Progress Tracker
August 2024 | Greater Victoria NatureHood and the Victoria World Heritage Group held the Biosphere Reserve Forum at Government House, and passed a resolution to work with the Capital Regional District to pursue an application.
September 2024 | Formed an early stage steering committee, started conducting outreach to those that may be able to contribute to or support the application, including to the CRD Board and staff.
December 2024 | Successfully had a motion passed for CRD staff to create a report on the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve application process. The informative staff report is available here.
The report is positive on the concept, but notes that the application process is substantial and rigorous, requires collaboration across multiple levels of government, First Nations, ENGOs, stakeholders and residents, and can take several years. The report also noted that there is significant alignment between the application process, the framework for a Biosphere Region, and the steps required to establish a strong regional biodiversity strategy and the protection of natural assets, something the CRD is mandated to do.
The report further noted that there is already significant alignment between existing CRD programs, local government initiatives, and the framework for a Biosphere Region. In particular, the report found that embedding the work to apply for the Biosphere Region designation into the CRD’s regional Biodiversity and Environmental Stewardship Service would support significant advancement of two other key CRD Board priorities: (1) Climate Action and the Environment and (2) stronger relationships with First Nations. The report concluded that the nomination could complement current environmental stewardship efforts across the capital region and coordinate the current patchwork of programs, initiatives and projects across all levels of government, stakeholder groups and the private sector.
December 2024 | The CRD Board adopted the staff report recommendation that a nomination for a UNESCO Biosphere Region designation for the CRD be referred to the next Board strategic planning process, which is for 2027-2031, for consideration and potential inclusion in the 2028 service planning process, which will occur in February, 2027. The resolution is available here.