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What is a UNESCO biosphere region?

A UNESCO biosphere region is an international site of excellence. Biosphere regions work to foster the harmonious integration of people and nature for sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and reconciliation—by encouraging dialogue, sharing knowledge, reducing poverty, increasing human well-being, respecting cultural values, and enhancing capacity to cope with climate change (World Network of Biosphere Reserves/Regions).

An area can only be designated as a biosphere region by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The Clayoquot Biosphere is one of Canada’s 19 UNESCO biosphere regions.

The Clayoquot Sound region grew to become a UNESCO biosphere from a grassroots movement of a small but passionate group of community members—people who were seeking better ways of advancing our region with a long-term commitment to sustainability. In a nutshell, our UNESCO biosphere designation is all about keeping our region a special place to live, work and visit.

History

For decades, Clayoquot Sound has been on the international stage. Conflict over the use of our natural resources created divisions that continue to heal. Confronted with declining natural resource stocks, but a continued need to make a living from forestry and fishing activities, local community members started seeking better and alternative ways of doing things. In the 1990s, a small but passionate group of individuals began considering the UNESCO Biosphere model.

In January 2000, with the support of local First Nations, communities, and the federal and provincial governments, Clayoquot Sound was designated as the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region (CSUBR).

The CSUBR designation acknowledges aboriginal title and rights, and does not prejudice ongoing treaty negotiations.

To mark this designation, in May 2000 the federal government entrusted a $12 million grant to Clayoquot Sound communities through the creation of the Canada Fund. The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust manages this endowment fund to uphold the spirit and intent of the biosphere region designation through innovative education programs, research into sustainability, and annual grantmaking to organizations within the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region.

Learn more about the history of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region designation by reading our timeline.

In 2012, CBT joined Community Foundations of Canada, an association of 191 community foundations across Canada that provides networking, resources, expertise, funding, and opportunities for its members. Since becoming the regional community foundation, CBT has worked with donors to create a diversity of community funds while gaining capacity as a grant-making organization, all with the goal of leveraging its invested funds for the region’s communities and ecosystems.

The UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) requires each biosphere region to have appropriate zonation that includes:  

  • a legally constituted core area or areas devoted to long-term protection, according to the conservation objectives of the biosphere region, and of sufficient size to meet these objectives;
  • a buffer zone or zones clearly identified and surrounding or contiguous to the core area or areas, where only activities compatible with the conservation objectives can take place; and
  • an outer transition area where sustainable resource management practices are promoted and developed.

The land designations and zonation have evolved over the years to meet the conservation and cultural needs of the region. More information about the biosphere zonation and its evolution can be read in our 2020 Periodic Review.

Canadian Biosphere Regions Association (CBRA)

Canada’s 19 UNESCO biosphere regions inspire a positive future by connecting people and nature today. CBRA serves as a strong voice for, and champion of, the biosphere regions in our network. At the national level, CBRA brings shared knowledge to federal and provincial government policymakers who can help promote biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, reconciliation, and climate action.

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UNESCO

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was created in 1945 in the wake of the Second World War. UNESCO champions equity, peace and sustainable development by sparking and deepening dialogue among nations in areas such as education, culture, the natural, human and social sciences, and communication and information. It relies on a network of country-based National Commissions around the world to carry out its mandate locally.

The UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme was created in 1971 to establish a scientific basis for the improvement of relationships between people and their environments. There are currently more than 750 biosphere regions in more than 135 countries, including numerous transboundary sites, that belong to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves/Regions.

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