The Bras d’Or Lake Biosphere Reserve

UNESCO Biospheres, such as the Bras d’Or Lake Biosphere Reserve Association (BLBRA – June 29, 2011), promote the growth of environmentally sustainable businesses along with encouraging all people, including industry, with nature to work better together.

In the 1990s an economic benefit was seen to develop gypsum mines within the Bras d’Or Lake watershed but environmental impacts were also recognised. Joe Googoo of We’kokma’q (meaning the end of the bay) started as a full time fisherman at the age of 18 with two licences. He loved oysters but most have been killed off by the MSX parasite that may have been brought in via ballast discharge. Some of his living oysters were overwintered, frozen in shallow salt waters. These seemed to be fighting off the parasite. He fought back using native traditions. Now it is up to the other cultures to determine why he was successful.

Key Themes:

Places & Spaces, Engagement, Education & Empowerment, Livelihoods, Fisheries & Wildlife

Presenters:

Eliot Frosst (BLBRA)

Stan Johnson (CEPI appointi – Eskasoni First Nations Gape Breton)

Small businesses can benefit from using the concept of environmentally sustainable promotion. Examples of this include, Jeremy White of the local craft beer brand, ‘Big Spruce Brewing’ who started to make beer from organically grown hops on the shores of Big Bras d’Or. That which started out as a small ‘fun business venture’ has become a year round operation employing many locals. His craft beer is now sold in the Nova Scotia Liquor stores and at local Farmers Markets. The brewery is open for regular sales of his beer and other social gatherings. His knowledge has been used by many other local sustainable breweries in Cape Breton and Mainland Nova Scotia such as the Tatamgouche Brewery. Eskasoni has started several ecotourism businesses such as guided walks on Goat Island Trail. This with the Iona Highland Village tour fits into the ‘two-eyed seeing’ model. Greg Silver’s sailing operation shows tourists the importance of development in an environmentally friendly way. Ben Eoin Ski Hill overlooks the lake and has developed an ‘Outdoor Classroom’ in collaboration with the BLBRA. This venture as well as with a large citizen science initiative called the ‘Bras d’Or Watch’, are designed to engage and educate residents and visitors about the valuable and charismatic ecosystem of the Bras d’Or Lake biosphere.

The Bras d’Or Lake Biosphere promotes environmentally sustainable development and the ‘two-eyed seeing’ concept in their guiding principles.