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Conserve Heritage Resources

Other Heritage Programs

Biosphere Reserves Program

The World Network of Biosphere Reserves is one component of the UNESCO Man and Biosphere Program. The program recognizes special places where people and organizations have made a commitment to work in harmony with nature.

Parks Canada is a member of the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association (CBRA), the national coordinating organization for all biosphere reserves within Canada (www.Biosphere-Canada.Ca). Parks Canada maintains a Director position with the CBRA and provides a part time executive secretary position to assist with managing the program within and outside of Parks Canada. Minimal funding is provided to five of the six biosphere reserves where a national park is located and additional funding is provided to the Association in support of its annual meeting and newsletter. Parks Canada’s policy is that the management plans for national parks with international or national designations, such as designation as a biosphere reserve, must include strategies for the protection and promotion of the values that resulted in the designations.

As of March 2007, there were 13 biosphere reserves in Canada, 7 contain national parks as core areas. There were no new designations in 2006-2007. The average length of time to establish a biosphere reserve in Canada is eight years.

The Agency monitors and reviews its commitments made related to Biosphere Reserves on a regular basis, and formally every five years, as part of the management plan review process.

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