Boost for Biosphere Reserve

This article was originally posted by The Chronicle Herald on September 1, 2009

West Nova MP Greg Kerr, Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Association project coordinator Maegan Power-Noble, and association chair Bob Maher
West Nova MP Greg Kerr, Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Association project coordinator Maegan Power-Noble, and association chair Bob Maher during the funding announcement last Wednesday in Annapolis Royal. Lawrence Powell

Southwest group gets $285,000 from Ottawa for projects balancing conservation, development

ANNAPOLIS ROYAL — An internationally recognized organization that works at balancing conservation and development has received federal government funding for its work.

The Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve Association will get $285,000 to support community-based initiatives that protect the environment and ensure continued growth of the local economy.

“Today’s announcement reflects the Government of Canada’s commitment to protecting our rich biodiversity across the country,” West Nova MP Greg Kerr said in a news release Wednesday.

“Canada’s biosphere reserves are excellent examples of community-based initiatives that protect our natural environment while ensuring the continued growth of the local economy in an ecologically sustainable way.”

The funding is part of a $5-million commitment by the federal government to support 14 of 15 biosphere reserves in Canada and the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association.

The Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve has been in place since 2001.

“With the new Environment Canada funding, we have been able to hire a project co-ordinator and begin to address regional concerns related to youth engagement and the creative rural economy,” association chairman Bob Maher said in the release.

“The new funding will strengthen our national biosphere reserve network as well as the environmental non-governmental organizations network in Southwest Nova Scotia.”

Biosphere reserves are areas designated and recognized internationally by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for demonstrating practical approaches to balancing conservation and development.

They are composed of one or more core protected areas, a buffer area in which activities compatible with conservation occur, and a large area of co-operation where sustainable resource management practices are promoted and developed.

The Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve is comprised of Kejimkujik National Park and Historic Site, the Tobeatic Wilderness Area, as well as the five counties of Annapolis, Digby, Yarmouth, Shelburne and Queens.

(newsroom@herald.ca)