Howe Sound Biosphere Roundtable — Howe Sound Biosphere Region

Multi-sectoral Governance of the Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region

Our Nchu’ú7mut/Unity Plan Management plan is guided by members of the Howe Sound Roundtable, a multi-sectoral group of people from around the region. Members meet twice a year to provide advice and guidance on our planning.

If you would like to learn more about the Nchu’ú7mut/Unity Plan, or have a workshop, please contact us.

As required by the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB), organizations responsible for the UNESCO designation must have a management plan that guides the region toward MAB framework objectives. However, how the biosphere region is managed is not defined by UNESCO, enabling each biosphere region to have a governance structure that best meets the region’s needs.
As defined in our nomination document, a Roundtable governance model will be utilized for the Átl'ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region (AHSUBR). The Roundtable will steer the management of the biosphere region and will be composed of knowledge holders from across the varying sectors in the region. The Roundtable will be guided by the goals and strategic priorities in the biosphere regions’ management plan – the Nchu'ú7mut/Unity Plan.
In February 2022, we launched our Unity Plan discussion paper that included a section on the governance model. In early spring of 2022 we convened a Roundtable Selection Committee to review the proposed governance model, Terms of Reference and criteria. Since 2022 we incorporated feedback and in 2023 we recruited members to the Roundtable.
The Roundtable selection committee was comprised of: Ruth Simons, Lead, HSBRIS; Joyce Williams, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Uxwumixw Council member and HSBRIS Co-Chair; Suzanne Senger, Executive Director Sunshine Coast Conservation Association and HSBRIS board member; Hasan Hutchinson, PhD, HSBRIS board member; Monica Pearson, Province of BC, Ministry of what is now Water, Lands and Natural Resource Stewardship, replaced by Andrea Reitman, Land and Resource specialist; Karen Elliott (former) Mayor of Squamish; Fiona Beaty, PhD, Chair, Marine Stewardship Initiative; and Heather Keith, Environment Manager, District of West Vancouver. The committee met five times over Zoom and resulted in revisions to the Roundtable Terms of Reference and the Roundtable structure.
April 2023: We sought consensus from local governments and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Uxwumixw at the Howe Sound Community Forum on the process for appointing their representatives to the Roundtable Advisory. We heard that it would be reasonable for local governments within each of the three regional districts, Metro Vancouver, SCRD and SLRD, to nominate either a staff member, an elected official or an appointee of the local government. This would fulfill three local government positions.
Summer 2023: The Roundtable Selection Committee was re-convened to move to the next process step. To support HSBRIS with the completion of the draft management plan, Public Relations firm Argyle Consulting was contracted and developed a work plan for filling in the missing engagement pieces before the end of September. Invitations and recruitment to the Roundtable continued through to April 2024.
May 11th, 2024 the first Howe Sound Roundtable was convened on Gambier Island.
On May 11th, 2024 those committed to the purposes of the Howe Sound Roundtable met together for the inaugural meeting. Meet the members here and read summaries of the meetings here.

As proposed in the UNESCO nomination document 2020 - updated 2022

Roundtable Purpose

The Roundtable provides advice and strategic guidance to the Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society (HSBRIS) in order to advance:

Biodiversity conservation in the region’s marine and terrestrial ecosystems
Sustainable development in line with UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples

Roundtable Role and Commitment

The Roundtable advises and supports the development and implementation of our Nchu'ú7mut/Unity Plan goals and strategic objectives by prioritizing initiatives, strategizing solutions to major issues the biosphere region faces, advancing collaborations between sectors, and more.

HSBRIS staff and Board provide the logistical support for this Roundtable, which includes planning, logistics, recording, reporting, and securing funding.

The Roundtable is:

Comprised of approximately 30 people with local knowledge and experience in the following sectors: First Nations, government, non-government organizations, various economic sectors, civil society groups, youth, social sectors, and academia.
Appoints alternates

Meets for a full day in person twice a year at different locations in the region.
Members serve for two years

Interested in joining the Roundtable?

We are still seeking members of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Sḵwx̱wu7mesh Úxwumixw and persons with experience and knowledge of the forest sector, conservation areas, Provincial government planning, or fisheries and oceans management who are looking to meaningfully contribute to ensuring sustainability and ecosystem protection in the Átl'ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound region.

Roundtable members are:

Knowledgeable, experienced, aware and engaged in issues affecting one or more sectors listed (see below).
Strategic thinkers
Committed to the holistic health of the region
Dedicated to the values and principles of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.
Commitment to work with others to meet the strategic objectives and action plans of the Nchu'ú7mut/Unity Plan
Trusted – recommended by their peers and willing to leave personal agendas at the door
Personally connected to the region.
Agree with the principles of UNDRIP and have received decolonization training or equivalent experience.
Residing in or near the Howe Sound Region.

Review the recruitment package for information on the process, criteria, and application. Reference documents listed below also contain relevant information.

The Roundtable Selection Committee will decide on applicants. The committee also ensures that positions represent diversity across the region from the categories shown in the illustration above.

To apply, complete the application form. Alternatively, you can submit an expression of interest if you are considering applying but are not ready to complete the form. You may use the form for questions about the Roundtable or contact ruthsimons@howesoundbri.org.