Summer update on the path to nomination

"There is a pressing need to take action for biodiversity....After diagnosing the issue at stake, highlighted by the recent report of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the vitality of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves gives us cause for hope." - Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General

Following eight months of work and contributions from many people, we have drafted approximately 250 pages of our nomination document! The content of the drafts are still a work in progress, but we intend to submit our completed nomination to the Canadian Commission for UNESCO in the fall of 2019. June 2021 is the earliest that we could successfully receive designation from UNESCO. We are so inspired by the 18 new Biosphere Reserves announced by UNESCO in June 2019.

The nomination document draft sections are now being reviewed by various agencies while we seek formal endorsement from the Squamish Nation and other authorities responsible for managing the different areas identified as core, buffer and transition zones within the region. These agencies include BC Parks, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development and each of the local governments and regional districts for the transition zones.

We are thrilled to partner with Nomatik Design in Squamish, who will transform our content-heavy words into a beautiful document that we can all be proud of. We will be posting sections to our website as we complete sections of the document.

During the months of September and October, we will be out in the Howe Sound communities and conducting webinars to explain our proposal and to answer questions. If you would like to co-host an information session or webinar in your community, please contact Ruth at howesoundbri@gmail.com.