A Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve must have adequate core protection to safeguard biodiversity
UNESCO Biosphere Reserves are intended to contribute to the global conservation of biodiversity. At a meeting of the World Conservation Union held in Montreal in October of 1996, 880 representatives from 133 countries (including the B.C. Government) urged the parties involved in planning a Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve to "consider the importance of increased protection of pristine areas as core areas for protecting biodiversity". WCWC believes that protecting the biodiversity of Clayoquot Sound will require increased protection of pristine areas, especially large intact watersheds that are important for salmon, tourism and cultural heritage values.
The protection of Clayoquot's pristine watersheds is particularly important given recent studies of British Columbia and Yukon streams by the American Fisheries Society that reveal a frightening loss of salmon biodiversity: 142 stocks of salmon (stream-specific salmon runs) have gone extinct in this century, and another 624 stocks are at high risk. Habitat degradation associated with logging is identified as a major cause of salmon extinctions.
Additional protection can be achieved through current Clayoquot processes. The Interim Measures Agreement (IMA), originally signed in March of 1994 and extended for three years in March of 1997 establishes that "The First Nations wish to apply the concept of a tribal park to certain selected areas within Clayoquot Sound." In its April 30, 1997 letter about Biosphere Reserve, sent to all interested parties by the Clayoquot Central Region Board, the Board notes that "First Nations have designated Meares Island as a tribal park. and other possible tribal park declarations are under consideration."
The Clayoquot Scientific Panel recommendations, fully accepted by the B.C. government in the spring of 1994, also mandates further protection of areas within Clayoquot Sound, specifically "sites significant to First Nations people, and "areas of significant scenic, recreational, and tourism values". The Scientific Panel recognizes that more than one watershed may be required to plan for values such as biodiversity, scenery, and cultural features, features.
Increasing the protection of Clayoquot's pristine areas has been made easier by the public statement by MacMillan Bloedel at the 1996 Biosphere Reserve meeting hosted by the CRB that, should stakeholders agree to further protection, MB will not require financial compensation for relinquishing logging rights.
