The Town of Qualicum Beach has given their support to the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region (MABR), which is seeking to maintain its United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) designation.
The MABR is currently working on its 10-year periodic review and will be sending a review package to the Canadian Commission for UNESCO that will include letters of support from the MABR Roundtable group.
Mayor Teunis Westbroek and council endorsed the request from MABR at its Dec. 6 regular meeting to provide them with a correspondence expressing their support to the environmental group.
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“The Biosphere Region has been instrumental in advancing numerous projects that have not only enriched our local ecosystems but have also contributed significantly to the well-being and resilience of our community,” said Westbroek in his letter to the Canadian Commission. “Over the years, we have witnessed first-hand the positive impact of the MABR’s initiatives, which have ranged from biodiversity conservation to sustainable development and community planning.”
Westbroek stated the town is grateful to MABR’s collaborative spirit which has not only strengthened the bonds between the Qualicum Beach community and the natural world but has also empowered the town to address the environmental challenges we face collectively.
There are 749 UNESCO designated biosphere reserves worldwide. There are 19 in Canada and three in British Columbia two of which are located on Vancouver Island. The MABR received its UNESCO designation in 2000.