<+>=<+>KOLA Newslist<+>=<+>
 

Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 09:41:22 -0800
From: Protecting Knowledge <logoston@smartt.com>
Organization: UBCIC Research
Subject: Protecting Knowledge: Articles of Interest 021100

Hadih All!

13 days to go!

Thanks

Don

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
<<clipped>>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CLAYOQUOT SOUND DESIGNATED AS THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL BIOSPHERE RESERVE
IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

VANCOUVER, February 10 /CNW/ - Clayoquot Sound on Vancouver Island's
west coast has been designated as a world biosphere reserve by the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO), based in Paris, France.  Federal, provincial and municipal
governments and First Nations have all joined forces to acknowledge the
designation.

The nomination was put forth by First Nations and local governments to
the Man and the Biosphere program of UNESCO, in partnership with federal
and provincial governments.

``The designation of this magnificent west coast treasure shows the
importance of working together.  This is an honour for the communities
involved,'' said Canada's Environment Minister David Anderson.  ``The
declaration of Clayoquot Sound as a biosphere reserve is due to a
cooperative spirit between all partners to promote sustainable
development in this region.''

``The declaration of Clayoquot Sound as a world biosphere reserve is
recognition of our substantial progress towards building a sustainable
future for the region, including its biological, economic, social and
cultural values,'' said Environment, Lands and Parks Minister Joan
Sawicki.  ``Our government will be examining how we can work with the
Clayoquot communities to foster the transition towards a ``green''
economy and apply what we learn from Clayoquot to other areas.''

``I am very pleased with UNESCO's designation of the Clayoquot Sound
Biosphere Reserve which includes Pacific Rim National Park Reserve as a
core protected area,'' said Sheila Copps, Minister of Canadian
Heritage.  ``Canada can now proudly boast of eight World Biosphere
Reserves, which include Waterton Lakes and Riding Mountain National
Parks.''

The Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve is situated on the central western
region of Vancouver Island and covers an area of about 3,500 square
kilometers- approximately the size of Prince Edward Island.  The reserve
encompasses a vast range of ecosystems, including large tracts of
temperate rainforest, many lakes, rivers and streams, alpine slopes,
inshore marine areas, mudflats and wild coastal beaches.  Core areas of
the reserve include the Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park
Reserve and over 95,000 hectares of provincial park.

First Nations and local governments formed a nomination working group
last year to draft the nomination and work with governments to develop
and implement the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust-an endowed research,
education and training organization -- and legacy projects that will
support sustained economic development in the biosphere region.

``This designation is fully supported by the local community,'' said
Alberni MLA Gerard Janssen.  ``It will provide the umbrella we need to
move the community towards a vibrant, long-term sustainable economy.''

``The people of the biosphere region have been working on the ground to
make this designation a reality,'' said Chief Councillor Larry Baird of
the Ucluelet First Nation, a member of the nomination working group.
``We will continue to make this a collaborative effort as the Clayoquot
Biosphere Trust is established and as we work to ensure that all
projects share a common vision that is consistent with the needs and
interests of all the region's communities.''

Other members of the Nomination Working Group include the chair and
local director of the Alberni Clayoquot Regional District and the mayors
of Tofino and Ucluelet.

In the February budget, the federal government set aside up to $12
million to support the establishment of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in
Clayoquot Sound.

The Clayoquot Sound Biosphere is the first of its kind on Canada's west
coast.  Canada has six other biosphere reserves in Quebec, Ontario,
Alberta and Manitoba.  The Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve is the
seventh such reserve in Canada.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) also designated Redberry Lake, Saskatchewan as the eighth
Biosphere Reserve in Canada.

Backgrounders and maps are available upon request.

For more information on Biosphere Reserves please visit the UNESCO web
site:  http://www.unesco.org/

THE MAKING OF THE CLAYOQUOT SOUND BIOSPHERE RESERVE

Hishuk-ish ts'awalk

The designation of Clayoquot Sound as a United Nations Educational
Scientific Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve demonstrates
international recognition of the achievement of a shared vision for
social, environmental and economic sustainability in Clayoquot Sound.

The original inhabitants of Clayoquot Sound, the Nuu-chah-nulth people,
have a guiding philosophy that they call Hishuk-ish ts'awalk.  This
means ``everything is one'' which recognizes that communities, cultures,
economies and environments are interwoven and impact one another.

In the spirit of Hishuk-ish ts'awalk, the designation of Clayoquot Sound
as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve came as the result of the hard work of the
nomination working group on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, a body
appointed by the Nuu-chah-nulth Central Region First Nations and local
governments.  People with diverse interests and concerns came together
to prepare the UNESCO nomination that would build support and ensure a
sustainable future for the 4500 people of the Clayoquot Biosphere
Region.

The nomination was funded, facilitated and authorized through the
nomination working group.  The federal and provincial governments fully
supported the nomination process and committed significant resources to
bring the dream to a reality.

In a region once fragmented by controversy over land-use management, the
UNESCO Biosphere initiative united people and communities in a shared
vision and common interest-- an understanding of Hishuk-ish ts'awalk -
and an abiding sense of caring for their surroundings and the future of
their communities.

Clayoquot Land Use Decision

For years, the wealth of natural resources and wilderness values in
Clayoquot Sound resulted in long-term conflict over resource uses.  In
1993, the B.C. government made a land-use decision for the Sound that
sought to ensure environmental protection and the economic health of
local communities.

As a result of this decision, almost 900 square kilometres - 34 per cent
of Clayoquot Sound - has been preserved for all time.  The protected
area forms a natural reserve linking the interior mountains to the ocean
shore.  It includes the largest intact watershed on Vancouver Island,
significant old growth forest, lake and river salmon spawning habitat,
rare marine ecosystems and 29 rare plant species.

Clayoquot Sound Scientific Panel

To review forest practices standards and ensure that forest stewardship
stood up to world scrutiny, the provincial government set up an
independent Scientific Panel for Sustainable Forest Practices in
Clayoquot Sound in 1993. The panel, which included First Nations
resource management experts and leading scientists, made its final
recommendations to government in 1995.  The provincial government later
accepted the panel's recommendations and promised to fully implement
them.
Interim Measures Agreement and Central Region Board

Concerns from the Nuu-chah-nulth Central Region First Nations regarding
the province's land use decision lead to extensive negotiations with the
province.  The parties signed an Interim Measures Agreement in 1994.
The agreement established the Central Region Board, a joint management
board to provide local consultation and decision-making on resource
related issues. Through this board, First Nations have a direct voice in
the management of resources within their traditional territories.  Local
communities are also represented on the board.  The provincial
government has provided about $10 million to maintain this board and
conduct related inventory and forestry planning.

The Move Towards a Biosphere Reserve

During the debate about the land use plan, and in response to a
recommendation from the Commission on Resources and the Environment,
British Columbia agreed to consider applying for a Biosphere Reserve
designation. Later, the Clayoquot Sound Central Region Board wrote to
the provincial and federal governments to express its interest in the
idea.

A nomination working group developed the formal nomination and consulted
with local people and stakeholders on the proposed designation and
legacies through a series of public forums and workshops.

The working group represented the Nuu-chah-nulth Central Region First
Nations-- the Ahousaht, Hesquiaht, Tia-o-qui-aht, Toquaht, and Ucluelet
–the district of Tofino, District of Ucluelet and the Alberni-Clayquot
Regional District.  The Central Region Board, environmental
organizations and private sector interests also supported the nomination
process.

Bisophere Reserve Designation

In January 1999, the communities of Clayoquot Sound, in partnership with
federal and provincial governments, officially applied to UNESCO through
the Canadian Commission for UNESCO to nominate Clayoquot Sound as B.C.'s
first international biosphere reserve.  The work of communities and
governments has now been recognized with the formal designation of
Clayoquot Sound as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

The Clayoquot Sound Biosphere announcement is part of the provincial
government's Green Economy Initiative, a long term provincial strategy
to promote sustainable development and support green B.C. industries
such as the environmental technology sector and ecotourism.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO)

The World Network of Biosphere Reserves

Biosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial or coastal ecosystems which
are internationally recognized within United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) Man and the Biosphere
(MAB) Program for promoting and demonstrating a balanced relationship
between people and nature. Individual countries propose sites within
their territories which meet a given set of criteria for this
designation.

Biosphere Reserves serve to combine the three following functions:

     1)  conservation:  contributing to the conservation of
     landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation;
     2)  development:  fostering ecomonic development which is
     ecologically and culturally sustainable;
     3)  logistic support:  research, monitoring, training and
     education related to local, regional, national and global
     conservation and sustainable development issues.

Biosphere Reserves form a World Network.  Within this network, exchanges
of information, experience and personnel are promoted, in particular
among Biosphere Reserves with similar ecosystem types and/or with
experience in solving similar conservation and development problems.

The World Network of Biosphere Reserves thus contributes to meeting the
objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity and Agenda 21,
resulting from the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development.

More information on UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme can be
found on the following website (www.unesco.org).
 (Egalement offert en français)

-0-                        02/10/2000

For more information: Velma McColl, Communications Advisor, Office of
the Minister, of the Environment, (819) 997-1441; Alex Dabrowski, Media
Relations, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, (250) 387-9423;
Ross McMillan, Clayoquot Sound, Biosphere Transition Committee, (250)
213-3439 (cell)
 

<+>=<+>
Information Pages: http://users.skynet.be/kola/index.htm
Online Petition: http://kola-hq.hypermart.net
Greeting Cards: http://users.skynet.be/kola/cards.htm
<+>=<+>
if you want to be removed from the KOLA
Email Newslist, just send us a message with
"unsub" in the subject or text body
<+>=<+>