The designation of Clayoquot Sound as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve demonstrates international recognition of the achievement of a shared vision for social, environmental and economic sustainability in Clayoquot Sound. The level of cooperation amongst First Nations, local communities and governments has made this designation possible.

Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial or coastal ecosystems that are internationally recognized within UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program for promoting and demonstrating a balanced relationship between people and nature. Individual countries propose sites within their territories that meet a given set of criteria for this designation.

Biosphere Reserves serve to combine the three following functions:

1. conservation - contributing to the conservation of landscapes, ecosystems, species and genetic variation;
2. development - fostering economic development that is ecologically and culturally sustainable; and
3. logistic support - research, monitoring, training and education related to local, regional, national and global conservation and development issues.

The Federal Government's contribution of $12 million for the endowment fund for the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust will support the future sustainability of the biosphere by providing research, education and training in the Biosphere region.

More information on UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Program can be found on the following website: www.unesco.org.

The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust is currently constructing a website that will provide in depth information and feature amazing photography of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

• Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve video [clayfin.rm, 18MB, 7 min, 2000-05-24]