Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region

is officially Canada’s 19th biosphere region.  To receive such a designation, an area must possess features of unique global significance.  Ruth Simons, lead for the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society, speaks to the special biological and cultural features of Howe Sound.

We’ll have more soon about her presentation, but in the meantime you can take a look at Bob Turner’s  short movie on his YouTube channel – “A UNESCO Biosphere Region for Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound”.   As many of you will know, UNESCO has just designated the coastal inlet and watershed of Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound as Canada’s newest UNESCO Biosphere Region. The Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Biosphere offers improved collaboration between First Nations, all levels of settler governments, NGOs, businesses and individuals with a clear set of goals to conserve biodiversity, promote relationship-building between First Nations and settlers, and promote sustainable economies. We need this cooperation in our coastal inlet – splintered as we are with 7 local governments, 3 regional governments, 3 provincial forest districts, federal authority over the ocean – and all of this nested within the unceded territory of Squamish Nation – Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw. As well, the challenges coming at us are formidable – ongoing development pressures from a growing Vancouver, and the ominous changes to our climate and ocean. So I am hopeful that our Biosphere offers us a better learning lab for community best practices where we test and share ideas for conserving biodiversity, for advancing sustainable economies, and for supporting research, monitoring, education and training.

We owe our thanks to the many who made this happen. The Biosphere idea was originally hatched by Ric Careless and the Spaces for Nature team based out of Gibsons in 2013. In 2015 Ruth Simons, in collaboration with Spaces for Nature, gathered a small group of us, and began to move it forward. Over the next 6 years, the idea has grown, gained support, formalized as the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society, and became a home for much of the aspiration that our community has for this remarkable place. This movie is my telling of what the Biosphere is and how it came to be.

This presentation will be aired via Zoom Video Conferencing. On the Monday preceding the event, Nature Vancouver members will receive the Zoom link in the weekly e-News. To join the talk on Thursday, click on that link after 7:15 pm. The talk will begin at 7:30 pm.  Non-members are welcome and should Email denis@NatureVancouver.ca well in advance to register for the link.