2020 Periodic Review: Celebrating Ten Years of Partnerships

 "This letter is to affirm our support for the continued designation of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region."  

“This letter is to affirm the  Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) Agricultural Development Committee ’s support for the continued designation of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region, established in 2000. The Coastal Agricultural Roundtable (CAR) is a newly established ACRD Committee that serves a similar purpose within the coastal communities. It is co-facilitated with the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, with the intent of grounding the food policy and advocacy work strongly within the coastal communities on the west coast. The CAR helps to realize the goals and objectives identified in the Coastal Addendum to the Alberni Agricultural Plan, which was adopted by the ACRD in 2018." 

Our partnerships include:

• "Co-hosting a Coastal Agricultural Roundtable to bring together community leaders in support of sustainable and culturally-relevant local agricultural development and food security initiatives; 
• Developing a Coastal Addendum to the Alberni Agriculture Plan (2018) which includes strategies for supporting important marine and traditional Indigenous food sources;
• Receiving education in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as well as supporting the consideration of how they may be adapted at the local level;
• Integrating Biosphere considerations in coastal agricultural planning; Reaching out to coastal partners (including Indigenous communities), developing stronger community networks, and enhancing communication channels; and
• Contributing to the local achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.” 

" As a partner of the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, our organization has been able to collaborate in advancing the objectives of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve program in our region. . . Our efforts in conjunction with others in the region have included: 

• Participating in processes for managing and monitoring ecosystem health;
• Developing biodiversity conservation projects;
• Advancing climate change awareness;
• Developing alliances and partnerships to strengthen the stewardship of ecosystem services in our region;
• Contributing data and knowledge to the Vital Signs program;
• Developing and promoting education tourism opportunities through participation in the West Coast N.E.S.T.; and
• Contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

We are proud to support the continued Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere designation.” 

 “This letter is to affirm our support for the continued designation of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region, established in 2000." 

 “As a partner of the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, our organization has been able to contribute to achieving the objectives of sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and reconciliation through education, research and collaboration such as: 

• Developing a Juvenile salmon outmigration monitoring program and a program to identify and monitoring the residents of the local Grey whale population listed as endangered by COSEWIC
• Working with the Ahousaht Education Authority to facilitate and collaborate on outdoor education programs with Ahousaht youth.
• Working collaboratively with Uuathluk Fisheries, Ahousaht Guardians, Ahousaht fisheries, other local NGO’s and federal department of fisheries on Juvenile salmon monitoring programs
• By taking part in, being supported by and contributing to CBT programs
• By working as a member of the Clayoquot Sound Salmon Roundtable and CBT led events such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Councils community consultation.” 

“As a partner of the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT), our organization has been able to contribute to achieving the objectives of sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and reconciliation, through education, research and collaboration.  Central Westcoast Forest Society  (CWFS) works closely with CBT to help meet these objectives through:

• Actively participating in the Clayoquot Salmon Roundtable; a co-management process with partnerships between First Nations, governments, and stakeholders with an overall goal of the recovery and sustainable management of Clayoquot Sound’s wild salmon populations;
• Conducting research in Clayoquot Sound with help from the Biosphere Research Award; research includes determining size, abundance, and distribution of Chinook salmon and completing habitat assessments through orthophotos and ground truthing within the Tranquil Estuary to help inform and guide restoration and recover efforts for Chinook salmon; [and]
• Accessing facilitation connections to bring university groups out to the Biosphere to learn about watershed ecology, restoration, research and monitoring;"

 “The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust has played a key role in bringing local communities together and developing capacity, for example providing training such as Leadership Vancouver Island and the Art of Hosting. 

The Biosphere is a key component of our region’s work towards reconciliation, conservation, and developing a sustainable future.

We are proud to support the continued Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere designation, and look forward to participating in the next ten years of activities in our region!” 

 “This letter is to affirm our support for the continued designation of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region, established in 2000, which resides within the territories of Ahousaht, Tla-o-qui-aht and Hesquiaht First Nations. 

One such project is support for the convening of regional conversations about the establishment of an Indigenous-led Stewardship Corridor. The Corridor is aimed at helping to align the Iisaak sin hay tiičmis – Regional Wildlife Coexistence Network with other progressive land management initiatives along western Vancouver Island.

We’re also pleased that the CBT has invested the endowment funds in partnership with Genus Capital Management, a pioneer in Canada’s fossil fuel divest-invest movement to ensure that CBT funds are not invested in the fossil fuel industry and other socially and environmentally harmful industries.

As the CBT continues to move the mandate of the UNESCO Biosphere designation forward, we believe it is key for governance of the organization to prioritize the active involvement of First Nations in the region, whose territories cover the entirety of the UNESCO Biosphere region. We also hope to see increased support for Indigenous conservation and community development opportunities identified as priorities by the Nations, as well as support for language revitalization and other key priorities."

 “The unique innovation of aligning a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with a place-based foundation has not only had a profound impact on the region within which CBT operates, but has stood as an example within our network. It is helping shift and reshape the engagement of community foundations toward a more holistic outlook on community wellbeing, centred on sustainable development and inclusive of the natural environment. 

CBT has played an important leadership role in helping to advance the national conversation on the role of philanthropic organizations in supporting biodiversity and conservation efforts, on the critical importance of advancing reconciliation and Indigenous rights, and on the relevance of Agenda 2030 as a framework for place-based philanthropy and impact measurements in Canada. In particular, as the first community foundation in Canada to align is strategy with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), CBT helped lay support for CFC’s adoption of the SDGs nationally, and for a groundswell of local leadership committed to the SDGs in community foundations across Canada.” 

 "In Sep. 2019, Wando Islands in Korea and CSBR/CBT decided to make mutual cooperation. Firstly, Wando Islands wanted to learn ‘island ecosystem’ conservation approach, living laboratory formation, community building, creative practice of educational ecotourism and biosphere soundscape. CBT launched a logistic support for Wando Islands who were preparing to apply Biosphere Reserve. In sum concrete case of cooperation, mutual brainstorming, international/local understanding, CSBR has realized.”  

 “Our region has worked together for the past decade to advance the objectives of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve program. 

Specifically, the CBT helped us with a grant to conduct a feasibility study for the purposes of relocation the Food Bank on the Edge to a location out of the tsunami inundation zone in Ucluelet. The study is critical to our future building project to ensure food security in the community."

" Like IPCAs and unlike traditional parks and protected areas, UNESCO biosphere reserves believe in a model of community-led conservation and sustainable development that sees humans as part of their environment. As such, we lead our organizations with shared values. The Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region has been a leader in Canada, taking on the role of Chairing the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association and demonstrating that there is a way for biosphere reserves to support shared and equal governance with Indigenous Nations. IOF President Eli Enns is a past member of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region’s board of directors and a citizen of Tla-o-qui-aht Nation, one of the host Nations of the biosphere reserve. He is a strong supporter of the biosphere reserve’s role in serving the region’s local economy and in building social capital between sectors and cultures. "

 "Our organizations have worked together for the past decade with a shared interest and investment in common objectives in this region. CBT’s work has enabled significant advancements supporting both community and ecosystem health in the region." 

 "We have found value in the work of the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust; facilitating stakeholder conversations; supporting community initiatives that align with the CBT’s goals and objectives and enabling collaboration amongst the stakeholders who live and work within the region. 

Of particular interest is the CBT’s contribution to understanding the region’s socio-economic indicators through its bi-annual report ‘Vital Signs’. We intend to work closely with CBT staff to develop a regional approach to developing a 10 year Workforce Strategy (Demand/Supply/Alignment) that aligns with the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals as well as their Vital Signs Report.

We consider the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust as a partner to our efforts in collaborating with regional stakeholders to achieve our sustainable economic development goals of diversification."

 “Please accept this letter as an affirmation of our desire for the continued designation of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region, established in 2000.  

We are very grateful for the ongoing support the CBT has provided for the revitalization of our language, Central Region Dialect, Nuu-chah-nulth, which has been hugely impactful and appreciated. We trust you appreciate and are aware of the many reasons our language is important as a preventative measure and as a knowledge envelope.”

 "By being the fiscal and administrative host of Leadership Vancouver Island West Coast Chapter – The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust has allowed for all communities in the Biosphere to collaborate and learn together. The program is hosted over a 10-month period and visits all communities in the Biosphere region to create better understanding and collaboration.”  

“The  Pacific Rim Hospice Society  has enjoyed participating in the educational opportunities provided by the CBT, such as the Art of Hosting and First Nations’ educational workshops helping our staff understand First Nation’s culture. 

The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust is an invaluable organization on the west coast bringing communities together for the betterment of our west coast communities. We are very pleased to support their continued designation for the next ten years as the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region.”

 “The CBT recognized the value of my long term gray whale research program in the reserve area and assisted in funding of both field work and, more critically, analysis. This included use of CBT office on the weekends where space was needed for matching 1000s of identification photographs. The result will be a four decade overview of composition and behaviour of one of the region’s key stone species, both ecologically and economically. Gray whales are the basis for a significant whale watching industry which brings millions of dollars a year into the community. CBT support also assisted in producing an online individual whale identification catalog for access by all. 

The CBT supported my collaboration with the local Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation in an investigation into a huge collection of whale bones buried at a whaling site in use for 1000s of years before European colonization. Through genetic analysis we were able to determine species present before industrialized whaling and those most important to First Nations culture and for food. This study has been published in a western science journey with the authorship including the First Nation hosts. Working on the project enhanced my understanding of indigenous whaling culture and the potential of future collaborations.

We are partnered on a CBT led, multi-year study of soundscapes, including biological, physical and human sounds in the near pristine Sydney Inlet in the reserve. This involves three years of sound recording, both on land and underwater over the length of the inlet from entrance to estuary. This study will provide the baseline knowledge of natural species and events essential for the recognition and assessment of changes over time due to development and climate change.

One further point I would like to make is the CBT has done a remarkable job of inclusivity. Their programs have been developed such that the majority in this diverse west coast community feel the CBT is relevant to them; that they are welcomed and supported. It has added a significant depth to the process of community assessment of environmental, health, development and social issues. The direction the CBT has taken is quite unprecedented and its full contribution is yet to be realized.”  

-- Jim Darling

 "The organization I work with is focused on environmental education and so much of the collaboration we have enjoyed with CBT over the years has been in that field, and those are the types of programs I am most familiar with on a professional basis. I am, however, well aware that the CBT’s efforts to develop and support functional community networks look to serve MANY other needs as well; financial security, food security, community engagement, cross-cultural learning and communication, scientific research and biological monitoring and many, many more. These initiatives, grants and programs collectively highlight the goals of the UNESCO designation, and I think the greatest compliment I could pay the CBT as far as their work and efforts over the last two decades is that so many of us living here have come to take it for granted that we can expect a level of informed discourse and community engagement that ultimately lets us make wise decisions to maintain and improve the standard of living for one and all. Again… these things don’t simply come to be. 

Some examples of initiatives that we have undertaken with the support of the CBT include:

• Co-leading sustainable development and biodiversity conservation projects, such as an ongoing multi-partner study of shorebird habitat use in our region. I am particularly proud of this work, and especially grateful for the support we received through the CBT to carry out this research.
• Participating in programs and events that develop cross-cultural understanding and advance reconciliation, such as our Field School program, featuring a curriculum reflecting First Nations language, culture, and history. This program reaches every single K-7 student in our region.
• Developing alliances and partnerships to strengthen the development and engagement of citizens, communities, and ecosystems, such as a variety of adult education programs featuring topics and issues of local relevance which promote environmental awareness and promote local stewardship.
• Developing and promoting education tourism opportunities through participation in the West Coast N.E.S.T., such as educational courses, guided walks and other registration-based programs that highlight the local ecosystem and promote educational tourism.
• Contributing to the achievement of several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, most notably Sustainable Cities and Communities, Life Below Water, and Life On Land.” 

" Sea View Seniors Housing Society Board  members and the Forest Glen administrative coordinator have participated extensively in networks to enhance communication and coordination.

Our current project is to establish Forest Glen as an emergency gathering place and warming centre for our area’s most vulnerable seniors. This effort has been made possible through a grant from the Emergency Community Support Fund coordinated by the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust. Ucluelet is isolated and vulnerable to extreme weather events and natural disasters.

We are proud to support the continued Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere designation, and look forward to participating in the next ten years of activities in our region.” 

“The  Spirit of the Canoe Society  has been working in collaboration with the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust to develop in partnership with local health care organizations and Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations a cultural wellness centre that will provide a safe space where cross-cultural understanding and reconciliation can be fostered. Clayoquot Biosphere Trust has also been supporting through grant funding the development and delivery of programs that provide opportunities for First Nations and non-First Nations to learn about healing practices side by side. In particular the Spirit of the Canoe Society facilitates the participation in a yearly canoe journey on the Tribal Journeys, where cultural healing, connection with nature, and team building occur. This is only a fraction of the immense support Clayoquot Biosphere Trust contributes to cross-cultural understanding and advancing reconciliation.” 

 "Our mission is to promote and conduct marine research, education, and monitoring within the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region for the health of coastal and marine ecosystems. 

The work done by our organization is largely a collaborative effort supported by deep alliances and partnerships with our communities, and ultimately fostered by the Clayoquot Biosphere designation. Both our Sea Star Stewardship Program and Killer Whale Monitoring Program rely on citizen-science and community engagement, and our Build-A-Whale Program engages children and youth through hands-on education. Both Clayoquot Biosphere Trust and the West Coast N.E.S.T. have been essential partners in promoting participation in these programs to locals and visitors alike, helping strengthen stewardship towards the marine environment."

 "Clayoquot Sound UNESCO designation has been of value to our organization through partnership in launching our Ocean Friendly Business Campaign. Ocean pollution is one of our most alarming issues on the planet, and since Tofino is a seaside town, it is essential that we are part of the movement to reduce ocean pollution, and regenerate the health of the coast. The Ocean Friendly Business Certification has been created to work with and assist local businesses to reduce single use plastics and other forms of waste that lead to ocean pollution. This campaign runs on a yearly basis to work with and register 15 new businesses as “Ocean Friendly” and we have now completed 3 successful years and are underway with our fourth!”  

 “Our organization undertakes salmonid enhancement, stock assessment and educational programming in the Biosphere Region. Our goals are to ensure sustainable salmon runs which provides benefits including maintaining ecosystem integrity and biodiversity in the region, addressing impacts of climate change, improving food security for local communities and providing data with researchers.  

As a partner of the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, our organization has been able to contribute to achieving the objectives of sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and reconciliation, through education, research and collaboration such as:

• Partnering on our WCVI Juvenile Chinook Survival and Release Strategy research project;
• Providing training for our staff through Leadership Vancouver Island;
• Promoting our educational programs through the West Coast N.E.S.T.;
• Partnering on our Chum fry transplant into Twin River East/Chenatha;
• Assisting with our fundraising efforts through the CBT Giving Catalogue; [and]
• Partnering with our Clayoquot Chinook Educational Poster project.” 

 “I am delighted to submit this letter of strong support for the continued designation of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region, established in 2000. The changes that our region has experienced over the last 20 years highlight the value of this designation and the focus it puts on maintaining a sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship between people and place. 

Our region has worked together for the past decade to advance the objectives of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve program, and I am writing this letter in my capacity as Chair of the Tofino Mudflats Wildlife Management Area Advisory Committee, a group which represents a variety of community stakeholders committed to promoting effective stewardship of one of our most cherished ecological assets. In addition to active participation in the meetings of the Committee itself, the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust has championed a number of initiatives to raise awareness of the WMA among residents and visitors alike, as well as supported ongoing research and monitoring within the WMA.

I strongly feel that the common attitude within our community today to embrace this balance is in a large part attributable to the tireless work of many folks over the last few decades to demonstrate that such a balance and relationship between people and place is possible and beneficial. Front and center in the push to cultivate this balance is the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, who through countless community initiatives, funding streams, educational programs and general engagement have demonstrated that healthy communities and healthy habitats are one and the same, and that development and growth need not come at the cost of ecological integrity.” 

“ TUCG  is a non-profit organization serving the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve Region. Under the Biosphere designation we have been able to collaborate with local organizations and communities to bring together initiatives in conservation, research, community health, and reconciliation to address issues of food insecurity for our region that further UNESCO objectives of sustainable development."

Our partnerships include:

• "Active support of sustainable community-based fisheries and aquaculture operations, a main industry in the biosphere region
• Direct action in culturally important harvesting and processing practices, respecting local sustainable practices as well as indigenous traditional cultivation and harvest
• Participation in conservation and research programs that lead to sustainable fish and marine food harvesting
• Empowerment of residents to take action on local food security issues through the Neighbourhood Small Grants program
• Raising the profile of local sustainable foods through the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District, Province of BC, and Government of Canada advisory groups and networks on food security.” 

 “For the past decade our region has worked diligently to advance the objectives of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve program. This program has been a catalyst that has brought community organizations, businesses, residents, indigenous nations and governments together to achieve the objectives of sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and reconciliation. 

Our organization has specifically utilized many Biosphere programs including the Vital Signs research, the West Coast N.E.S.T. education tourism service, communication networks and the Leadership Vancouver Island program. Additionally, visitors to our region gain insight from the work undertaken by the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust about the importance of environmental conservation and protection which positively alters long entrenched human habits.

We whole-heartedly believe that this distinguished international designation inspires our communities and peoples to make environmental stewardship and sustainability foundational goals of decision-making, and as such we are proud to support the continuation of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere designation for another ten years.” 

“ Tourism Ucluelet  works with the West Coast N.E.S.T. annually to market programs that are educationally diverse and unique which draw participants to the area during the shoulder and off season. By intentionally developing programs in quieter periods of the year, it helps facilitate a longer season for businesses and an injection of revenue in a time of year where there is less visitation.

With the help of Clayoquot Biosphere Trust participating in our first strategic planning session, their contribution opened the thought process to ensure all new messaging would integrate respect for the ecology and all people of the area, while trying to consciously manage tourism economic growth annually and for years to come. This session was the first steps to redefine how the organization operated through sustainable best practices.” 

“Our mission here at the  Ucluelet Aquarium  (UA) is to raise awareness about local marine biodiversity and promote respect for the ocean environment. We welcome visitors from all around the world treating them to a very personal view of the fish and invertebrates from our local waters in Clayoquot and Barkley Sounds. We strive to create an ethically and environmentally sustainable facility while encouraging education and appreciation of marine ecosystems. The designation of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region is deeply rooted in our values and beliefs as a collect-and-release aquarium.

Through participation and partnership with West Coast N.E.S.T. we have been able to further develop and promote education tourism opportunities and programs. We also welcome school groups of all sizes from across Canada, educating and getting people excited about everything the ocean has to offer."

“The mandate of the  Ucluelet and Area Historical Society  is to preserve local history and make it known, by collecting artifacts and information that help tell the story of Ucluelet and area. In this way we fit in to the much larger picture of the region. Although Ucluelet proper is south of the formal UNESCO designated area, we are considered an integral part of the fabric of the larger community, due to our shared history, culture and goals. 

We are proud to support the continued Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere designation, which is so important to our region on so many levels. We look forward with eagerness and optimism, to participating in the next ten years of activities in our region.” 

 “Since its inception, CBT has worked tirelessly and with demonstrable results to strengthen sustainable ecosystems that support residents and communities throughout the region. As one of 18 Canadian sites, CBT has been a leader within the Canadian Community Foundation movement supporting ecological research, stewardship initiatives and building capacity of residents to contribute to the well being of their communities. 

Through this work CBT has demonstrated a capacity, passion and expertise to address the most critical needs of the region with collaborative solutions. In addition, the CBT has demonstrated dedicated focus to address Reconciliation in communities of the west coast region.

CBT has a solid track record for co-creating and supporting innovative solutions towards a better future for ecosystems and the many communities in the region. I believe that the CBT is worthy of the continued designation of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Through ongoing partnerships, projects and grants, CBT has demonstrated excellence, leadership and ample examples of meeting the key criteria for Canadian BR’s.” 

“The  Westcoast Community Resources Society  offers services to all members of the west coast communities and we have valued the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust’s many programs and events that develop cross-cultural understanding and advance reconciliation. We are a charitable non-profit organization that offers counselling and support programs to women and children, a transition house and outreach programs. We are committed to ending system power imbalances and abuse in all forms; in partnership with other services we promote equality, diversity and well being of all people in the west coast communities.

We have contributed data to the Vital Signs report and in turn have drawn on the report to provide rich context to our own grant proposals to funders. We have participated in capacity building opportunities hosted by CBT, such as workshops to support charities’ board development.

We are proud to support the continued Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere designation, and look forward to participating in the next ten years of activities in our region.” 

 "As a partner of the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, our organization has been able to contribute to: 

• Developing and showcasing interpretive content through trail signage, guided walks and ‘Learn where you Live’ naturalist web series;
• Inspiring people through sharing perspectives about the culture, history and nature of this area;
• Participating in training and capacity building programs such as Effective Grant Writing and designing and delivering Interpretation Skills workshop for local interpreters;
• Participating in networks to enhance communication and coordination (i.e. providing outdoor learning opportunities in conjunction with other local educational and environmental organizations); [and]
• Contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals."

“We are writing in response to the recent request from Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) to the Clayoquot Salmon Roundtable for support of the renewal of the Clayoquot Biosphere Designation.  Cermaq Canada  agrees to support the continued UNESCO Biosphere Region designation and priorities; to foster the harmonious integration of people and nature for sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and reconciliation – by encouraging dialogue, sharing knowledge, reducing poverty, increasing human well-being , respecting cultural values, and enhancing capacity to cope with climate change (World Network of Biosphere Reserves).

Cermaq Canada is working to align our operations with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goals 2, 8, 12, 13 and 14 and in fact, Cermaq was one of the founding members of the UN’s Sustainable Ocean Business Action Platform.

Cermaq has also publicly committed to the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights for Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and is responding to the call to Action 92 for business in Canada from the Truth and Reconciliation commission, (DRIPA). Cermaq Canada values and places importance on building relationships with First Nations which are based on mutual respect, trust and finding share value.

And as such, and in consideration of our on-going formal and informal relationships with Ahousaht, we will follow any additional guidance or direction provided by Ahousaht leadership in the chosen direction of the biosphere designation matter, as we recognize the Hawiih as the title holders and subsequently their stewardship interests and leadership responsibilities.

We support the Maaqutusiis Hahoulthee Stewardship Society proposed engagement process, with the goals of re-defining how the CBT will respect, recognize, and reconcile with the role of the Ahousaht Hawiih through new models of governance, and a new model for resourcing the stewardship and sustainable economic development initiatives of the Ahousaht at an increased scale.” 

" We are working together to achieve the objectives of sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and reconciliation, through education, research and collaboration such as: 

• Developing and promoting education tourism opportunities through participation in the West Coast N.E.S.T.; [and]
• Participating in processes for implementing, managing, and monitoring community and ecosystem health."

 "We are working together to achieve the objectives of sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and reconciliation, through education, research and collaboration such as: 

• The Students on Ice program, which empowers local youth to join an educational expedition to the Arctic or Antarctic to not only learn and foster relationships outside of our small communities, but to share the beauty and exceptionalism of Clayoquot Sound with others from around the world.” 

 “As a partner of the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, our organization has been able to contribute to achieving the objectives of sustainable development, [and] biodiversity conservation." 

Our partnerships include:

• "Developing and promoting education tourism opportunities through participation in the West Coast N.E.S.T.; [and]
• Participating in training and capacity building programs such as the Art of Hosting and Leadership Vancouver Island;” 

 “This letter is to affirm our support for the continued designation of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region, established in 2000. 

Ocean Outfitters is a carbon neutral adventure tour company committed to restorative tourism through ecological stewardship, carbon action, and community responsibility.

Our region has worked together for the past decade to advance the objectives of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve program. We are working together to achieve the objectives of sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and reconciliation, through education, research and collaboration.” 

 “Our region has worked together for the past decade to advance the objectives of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve program. We are working together to achieve the objectives of sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and reconciliation, through education, research and collaboration. 

We have and will continue developing alliances and partnerships to strengthen the development of citizens, communities, and ecosystems as well as stewardship of ecosystem services. The Tofino Botanical Gardens is home to The Raincoast Education Society as well as Surfrider foundation. They both run their non-profit businesses from our property. With a strong focus on beach clean ups, single-use plastic awareness and education about our local ecosystems and it’s biodiversity for all ages to learn and grow.

We are proud to support the continued Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere designation, and look forward to participating in the next ten years of activities in our region.” 

“This letter is to affirm the support of the  Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce  board of directors and over 325 members for the continued designation of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region, established in 2000.

We are working together to achieve the objectives of sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and reconciliation, through education, research and collaboration such as:

• Participating in programs and events that develop cross-cultural understanding and advance reconciliation;
• Developing and promoting education tourism opportunities through participation in the West Coast N.E.S.T.;
• Contributing data and knowledge to the Vital Signs program or Living Wage calculation; [and]
• Gathering local data to inform decision-making processes.” 

“We are blessed to live in the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region and enjoy the beauty which those before us worked so hard to protect. At  Tofino Resort + Marina , we feel inspired to do our part and to pay it forward, so we started a donor-advised fund to protect wild salmon in Clayoquot Sound. The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) and partners have been instrumental in getting the fund off the ground, with nearly $60,000 raised in our inaugural year. The CBT helped set up Fish for the Future for success and, most importantly, to protect Clayoquot Sound’s wild salmon and everything else that depends on this keystone species.

We are working together to achieve the objectives of sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and reconciliation, through education, research and collaboration. This includes the following:

• Supporting sustainable development and biodiversity conservation programs;
• Projects include the protection of wild salmon and the natural watershed; [and]
• We are an active part of the Tribal Parks Allies program which supports developing cross-cultural understanding and advance reconciliation.” 

 “The Clayoquot Sound UNESCO designation maintains the natural environment of the traditional territory of the Ahousaht people. As students’ identity is inherently connected with the land, it is integral to the revitalization and preservation of Ahousaht language and culture. 

Also encouraged is the on-going learning of the Nuu-chah-nulth language. Through the support of adults and Elders, students are encouraged to use language as they engage in various land-based activities. They listen as fluent speakers use the language to pray, communicate, connect.

Finally, the UNESCO designation for the Clayoquot Sound gives students the opportunity to develop core competencies as recognized by the new BC curriculum (including communication, collaboration and critical/creative thinking skills) while strengthening their identities as indigenous persons.

Undoubtedly, the UNESCO designation ensures the protection of this natural environment which is the backdrop to student learning and the foundation of students’ identities as First Nations People.” 

 “I am writing to express my support for the role of the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust in enhancing our regional education landscape. 

The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) has made a huge impact on educational opportunities in our communities. Programs which have had notable success include the scholarship program for high school students, Leadership Vancouver Island, West Coast NEST and the grant program administered through the CBT’s Education and Youth Committee.

I have been particularly impressed with the impact these programs have had on learners in our neighbouring First Nations communities, where more traditional organizations have often struggled to find success.

The CBT has been a “game changer” for education and learning in this region.” 

-- Bill Morrison

 “I am a professor at Quest University Canada and have been teaching undergraduate courses and conducting research in the area for the past 7 years. The UNESCO Biosphere Reserve designation and the work and support of the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust have been central to the success of both over the years. Both the designation and the work of the Trust demonstrates the importance of education, research, collaboration, and reconciliation as contributors to achieving sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. 

Quest University Canada has a memorandum of understanding with the Trust that uses the strengths of the biosphere designation to provide meaningful internship and mentoring opportunities for our undergraduate students. Employees of the Trust have beautifully represented the goals and mandates of the BR designation and the MAB program through meaningful interaction in a number of undergraduate field courses I have run in the biosphere reserve over the years. The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust and their affiliate, the West Coast N.E.S.T., have assisted in the development and promotion of these undergraduate educational tourism opportunities and I have no doubt this work is richer for their involvement, which is made possible by the framework of the biosphere reserve designation. . . My work and the work of countless other academics within (and because of) the biosphere reserve has been robustly supported by the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust and our understanding of the relationship between people and landscape are richer for that support and participation.” 

-- Dr. John Reid-Hresko

“ Royal Roads University  (RRU) faculty and students have been engaged in collaborations in research, grant funding, teaching and public science education and outreach projects with the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) since 2015. All the staff at Clayoquot Biosphere Trust have been extremely supportive and engaged in our various collaborative projects, and in particular the RRU – CBT collaborations have been spearheaded by Dr. Laura Loucks, CBT Research Director and active Adjunct Professor in the School of Environment and Sustainability at RRU.

In our collaborative projects, we are working together to achieve our shared objective of sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and reconciliation, through education, research and collaboration such as:

• Graduate student projects, both MSc and MA, in the Clayoquot Biosphere region.
• Popular RRU courses and local workshops in the region led by Dr. Loucks. In particular these courses have uniquely emphasized input and ways of knowing from local Indigenous communities, indicating the very strong links CBT has with the local Indigenous communities. These courses have greatly enhanced the important opportunity for RRU students to learn about and experience Indigenous knowledge and perspectives.
• Research collaboration, including funding, equipment and data sharing in the fields of oceanography and marine geology, in support of climate change monitoring and knowledge which contribute to adaptation planning.
• Co-leading partnership in Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) PromoScience projects in the region since 2017. These projects work to connect scientists performing research in the local region with the local communities with the intention to accomplish positive outreach and engagement with the communities. The projects are also designed to encourage the participation and interest in science and technology in the under-represented groups of Indigenous Peoples, women and girls.

The complexity and deep local community connections of the projects described above from our collaboration, speak to the depth of the CBT’s cross-cultural community connections and understanding which advances reconciliation; their skills and professionalism in engaging with academic and community networks to enhance communication and coordination, and environmental research in the region. As I understand the mission, the CBT is successfully and with innovation and the support of their collaborators and their local communities, contributing to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.” 

-- Dr. Audrey Dallimore

“ Royal Roads University School of Tourism and Hospitality  has maintained a close relationship with the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust for over a decade, providing educational research expertise for major projects, and utilizing Clayoquot Biosphere staff for field experiences for our graduate and undergraduate students. Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve has been an ideal laboratory for courses, ranging from Destination Development to Environmental Stewardship.

The UNESCO designation provides a globally significant landscape with extraordinary ecological and cultural attributes within a day’s drive of our campus. The high profile of tourism in the Reserve, and in the community of Tofino and the three Indigenous communities in the Sound, provides an unparalleled example of cultural and ecological engagement. . . The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust has provided exceptional leadership and is an essential component of our School, and also of other Schools at Royal Roads University.” 

-- Dr. Brian White

 “This letter of support has been written on behalf of all three public schools located in Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. 

CBT supports programs that allow our students to get outside the school into nature through the creation of the “What I Learned About My Biosphere” program, which supports local schools, so they can get students outside to experience the biosphere reserve first hand. Through this program each school within the region received $1000 annually to help cover costs for field trips taken within the region. CBT also understands the benefit in sending our secondary students on longer trips to experience culture in other provinces and countries. . . Many of these trips have included visits to other UNESCO Biosphere Reserves or World Heritage Sites.

CBT has partnered with SD70 and USS to provide training and capacity building programs for local youth. CBT provided ongoing direct financial support or assistance in leveraging financial support to the USS Kayaking 11/12 program for more than 10 years: a program in which students have the opportunity to gain skills and certifications required to work in the local eco-tourism industry. CBT aided SD70 in developing our Sustainability Studies 12 BAA curriculum which provides a framework for learning about local issues such as food security, sustainable development, ecosystem-based management and civic engagement. Most recently SD70 partnered with the West Coast N.E.S.T. to conduct a feasibility study investigating the possibility of offering a semester long Outdoor Ed program at Ucluelet Secondary School for local and international students and aided in finding funding to get this program started. And in the past few years CBT has begun providing more opportunities for youth to build capacity by inviting them to be members on the CBT community advisory granting committees and inviting them to participate in programs such as Art of Hosting. Our students directly participate in the CBT Vital Signs research as well.

There is no way we can possibly name every single program or class project CBT has been involved in, but what we do know is that our staff and students benefit greatly from their support and are very thankful for all the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust staff and Board of Directors for their support over the years.” 

 “Since early 2018, the University of British Columbia’s Office of Regional and International Community Engagement has been working together with Clayoquot Biosphere Trust to work toward the objectives of sustainable development, through education, research and collaboration. We have worked together by contributing to the Vital Signs Program and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

The focus of the research has been to inform community decision-making about how best to balance a thriving tourism industry while safeguarding the environment and promoting sustainable livelihoods. In 2018, one student completed a 3-month intensive placement and contributed to the bi-annual Vital Signs report, which tracked Clayoquot Biosphere Trust’s progress on the global goals (SDGs) by bringing together research and community action to share a snapshot of their region.

The relationship has been reciprocal and is one we hope to expand into student research opportunities for other disciplines such as Sociology, and Public Policy.” 

-- Tamara Baldwin

 “I submit this letter of support as the independent evaluation consultant who has conducted the two most recent comprehensive evaluations of the performance and impact of the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) in its efforts to support ongoing biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Region. The evidence I collected, analyzed and presented in my evaluation studies offers strong support for the continued designation of the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Region. 

In my evaluation work, I observed and documented many excellent examples of partners in the region working together to advance the objectives of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve program. It is clear that there is a very strong endorsement for and work to collectively achieve the objectives of sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and reconciliation, through education, research and collaboration.

The remarkable effort of staff and volunteers in the region will continue to ensure that UNESCO Biosphere Reserve program objectives guide the work of people who live work and play in the Clayoquot region. This strong alignment leads me to be a proud supporter of the continued Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere designation.” 

-- Scott Graham

“Field research teams from  University of Washington  (UW) have been collecting oceanographic data from the inlets and fjords in Clayoquot Sound along the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada since 2001 . . . Our annual estuarine monitoring over a twenty-year period establishes a foundation for further climate change research. We have shared our scientific research with the community in Tofino and Ahousaht through public presentations, hands on educational programs in the local schools and participated in open houses as part of a PromoScience grant with Royal Rhodes University. Over the past couple of years, we have been the recipient of funding from the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust (CBT) that has allowed up to keep this monitoring going using local boats and personnel when we lost access to our research vessel. Our data is shared with CBT, contributing to the Vital Signs report they compile for the region. In addition, we regularly involve undergraduates in this research and have brought students from University of Washington Tacoma in the United States to Tofino to participate in an oceanographic field class that has integrated Traditional Ecological Knowledge from the region into the curriculum through readings and guest lectures from First Nations Elders.

Clayoquot Sound is a special place that is home to many different species and natural resources that are essential to residents and appreciated and enjoyed by many visitors."

-- Dr. Cheryl Greengrove