Potential Benefits of Biosphere Reserve Designation for Clayoquot
- The process of applying for Biosphere Reserve designation would help bring peace to the Sound.
- Biosphere Reserve status would positively raise the international profile of Clayoquot Sound as a model of conservation and sustainability.
- An elevated international profile would strengthen the economic base in the Sound, particularly in tourism and marketing of specialty products.
- The exchange of information between Biosphere Reserves internationally would advance educational and research activities in Clayoquot.
- The prestige of the designation would attract additional public and private resources.
- The federal and provincial governments, in supporting a Biosphere Reserve plan, could establish a special Clayoquot Fund to assist with economic restructuring and diversification, including Joint Ventures, as well as new facilities such as a multi-use facility dedicated to ongoing research, training and management activities.
- The uniqueness of Biosphere Reserve status in B.C. could encourage governments to negotiate innovative cooperative management agreements, including a model fisheries agreement.
- A Biosphere Reserve could be a vehicle to support continuation of the Interim Measures Agreement, Central Region Board and Scientific Panel.
- A Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve could include a marine component to deal with aquatic conservation and sustainable resource use issues.
- Biosphere Reserve designation could provide opportunities for First Nations to gain greater control over their territories, for example through cooperative management agreements associated with establishing Tribal Parks.
- Biosphere Reserve designation would provide opportunities to apply sections of the Interim Measures Extension Agreement and Scientific Panel recommendations enabling additional protection of Clayoquot's pristine salmon streams, sites significant to First Nations, and areas of significant scenic, recreational and tourism values.
