By Jennifer Dingman
In 2007, UNESCO through the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program, designated the upper Bay of Fundy as an important and unique ecoregion of the world. Through this prestigious
designation, the Fundy Biosphere Reserve and its partners work to improve biodiversity conservation, help create sustainable communities, and celebrate the cultural diversity and rich
history shaped by the landscape.
In 2007, UNESCO through the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program, designated the upper Bay of Fundy as an important and unique ecoregion of the world. Through this prestigious
designation, the Fundy Biosphere Reserve and its partners work to improve biodiversity conservation, help create sustainable communities, and celebrate the cultural diversity and rich
history shaped by the landscape.
Much of the biodiversity of the region depends on old growth Acadian (Wabanaki) Forests. This
forest type no longer exists in much of the landscape, and the remnants that do exist are
threatened by industry, development and climate change. However, we are on the verge of a
changing tide where the provincial and federal governments are investing more than ever in
landscape protection. In 2020, the Government of New Brunswick committed to doubling the
protected area in the province. It’s now time for community members, environmental groups,
cultural organizations, municipalities, industry and others to come together to shape what New
Brunswick will look like in the future.
According to the Government of NB, the conservation process involves three steps, which are
defined as:
“1. NOMINATE A SITE: Candidate Conservation Areas are created by considering nominations
by Conservation leaders, Rights holders, stakeholders, and Citizens. If you have an area you
think should be protected, send in your nomination by January 31st, 2021.
2. CANDIDATE CONSERVED AREA: Inform the protection and long-term management of a
Candidate Conserved Area by checking out our interactive map and completing a local
knowledge survey. Sign up for our mailing list to stay up to date as new CCAs are added into
2021.
3. PROTECTED AREAS: Sign up for [GNB Nature Legacy] mailing list to stay up to date on
newly protected areas as they are announced starting in 2021.”
Source: www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/erd/promo/nature_legacy/involved.html
In this region, many candidate conserved sites have been nominated through an open forum for
consideration by the provincial government. You can check out which sites have been
nominated for protection at gnb.ca/naturelegacy and provide comments on the areas that are
close to your heart. Here in the Fundy Biosphere Reserve, candidate sites include parts of
Shepody Mountain, Crooked Creek Ravine, Germantown, Caledonia Mountain, areas outside
Albert Mines Road, Hillsborough and Turtle Creek.
To have a say about whether these Candidate Conserved Areas will be legally protected and
contribute to New Brunswick’s target of 10% protected land, we are asking people who care
about these areas to complete the survey at the Nature Legacy website by using the map to
select a site and then share what they know. This information will inform the decisions to protect
sites, as well as help us understand how best to protect and manage the areas to preserve
biodiversity for all New Brunswickers.
If you have any questions or want to be further involved in New Brunswick’s nature legacy,
contact us at info@fundy-biosphere.ca.
To have a say about whether these Candidate Conserved Areas will be legally protected and
contribute to New Brunswick’s target of 10% protected land, we are asking people who care
about these areas to complete the survey at the Nature Legacy website by using the map to
select a site and then share what they know. This information will inform the decisions to protect
sites, as well as help us understand how best to protect and manage the areas to preserve
biodiversity for all New Brunswickers.
If you have any questions or want to be further involved in New Brunswick’s nature legacy,
contact us at info@fundy-biosphere.ca.
Jennifer Dingman, PhD, is Executive Director of the Fundy Biosphere Reserve. Jennifer was
born and raised in Calgary, AB, but is proud to call New Brunswick home and has lived in
Riverview for almost half her life. She holds an undergraduate degree in Environmental Biology
from the University of New Brunswick and stayed on to complete a PhD. Jennifer has a passion
for community service and community development, science outreach and education.
www.fundy-biosphere.ca Follow on social media @fundybiosphere.
born and raised in Calgary, AB, but is proud to call New Brunswick home and has lived in
Riverview for almost half her life. She holds an undergraduate degree in Environmental Biology
from the University of New Brunswick and stayed on to complete a PhD. Jennifer has a passion
for community service and community development, science outreach and education.
www.fundy-biosphere.ca Follow on social media @fundybiosphere.
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