Elizabeth May Endorses Proposal to Designate the Capital Regional Biosphere Reserve

Media Release
Tuesday, November 23, 2010

District as a UN Biosphere Reserve

Elizabeth May, national leader of the Green Party of Canada, is
endorsing the new proposal by the Environmental Law Center of the
University of Victoria and various regional community groups to have
the Capital Regional District (CRD) around Greater Victoria designated
as a United Nations Biosphere Reserve. See
link
and link

“This is one of the most visionary sustainability proposals I’ve seen
in a long time,” stated Elizabeth May. “It fits completely in line
with the Green Party’s vision to recognize and further enhance our
region’s reputation as a centre of sustainability. It will help us
foster a green vision for the region by enhancing its green technology
sector, sustainable transportation initiatives, climate-friendly
policies, protected areas system in endangered ecosystems, and
locally-produced, organic agriculture. “

United Nations Biosphere Reserves are typically designated for more
wilder or more natural regions, such as Clayoquot Sound on western
Vancouver Island or the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park in
Alberta and Montana. However, the current proposal is unique in that
it would designate not only extensive wild forests in the western
Capital Regional District as part of the UN Biosphere Reserve, but
also the city of Greater Victoria (population 350,000) and its
surrounding farmlands and private woodlots as part of the reserve.

The Capital Regional District is recognized as one of the most
environmentally-friendly regions on the planet due to it large green
technology sector, extensive provincial and regional parks system
bordering the city’s western edge, climate-friendly policies in many
municipalities, and various land-use planning strategies and
regulatory bodies that help to restrict sprawl. UN Biosphere Reserves
also recognize and support cultural sustainability, and could help to
promote the cultures and rights of the many First Nations living in
the region including the thousands of Saanich, Songhees, T’Sou-ke, and
Pacheedaht First Nations people.

“While this is an exceptional region, we must still go much further to
make it truly environmentally-friendly and a UN Biosphere Reserve will
create the leverage for the needed policies and legislation,” stated
Elizabeth May. “By aggressively pushing for national green policies
that will affect the region, such as strong climate change
legislation, incentives to massively expand the renewable energy
sector and green businesses, federal funding for public transportation
and cycling infrastructure, a Guaranteed Liveable Income to eliminate
poverty, a federal-provincial agreement to protect agricultural lands,
support for expanding protected areas, and reinstating the home energy
retrofit program that Harper discontinued – as well as raising the UN
Biosphere Reserve proposal when I am in Ottawa – the Greens can help
to promote this fantastic proposal.”

Tonight from 7-9 pm in Room 159 of the Fraser Building at the
University of Victoria, the UVic Environmental Law Centre is hosting a
public forum on the CRD UN Biosphere Reserve proposal.

For more info contact:
Ken Wu, Saanich-Gulf Islands Campaign Communications Officer
saanichgulfislands@greenparty.ca