support function - to create a support network of scientists, resource managers and policy makers to assist communities and resource sectors address sustainability issues and concerns.

The Fundy Biosphere Reserve works with communities to achieve or enhance; 

· An acceptable standard of living in a healthy environment;

· Greater economic self sufficiency and self-determination through capacity building;

· Linkages to the wider regional, national, and international sustainable economic development initiatives;

· Capacity and leadership that enables communities to monitor change and to participate in resource management decisions making.

The FBR has 3 components

 · The Core Area is a long term protected area and shares the same limits as the Fundy National Park. It acts as a reference point. This Area is indicative of the Biosphere Reserve;

· The Buffer Zone surrounding or adjacent to the Core Area. It is managed in ways that support the conservation objectives of the Core Area;

· The Transition Area, acts as an area of cooperation. Resources are utilized and managed in a sustainable manner to generate revenues.

The total area of the FBR is 442 250 ha. The Core area is 2 600 ha, the Buffer zone, 26 124 ha and the Transition area 395 552 ha., including the coastal marine area which is 9 940 ha in size.

A fully functioning Biosphere Reserve can provide many benefits to a variety of people and industries.  With community leadership and an innovative approach to challenges and opportunities, the benefits are virtually limitless.  A few possibilities are:

Local Communities

  1. fosters local, community leadership
  2. provides recognition and status that supports local businesses and marketing of local projects
  3. promotes a sense of community identity and local community pride
  4. builds information and educational resources for community growth and development (i.e. youth exchange programs with other Biosphere regions)
  5. provides opportunities for local residents to influence the future of their community’s natural environment
  6. provides ways to resolve conflicts between protected area administrators and interest groups
  7. counteracts ‘brain-drain’ through local innovation and economic development
  8. attracts investment in research and in environmentally sustainable businesses
  9. enhances communication and co-operation among different communities (e.g. language groups, ethnic groups, First Nations) and among environmental and heritage conservation organizations
  10. increases heritage and natural resource appreciation
  11. encourages the protection of existing traditions and lifestyles
  12. supports improved recreational resources
  13. increases interest in land trust/conservation easements by landowners
  14. provides a way to participate in land-use decision-making

Farmers, Foresters, Fishermen, Tourism Operators and other local resource users

  1. provides access to training and demonstration projects on land-use and management strategies which maintain natural values (such as soil fertility and water quality) provides support and education for transition to sustainable resource uses
  2. promotes guidelines and recognition for sustainable management activities
  3. encourages local involvement in regional planning activities
  4. creates a forum for local resource users to have input into the scientific research agenda, so that the research which is conducted is relevant to their needs
  5. creates a way to be involved, from the very beginning, in the development of research and monitoring strategies, as well as in the collection of information or data
  6. supports fish and game management and agricultural land use management
  7. supports landowners’ re-naturalization efforts with tree planting techniques for diversifying habitat; (re)introduction of plants that decrease soil erosion

First Nations

  1. provides a forum for demonstrating traditional land relationships and management strategies
  2. encourages spiritual shift towards traditional earth values
  3. promotes input to guideline development in sustainable management activities
  4. encourages local involvement in regional planning activities
  5. creates a forum for input into the scientific research agenda, so that research is conducted which is relevant to their needs
  6. supports input to fish and game management and agricultural land use management

Scientists and Researchers

  1. encourages cooperative research and monitoring, comparative studies and information exchange
  2. attraction of national and/or international research funds
  3. access to worldwide databases on which to build new hypotheses and experiments
  4. long-term security for permanent plots and monitoring activities, which serve to identify longer-term trends over short-term fluctuations, as, may be caused by changes in climate, etc.
  5. opportunities for scientific study of behavior, dynamics of species, monitoring of long term environmental change in the marine, coastal, or terrestrial environment
  6. mechanism to engage local communities in collaborative research efforts

Government Decision-Makers and Agencies

  1. integration and organization of existing management programs
  2. regional coordinating entity to forge links and reconcile conflicts between existing protected areas and individuals and organizations with goals toward sustainable resource use and monitoring
  3. improved information on natural resources
  4. enhanced capabilities to manage natural resources in a sustainable manner
  5. greater public support of nature conservation through demonstration of the practical benefits
  6. working examples of how one can sustainably manage natural resources at the local and regional levels, and what institutional and legal mechanisms are needed
  7. tools to enable countries to meet their obligations under international conventions (e.g. Kyoto Protocol, Agenda 21, Convention on Biological Diversity)

The World Community

  1. demonstrates to both the local public and the world, practical ways to resolve land-use conflicts and to ensure protection of biological diversity
  2. offers opportunities for education, scientific study, sustainable management and tourism
  3. helps create a consciousness of solidarity among all peoples of the world to sustainably manage the biosphere

Economic Benefits

  1. supports local agriculture: enhanced water quality and soil stability, agricultural tourism, retailing of farm-based specialty products and organic production opportunities
  2. supports local fishery: promoting a clean and healthy environment, retailing of specialty products, sustainable fisheries, pride in traditional economies, and can aid in the promotion of a wider understanding of fishing economies and coastal communities
  3. supports local forestry: promoting sustainable management plans, retailing of specialty forest products and the recognition of sustainable forestry and eco-forestry activities
  4. supports local tourism: eco-tourism promotion at home and abroad and international recognition, such as the status associated with UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Designation
  5. supports municipal planning authorities in conservation, land and water use and management and planning
  6. attracts private sector investment(s) in environmental/knowledge-based industries and services
  7. provides focus/critical mass to attract public sector investments
  8. fosters business, industry and conservation partnerships for sustainable development

Conservation Benefits

  1. helps to protect ecological integrity of protected areas
  2. promotes restoration of watersheds and fragile habitats
  3. supports protection of ecologically significant areas
  4. aids in water quality conservation and promotes water quality improvements
  5. advances new knowledge through research and education
  6. contributes to national efforts to reduce and manage green house gas emissions
  7. contributes to global biodiversity monitoring programs

A major goal of the Fundy Biosphere Reserve is to contribute to a sustainable economic development in the area. Tourism sector and communities, that will work in partnership with the FBR and share its vision, will benefit of the world class icon that UNESCO represents. Moreover, the environment, history and culture in the area are unique to New Brunswick and the Fundy Biosphere site is a good way to build up on these aspects.

It also has the potential to be a prime destination for nature based tourism, particularly if marketed as being based on sustainability.

For these reasons we believe that the area could have year around appeal.

There are many ways how the FBR can interface with the tourism sector. As an example, in affiliation with the tourism sector, the FBR plans the development of sustainable management practices based on a conservation ethic and of a sustainable nature based tourism strategy. Also assisting in obtaining certification at the national and international levels and the development of an eco-tour package(s). The development of interpretation programs and interpretation centers are some other goals and finally, assist in setting the ground work for a long term approach to ecotourism sustainability in the region.

Benefits related to a Biosphere site are numerous. A Biosphere site:

· Creates community awareness and capacity to balance environmental and economic issues;

· Creates partnerships that help to protect ecological integrity of the area;

· Promotes restoration of watersheds and fragile habitats;

· Aids in water quality conservation and promotes watered and habitat restoration;

· Advances new knowledge through research and education;

· Contributes to national efforts to reduce and manage green house gas emissions;

· Contributes to global biodiversity monitoring programs;

· Protects and promotes the regions rich heritage, arts, crafts and cultural resources;

· Develops youth education and awareness initiatives.

Furthermore, UNESCO designation provides an international recognition for: 

· The Province of New Brunswick, local communities, as well as the uniqueness of the Bay of Fundy and the region;
· The history and culture of the area, and the efforts that are taking place to preserve our heritage;

· Past and current integrated management planning efforts that promote sustainable development;

· The willingness of stakeholders to work cooperatively to develop and share information for a sustainable development of the region.

  
 


«Jurisdiction of land and resources in a biosphere site does not change with UNESCO designation. It remains with the landowners, communities, province and national government, and participation is voluntary.»

«Fundy Biosphere Reserve : One of Canada’s most dramatic and ecological diverse landscapes ; One of the least disturbed areas on the Atlantic Coast, between Florida and Nova Scotia ».

«To contribute to a sustainable economic development».

«Tourism sector and communities, that will work in partnership with the Fundy Biosphere Reserve and share its vision, will benefit of the world class icon that UNESCO represents».

© Parks Canada 04.40.07.06(15)