On August 29th a remarkable gathering took place at Government House. Approxinately 60 people representing a diverse set of organizations met to learn about a proposal to have Greater Victoria declared an Urban Biosphere Region by the United Nations Education, Scientific, Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The event was hosted by Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.
The forum was organized by the UNESCO World Heritage Group led by Martin Segger in collaboration with the Greater Victoria NatureHood represented by Bob Peart, Rick Searle and Jacques Sirois. The guest speaker was Dr Pam Shaw, Research Director Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute.
What is an urban biosphere reserve? An Urban Biosphere is a proposed subcategory of the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves with the following tentative definition:
Urban Biosphere Reserve: a Biosphere Reserve characterized by important urban areas within or adjacent to its boundaries where the natural, socio-economic and cultural environments are shaped by urban influences and pressures, and set-up and managed to mitigate these pressures for improved urban and regional sustainability.
The biosphere reserve program has four strategic objectives:
Conservation of biological and cultural diversity
Support for research, education, monitoring, and information exchange
The development of social and economic sustainability
Support mitigation and adaptation to climate change
In Canada a fifth objective has been added:
Lead and support reconciliation efforts
In light of the legal meaning of reserves within the Canadian indigenous context, the word "reserve" has been replaced by the word "region".
After providing a brief overview of the formation and history of the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region, Dr. Shaw provided forum participants with 10 reasons why the biosphere region designation would be good for the Greater Victoria area, among them were:
Work to higher ideals
Part of a world-wide network
Emergence of Urban Biosphere Regions
Engage in Research
After Dr. Shaw's presentation, Martin Segger then moved to the podium and read the following resolution:
"The Greater Victoria NatureHood and the UNESCO Victoria World Heritage Group, in collaboration with those organizations who steward the diverse natural and cultural environment of Greater Victoria meeting at Government House, under the patronage of Her Honour Janet Austin the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, on Thursday August 29, 2024 do resolve:
That Greater Victoria NatureHood forward a request from this Forum to the Capital Regional District (CRD) that - in consultation with appropriate local indigenous, political, academic and civil organizations - the CRD compile a set of supporting documents, as required, and forward same to the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, for the International Coordinating Council to nominate the Victoria Region as an Urban Biosphere Region."
The resolution was passed by consensus since there were no objections from the floor.
With that, participants moved outside and onto the patio and lawn to celebrate, leaving the organizing committee to take the next steps.
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