Paris, February 16 (No. 2001-21) - A three-year grant of Canadian $600,000 by the government of Canada earlier this month will make possible new research, education and training projects in the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Reserve of Clayoquot Sound (Canada), through a partnership between the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust and the University of Victoria with the participation of the local First Nations (indigenous) population.

The research to be led by the Clayoquot Alliance for Research, Education and Training partnership will focus on the interests of local communities and its first phase will concentrate on the identification of the First Nations’ needs and priorities.

The Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve was established in 2000 in British Colombia, Canada. Its designation was prepared with the active support of local First Nations and local communities after many years of conflict over the logging of relatively undisturbed forests.

Biosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial or marine ecosystems which are internationally recognized within UNESCO’s MAB Programme for promoting and demonstrating a balanced relationship between people and nature. The World Network of Biosphere Reserves presently consists of 391 biosphere reserves located in 94 countries.

Thomas C. Esakin, Executive Director of the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust, said that “First Nations and local communities in the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve region will benefit from the CURA [Community University Research Alliance] research project through the building of knowledge in areas of locally-identified need, the creation of some short-term employment opportunities, and through helping the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust in its own foundation-building”.

Dr Rod Dobell, a Professor at the University of Victoria’s School of Public Administration and the Director of the project, commented: “The University will be in a position to benefit from the substantial knowledge and information available in the region, compiled for and by the many local First Nations, communities and non-profit organizations in the area.”

The project funds were allocated to CURA, which was initiated by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada as a pilot programme to help organizations within communities and universities to combine forces and tackle issues they have identified as being of common priority concern. CURA provides universities with research opportunities within communities and with community organisations.

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For more information, contact the MAB Secretariat, UNESCO (mab@unesco.org) or Tom Esakin, Clayoquot Biosphere Trust: tesakin@clayoquotbiosphere.org and www.clayoquotbiosphere.org