Waterton Biosphere Reserve Executive Director Nora Manners appeared as a delegation before council for the MD of Pincher Creek No. 9 at their May 13 meeting to ask for support from the MD "in order to sustain membership in the world biosphere reserve network and continue to meet its mandate to balance conservation with sustainable livelihoods for local communities in southwestern Alberta".
"The biosphere reserve has been around for over 30 years," Manners said. In 1979 Waterton Biosphere Reserve (WBR) was designated under the Man and the Biosphere Programme of the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO).
According to Manners and the document she presented to council, in the past WBR received some funding from federal and provincial governments but currently its funding is project-based from a variety of sources including foundations, industry, and non-profit organizations. Some government funding has been provided WBR for specific projects, such as carnivore conflict reduction initiatives which receive some support from Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (AESRD)and Environment Canada.
According to Manners and the document she presented to council, in the past WBR received some funding from federal and provincial governments but currently its funding is project-based from a variety of sources including foundations, industry, and non-profit organizations. Some government funding has been provided WBR for specific projects, such as carnivore conflict reduction initiatives which receive some support from Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (AESRD)and Environment Canada.
"This is where the first year we are asking for your help," said Manners.
"We plan on building on a lot of work that's been done."
"Biosphere Reserves must also demonstrate a collaborative approach to management," she said. According to WBR's prepared document "Biosphere reserves are voluntary cooperative areas where stakeholders work together through cooperation, collaboration and partnership."
"It is not a World Heritage Site or a national park. It does not create new protected areas. It does not create any new regulations. It does not restrict the right of citizens."
"Waterton Biosphere Reserve has been given until 2015 to meet the requirements of zonation and development of a coordinating structure/plan to the satisfaction of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of the Man and the Biosphere Programme or be asked to withdraw from the world network of biosphere reserves."
Waterton Biosphere Reserve is coordinated by the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association, a non-profit organization focused on linking biodiversity conservation to sustainable human use of resources in southwestern Alberta. The current society (Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association) was formalized in 2009. Prior to that time, a series of committees and groups which included community members have managed the biosphere reserve. In the 1980's, Waterton Biosphere Reserve had a Management Committee and Technical Committee.
The current Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association board consists of seven directors elected from the community at large, an executive director, and a non-voting liaison from Waterton Lakes National Park.
WBR incorporates a voluntary cooperative area, with no change in authority over land and water use, no new regulations, and no new protected areas. It has three primary mandates:
To meet the requirements of the Statutory Framawork, the three zones must be identified geographically and the biosphere reserve must be formally endorsed by the administrative authorHies responsible for management of lands within the three zones.
In preparation for formalizing the zonation of Waterton Biosphere Reserve, a "potential zonation" map was drawn up for discussion.
Parks Canada has been an active partner in the WBR since 1979 and Waterton Lakes National Park will remain the legally protected core of the biosphere reserve. Provincial Parks and Protected Areas in the region could also be added to the core area. Buffer areas under consideration include lands outside the park, some of which are under conservation easement and others which are not but still retain considerable conservation value. Alberta prollincial lands including forest reserve and community pasture are also potential buffer areas. The transition area under consideration includes other lands within Cardston County, the municipality of Crowsnest Pass, the Municipal District of Pincher Creek, and the Piikani and Kainai Reserves. Governments of these jurisdictions including the Government of Alberta, as well as the Nature Conservancy of Canada, have been approached to seek their input and support.
It should be noted that the Municipality of Ranchland, while not initially identified within the area of interest, has been actively working on carnivore initiatives with the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Carnivore Group, and the invitation for discussion for possible inclusion in the biosphere reserve has been extended to the municipality.
Biosphere reserves must also demonstrate a collaborative approach to management of the biosphere reserve. In Canada, this Is generally done through a 'cooperation plan" which is developed by stakeholders including residents, businesses, government, land managers, and other organizations and agencies. Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association will be developing a cooperation plan in 2014 to guide the future work and direction of the biosphere reserve. The process will create a forum for cooperation, collaboration and community partnerships and the resulting plan will map activities to address conservation and sustainability issues which partners in the region consider to be a priority. We also hope to identify how we can all work together to improve the ability and capability of o~ community to make sound decisions for healthy ecosystems, conservation and a sustainable future in Waterton Biosphere Reserve.
As an example of this type of cooperative work, for the past three years the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Carnivore Working Group, Alberta Envirornment and Sustainable Resources Development, and the municipalities of Pincher Creek, Cardston County, Ranchland and Willow Creek have been actively working together to reduce conflicts between large carnivores and people in southwestern Alberta. This has included attractant management projects on farms and ranches, a deadstock pickup program now encompassing the four municipalities, and a variety of other initiatives.
The Request:
Waterton Biosphere Reserve has been given until 2015 to meet the requirements of zonation and development of a coordinating structure/plan to the satisfaction of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of the Man and the Biosphere Programme or be asked to withdraw from the world network of biosphere reserves.
Waterton Biosphere Association makes presentation to MD Council (2011)
"Biosphere Reserves must also demonstrate a collaborative approach to management," she said. According to WBR's prepared document "Biosphere reserves are voluntary cooperative areas where stakeholders work together through cooperation, collaboration and partnership."
"It is not a World Heritage Site or a national park. It does not create new protected areas. It does not create any new regulations. It does not restrict the right of citizens."
"Waterton Biosphere Reserve has been given until 2015 to meet the requirements of zonation and development of a coordinating structure/plan to the satisfaction of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of the Man and the Biosphere Programme or be asked to withdraw from the world network of biosphere reserves."
"Therefore we would like to request the support of the Municipal District of Pincher Creek in formally defining and endorsing the zonation of the Waterton Biosphere Reserve. We would also like to request that the municipality participate In development of a cooperation plan for Waterton Biosphere Reserve. This would complement cooperative work already underway between Waterton Biosphere Reserve and the municipality, particularly in relation to large carnivore issues and invasive species."
Council discussed the matter at their May 27 meeting. While all members seemed to agree in principle with the request, those two words 'in principle' proved to be the subject of much discussion and some disagreement.
"I see no reason why council shouldn't support the creation of a buffer zone, said Councillor Fred Schoening. "That's my personal feeling." Reeve Brian Hammond said that there was two parts to the proposal, the first being the cooperation plan, the second being a formal endorsement of the zonation of the Waterton Biosphere Reserve, "And our role in that."
Councillor Terry Yagos said that he does have concerns. He referred to the specific areas in Castle Crown area that have special places designation, and the perception of a possible overuse of that designation. "All of a sudden the whole area is a 'special place', I have a concern of how it will be used."
"They are asking for participation in the development of a cooperation plan," said Hammond, adding that the MD Council is already involved through the dead stock program. "It states here the role of a biosphere reserve," said Councillor Garry Marchuk. "It is not a heritage site, a national park, does not create any new protected areas, doesn't create any regulations, doesn't restrict the right of citizens."
"I don't think that people are going to misunderstand it because it is a biosphere."
"Did any of you find anything that you would consider binding on the municipality, if we go on from here?" asked Hammond. "How is our endorsement on this perceived in the broader community as far as our impact on our planning, function, and so on?"
"Terry said it himself, he likes the idea of the biosphere, and what it represents. And that's all they're asking us to do, at this point in time," said Schoening.
'If you are in the area of cooperation, or the buffer zone, there are different expectations about what you will do, what you will be expected to do, what you will be expected to support if you endorse this? I don't know," said Reeve Hammond.
Hammond asked to hear the motion from Cryderman. "Move that the email and presentation from Waterton Biosphere Reserve made April 29, 2014, be received and that council endorses zonation of the Waterton Biosphere Reserve."
"Could we add the words 'in principle' to it?" asked Yagos.
"No." said Schoening. "What Terry is asking for is assurance that what they have already told us is true. We either take them at their word, in saying yes, there is no legal obligation or concern, or we don't believe them, and we assume that it isn't true, and then we defeat the motion."
"All they want to do is some good for the area, and all we're really saying is we support their initiatives."
After more discussion council voted on Schoenings motion to pass the proposal as presented. Councillors Marchuk and Schoening were in favor, Councillor Yagos and Reeve Hammond were opposed.
They took the motion up again after amending the wording to include the words 'in principle'. Councillor Yagos and Reeve Hammond voted in favor and Councillors Marchuk and Schoening were opposed to that motion.
"I can't help being in favour of a step forward, but I think what we are doing is a half step," said Schoening. "If you would offer again, your honour the Reeve, the question one more time, I would like the opportunity to participate in the vote."
"I disagree with the watering down of the resolution," said Marchuck.
The amended motion was read as: "Move that the email and presentation from Waterton Biosphere Reserve dated April 29, 2014, be received and that council endorses zonation of the Waterton Biosphere Reserve in principle."
The motion carried, with Councillor Marchuk opposed. Further information is to be requested from the WBR regarding the proposed co-operative plan.
Waterton Biosphere Reserve background:
(synopsized from WBR documents)
Council discussed the matter at their May 27 meeting. While all members seemed to agree in principle with the request, those two words 'in principle' proved to be the subject of much discussion and some disagreement.
"I see no reason why council shouldn't support the creation of a buffer zone, said Councillor Fred Schoening. "That's my personal feeling." Reeve Brian Hammond said that there was two parts to the proposal, the first being the cooperation plan, the second being a formal endorsement of the zonation of the Waterton Biosphere Reserve, "And our role in that."
Councillor Terry Yagos said that he does have concerns. He referred to the specific areas in Castle Crown area that have special places designation, and the perception of a possible overuse of that designation. "All of a sudden the whole area is a 'special place', I have a concern of how it will be used."
"They are asking for participation in the development of a cooperation plan," said Hammond, adding that the MD Council is already involved through the dead stock program. "It states here the role of a biosphere reserve," said Councillor Garry Marchuk. "It is not a heritage site, a national park, does not create any new protected areas, doesn't create any regulations, doesn't restrict the right of citizens."
"I don't think that people are going to misunderstand it because it is a biosphere."
"Did any of you find anything that you would consider binding on the municipality, if we go on from here?" asked Hammond. "How is our endorsement on this perceived in the broader community as far as our impact on our planning, function, and so on?"
"Terry said it himself, he likes the idea of the biosphere, and what it represents. And that's all they're asking us to do, at this point in time," said Schoening.
'If you are in the area of cooperation, or the buffer zone, there are different expectations about what you will do, what you will be expected to do, what you will be expected to support if you endorse this? I don't know," said Reeve Hammond.
Hammond asked to hear the motion from Cryderman. "Move that the email and presentation from Waterton Biosphere Reserve made April 29, 2014, be received and that council endorses zonation of the Waterton Biosphere Reserve."
"Could we add the words 'in principle' to it?" asked Yagos.
"No." said Schoening. "What Terry is asking for is assurance that what they have already told us is true. We either take them at their word, in saying yes, there is no legal obligation or concern, or we don't believe them, and we assume that it isn't true, and then we defeat the motion."
"All they want to do is some good for the area, and all we're really saying is we support their initiatives."
After more discussion council voted on Schoenings motion to pass the proposal as presented. Councillors Marchuk and Schoening were in favor, Councillor Yagos and Reeve Hammond were opposed.
They took the motion up again after amending the wording to include the words 'in principle'. Councillor Yagos and Reeve Hammond voted in favor and Councillors Marchuk and Schoening were opposed to that motion.
"I can't help being in favour of a step forward, but I think what we are doing is a half step," said Schoening. "If you would offer again, your honour the Reeve, the question one more time, I would like the opportunity to participate in the vote."
"I disagree with the watering down of the resolution," said Marchuck.
The amended motion was read as: "Move that the email and presentation from Waterton Biosphere Reserve dated April 29, 2014, be received and that council endorses zonation of the Waterton Biosphere Reserve in principle."
The motion carried, with Councillor Marchuk opposed. Further information is to be requested from the WBR regarding the proposed co-operative plan.
(synopsized from WBR documents)
Ongoing WBR initiatives:
- Deadstock Pickup Program - 12 bins ($31000), a cooperative program involving 4 municipalities, includes a carcass composting facility in Cardston County. Up to 1000 head are removed annually at a cost ranging from $30-$94 per head. The purpose of this program is to remove dead livestock from the landscape in an affordable manner so that the carcasses are not attractants for predators.
- Grizzly Bear Monitoring Program
- Wolf Monitoring Techniques Research
- Carnivores and Communities Program
- Cooperative Weed Management Area
- Cardston Elementary Wetlands Education
- Land Care Program at Lethbridge and Red Crow Colleges
- Digital Stories
- Stewardship Stories by WBR Residents
- Carnivores and Communities - safety, husbandry, compensation, communication
- Cooperation Planning - determining regional priorities
- Species at Risk / Raptors
- Aquatic Invasive Species
- Ecosystem Services
Waterton Biosphere Reserve is coordinated by the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association, a non-profit organization focused on linking biodiversity conservation to sustainable human use of resources in southwestern Alberta. The current society (Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association) was formalized in 2009. Prior to that time, a series of committees and groups which included community members have managed the biosphere reserve. In the 1980's, Waterton Biosphere Reserve had a Management Committee and Technical Committee.
The current Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association board consists of seven directors elected from the community at large, an executive director, and a non-voting liaison from Waterton Lakes National Park.
WBR incorporates a voluntary cooperative area, with no change in authority over land and water use, no new regulations, and no new protected areas. It has three primary mandates:
- Conservation of Biodiversity - to contribute to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation.
- Sustainable Development - to foster economic and human development which is socio-culturally and ecologically sustainable.
- Support for Logistics - to improve the capacity or capability of people and organizations to positively affect their communities and environment by supporting research, monitoring, education and information exchange related to issues of conservation and sustainable
To meet the requirements of the Statutory Framawork, the three zones must be identified geographically and the biosphere reserve must be formally endorsed by the administrative authorHies responsible for management of lands within the three zones.
In preparation for formalizing the zonation of Waterton Biosphere Reserve, a "potential zonation" map was drawn up for discussion.
Parks Canada has been an active partner in the WBR since 1979 and Waterton Lakes National Park will remain the legally protected core of the biosphere reserve. Provincial Parks and Protected Areas in the region could also be added to the core area. Buffer areas under consideration include lands outside the park, some of which are under conservation easement and others which are not but still retain considerable conservation value. Alberta prollincial lands including forest reserve and community pasture are also potential buffer areas. The transition area under consideration includes other lands within Cardston County, the municipality of Crowsnest Pass, the Municipal District of Pincher Creek, and the Piikani and Kainai Reserves. Governments of these jurisdictions including the Government of Alberta, as well as the Nature Conservancy of Canada, have been approached to seek their input and support.
It should be noted that the Municipality of Ranchland, while not initially identified within the area of interest, has been actively working on carnivore initiatives with the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Carnivore Group, and the invitation for discussion for possible inclusion in the biosphere reserve has been extended to the municipality.
Biosphere reserves must also demonstrate a collaborative approach to management of the biosphere reserve. In Canada, this Is generally done through a 'cooperation plan" which is developed by stakeholders including residents, businesses, government, land managers, and other organizations and agencies. Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association will be developing a cooperation plan in 2014 to guide the future work and direction of the biosphere reserve. The process will create a forum for cooperation, collaboration and community partnerships and the resulting plan will map activities to address conservation and sustainability issues which partners in the region consider to be a priority. We also hope to identify how we can all work together to improve the ability and capability of o~ community to make sound decisions for healthy ecosystems, conservation and a sustainable future in Waterton Biosphere Reserve.
As an example of this type of cooperative work, for the past three years the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Carnivore Working Group, Alberta Envirornment and Sustainable Resources Development, and the municipalities of Pincher Creek, Cardston County, Ranchland and Willow Creek have been actively working together to reduce conflicts between large carnivores and people in southwestern Alberta. This has included attractant management projects on farms and ranches, a deadstock pickup program now encompassing the four municipalities, and a variety of other initiatives.
The Request:
Waterton Biosphere Reserve has been given until 2015 to meet the requirements of zonation and development of a coordinating structure/plan to the satisfaction of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of the Man and the Biosphere Programme or be asked to withdraw from the world network of biosphere reserves.
Therefore we would like to request the support of the Municipal District of Pincher Creek in formally defining and endorsing the zonation of the Waterton Biosphere Reserve. We would also like to request that the municipality participate In development of a cooperation plan for Waterton Biosphere Reserve. This would complement cooperative work already underway between Waterton Biosphere Reserve and the municipality, particularly in relation to large carnivore issues and invasive species.
Note that endorsement of biosphere reserve designation and zonation by administrative authorities does not involve any legal designation or agreements. Land use in a biosphere reserve is not regulated or restricted in any way by having biosphere status. UNESCO has no authority or regulatory powers within a biosphere reserve; authority over land and water use does not change when a biosphere reserve is designated in Canada. Government jurisdictions - federal, provincial, municipal, First Nations - and private ownership rights, remain as they were before designation. Biosphere reserves are voluntary cooperative areas where stakeholders work together through cooperation, collaboration and partnership.
Note that endorsement of biosphere reserve designation and zonation by administrative authorities does not involve any legal designation or agreements. Land use in a biosphere reserve is not regulated or restricted in any way by having biosphere status. UNESCO has no authority or regulatory powers within a biosphere reserve; authority over land and water use does not change when a biosphere reserve is designated in Canada. Government jurisdictions - federal, provincial, municipal, First Nations - and private ownership rights, remain as they were before designation. Biosphere reserves are voluntary cooperative areas where stakeholders work together through cooperation, collaboration and partnership.
Across Canada, municipalities are working with and have endorsed the nomination of biosphere reserves in almost every province. In Alberta, Beaver County, Camrose County, Leduc County, Lamont County, and Strathcona County, as members of the Beaver Hills Initiative, were participants in the 2012 submission of nomination documents for the Beaver Hill Biosphere Reserve which is currently undergoing revision for resubmission to the Canada Man and the Biosphere Reserve Committee.
Related link: www.watertonbiosphere.com
Related stories:
Waterton Biosphere Reserve hosts Cardston Large Carnivore Projects Tour
Related link: www.watertonbiosphere.com
Related stories:
Waterton Biosphere Reserve hosts Cardston Large Carnivore Projects Tour
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