Natural, Social and Human Sciences

Man and the Biosphere

UNESCO’s Programme on Man and the Biosphere (MAB) was launched with the goal of improving the relationship between people and their environment. MAB is an interdisciplinary programme directed at finding ways to satisfy human needs while ensuring the long term health of the natural system. The transdisciplinary and cross-cultural opportunities of UNESCO’s mandate in the fields of education, science, culture and information and communication allow the Programme to promote scientific research as well as linking it with traditional knowledge about resource use. November, 2001 marked the 30th Anniversary of MAB. While the Programme has changed extensively over the years, it remains an opportunity for international cooperation and focus on the coordination of initiatives working towards improving the management of natural resources and the environment.

To learn more abut the MAB Programme please visit UNESCO’s MAB web site.

UNESCO and Biosphere Reserves

Biosphere Reserves are key instruments within the MAB Programme. They are designed to meet one of the most challenging issues the world is facing today: how to reconcile economic development, social development and environmental protection through partnerships between people and nature. Biosphere reserves are select areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems that offer practical ways to reconcile modern development with the conservation of biodiversity. Before UNESCO designates a biosphere reserve, local people and organizations must have demonstrated their commitment to these principles.

A biosphere reserve should meet three basic criteria:

• contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation;
• foster economic and human development which is socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable;
• provide support for research, monitoring, education and information exchange related to local, national and global issues of conservation and development.

The reserves are internationally recognized, but remain under sovereign jurisdiction of the states where they are located. The reserves can serve as “living laboratories” where both government and non-governmental organizations collaborate to ensure that knowledge gained can be widely shared and put into practice. Internationally, local information and ideas are exchanged through The World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Organization and Interrelation

Biosphere reserves are organized into three interrelated zones – the core area, the buffer zone and the transition area. Usually, the core area is safeguarded from human activity and often contains a national or provincial park, a migratory bird sanctuary or similar protected area. The buffer zone or zones which surround the core can be areas of experimental research, or activities that accommodate education, training, tourism and recreation without hindering the conservation objectives of the core area. The outer transition area, often called ‘area of co-operation’ in Canada, is the working landscape where most of the residents live and where natural resources are used to meet human needs. It is here that the local communities, conservation agencies, scientists, civil associations, cultural groups, private enterprise and other stakeholders decide to work together to manage and sustainably develop the area's resources.

Canada’s Biosphere Reserves

There are fifteen biosphere reserves in Canada. They are located in eight provinces, from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts, and include a variety of ecosystems. In each one, activities are coordinated by a community-based organization or committee. Beginning with its first reserve in the 1970s, Canada’s biosphere reserves were established as follows:

• Mont St. Hilaire, Quebec (1978)
• Waterton, Alberta (1979)
• Long Point, Ontario (1986)
• Riding Mountain, Manitoba (1986)
• Charlevoix, Quebec (1988)
• The Niagara Escarpment, Ontario (1990)
• Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia (2000)
• Lac Saint-Pierre, Quebec (2000)
• Mount Arrowsmith, British Columbia (2000)
• Redberry Lake, Saskatchewan (2000)
• Southwest Nova, Nova Scotia (2001)
• Frontenac Arch, Ontario (2002)
• Georgian Bay Littoral, Ontario (2004)
• Fundy, New-Brunswick (2007)
• Manicouagan-Uapishka, Québec (2007)

For more information on Canada’s Biospheres please visit the Biosphere Map page on this web site.

The Canadian Biosphere Reserve Association

Canada’s Biosphere Reserves are supported by the Canadian Biosphere Reserve Association (CBRA/ACRB). Incorporated in 1997, CBRA is a member-based non-profit organization which provides coordination for its member biosphere reserves. The Association works to facilitate exchanges in information and co-operation on projects between the Biosphere Reserves in Canada.