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BiosphereReservesandSovereignty:AStoryfortheUnitedStatesManandBiosphere(MAB)Community

Vernon(Tom)Gilbert

January2016

INTRODUCTION

ThisstoryfromannotateddocumentsdescribestheconflictbetweenproponentsofbiospherereservesandgroupswhichclaimedbiospherereserveswereinstrumentsoftheUnitedNationstotakecontroloflandsandprivatepropertiesintheUnitedStates.ItispreparednowtoremindmembersoftheDepartmentofState,theNationalParkServiceandotheragenciesintheMABcommunityoftheeventsofthisdifficultperiod,andoflessonsthatcouldbeusefultoday

Biospherereservesarespecialplacesdedicatedtodiscoveringanddemonstratingapproachestoconservationandsustainabledevelopment.Therearenow640biospherereservesintheworld,andinMarch2016severalmorewillbedesignated.TheUnitedSateshas47biospherereserves,andplayedaleadroleinthedevelopmentoftheinternationalprogram,butinthemidtolate1990's,SovereigntyInternational,Inc.,foundedandchairedbyHenryLamb,ledeffortsthatresultedintheU.S.CongresstocuttingfundingfortheU.S.MABprogram.LambwasopposedtoallUnitedNationsprograms.HeattendedUnitednationsmeetingsaroundtheworldandwastheleadingopponentofbiospherereserves,whichhereferredtoas"UNreserves."HewasaconsultantonUNaffairstoFoxNews.HeandhisalliesconvincedmembersofCongresstocutfundingfortheU.S.ManandBiosphere(MAB)PrograminspiteoftestimonybyAdministrationofficialswhosupportedtheprogram.Forexample,RafePomerance,DeputyAssistantSecretaryofState,testifiedtotheCommitteeonResources,U.S.HouseofRepresentativesonJune10,1997,that"ContinuedinternationalcollaborationsunderMABareofimportancetotheDepartmentofStatebecausetheyfurthertheAdministration'sgoaloffosteringwiseenvironmentalstewardshiparoundtheworldwhileatthesametimestrengtheningrelationsbetweentheU.S.andkeycounterpartnations."

LambwassuccessfullargelybecauseheknewabouttheUNESCOrequirementsforbiospherereservequalificationandmanagement.OnJune10,1997,hetestifiedbeforetheHouseofRepresentativesCommitteeonResourcesinsupportoftheAmericanLandSovereigntyProtectionAct.Hesaid,"TheAmericanpeoplehavebeentoldbyAdministrationrepresentativesthattheUnitedNationsdoesnothaveanyauthoritytoaffectfederallandmanagementdecisionswithintheUnitedStates."LambpointedoutthattheSevilleStrategyrequireseachbiospherereservetomeetaminimalsetofconditionstobeadmittedtotheWorldNetwork,andthattheconditionsincludeestablishingbufferzonesandmechanismstomanagehumanuseandactivitiesinbufferzones.HecitedthisasthewaytheUNaffectslandmanagementdecisionsintheUnitedStatesbecauseoftheExecutiveBranch'scommitmenttomeetstheconditions.Thisprovedtobeapowerfulargumentagainstbiospherereserves,andit

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continuestobesotoday.Inordertoqualifyasabiospherereserve,UNESCOandtheMABInternationalCoordinatingCouncilstillrequireabiospherereserveareatobezoned,andthatpolicies,plansandmechanismsshouldbeestablishedtomangehumanuseandactivitiesinthebufferzoneareas.

Thefollowingdocumentsandaccompanyingnotesdescribesomeofthehistoryofthebiospherereserveprogram,howHenryLambandImet,andfoundsomecommonground.

Severalthousandpeoplewereinvolvedinthemeetingsandactivitiesdescribedinthesedocuments,andthoughwefailedtorevivetheU.S.MABprogram,thereareusefullessonsforthoseinvolvedineffortstorenewtheprogramtoday.

BACKGROUND

AnumberofgroupsintheUnitedStatesopposeUNprograms,andtheyactivelyinfluencethepoliticalprocess.ThegroupsuniteinthethemethattheUNsystemisleadingtoglobalgovernance.TheybelievethatAgenda21isaninternationalintrigue,whichposesarealdangertoindividualfreedom,propertyrights,freemarkets,andultimatelytonationalsovereignty.

Aleadinganti-UNorganization,SovereigntyInternational,wasformedin1996tospreadwordtheUNwasheadedtowardglobalgovernancewithitsblueprintcalledAgenda21,andtocountertheinfluenceoftheInternationalUnionfortheConservationofNatureandnaturalResources(IUCN),whichworkscloselywiththeUN.ThePresidentofSovereigntyInternationaldescribedAgenda21as“a40chaptersocialistplantocontroltheworld.”

“ItishightimethattheUNpolicymakersrealizethat“civilsociety”includesthousandsoforganizationsthatcherishnationalsovereigntymorethanglobalgovernance;freemarketsmorethanmanagedtrade;andindividualfreedommorethanmanagedsocieties.”(EnvironmentalConservationOrganization,eco-logic,January1997)

LambwasExecutiveVicePresidentoftheEnvironmentalConservationOrganization,andChairmanofSovereigntyInternational.HewrotemanyarticlesandwebstoriesabouttheUNandbiospherereserves,contendingthatanexpandingUNsystemandbiospherereservesposedagreatdangertoindividualfreedom,propertyrights,freemarkets,andultimately,tonationalsovereignty.HewrotethattheSouthernAppalachianManandBiosphere(SAMAB)Programwasdesignedto“seduceorcoercestateandlocalgovernmentstoimposelandusepoliciesthatoriginatewiththeUNESCOCommitteeinParis,France.HeoftenstatedthatonlytheU.S.Congresscouldstoptherelentlessdrivetowardglobalgovernance.(IfirstmetHenryLambin2005,butforseveralyearsbeforethatIhadreadhisarticlesandinformedtheMABSecretariatinParisabouthimandhisoppositiontobiospherereserves.)DOCUMENT1,September14,2003:KnoxvilleNewsSentinelarticle.There were many efforts by proponents of biosphere reserves to counter the claims of Sovereignty International and members of Congress that biosphere reserves were being used by the United Nations to take over lands in the United

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States, but the opponents prevailed and the U.S. program became inactive, so it was a surprise when President George W. Bush announced in September 2002 that the U. S. would rejoin UNESCO and participate in its programs. I wrote the following article, published in the Knoxville News Sentinel, to support this initiative. Other groups including the John Birch Society were asking their supporters to contact Congressional representatives to support an amendment to H.R. 1950 (Foreign Relations Authorization Act, FY 2004 and 2005) that would block the U.S. from rejoining UNESCO.

NewsSentinelCitizen’sVoice

It’sTimefortheUnitedStatestorejoinUNESCO

ByV.Gilbert,September14,2003

NineteenyearshavepassedsincetheUnitedStateswithdrewfromUNESCO(theUnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganization),butonSeptember12,2002PresidentGeorgeBushmadethefollowingannouncementtotheworld:

“Asasymbolofourcommitmenttohumandignity,theUnitedStateswillreturntoUNESCO.”HesaidthatAmericawouldparticipatefullyinitsmissiontoadvancehumanrightsandtoleranceandlearning.FirstLadyLauraBushemphasizedtheimportanceofthePresident’sdecisionwhenshestatedonFebruary13,2003,“Educationisthemostimportantlong-terminvestmentwecanmakeinourfuture.Educationreflectsourloveandbeliefinfreedom.Itisfreedomitself.AndwithUNESCO’sleadership,freedomcanberealizedthroughouttheworldwiththepromiseofEducationforall.”

However,thetimingofourreturntoUNESCOiscriticalsinceapproximately$20millionoftheU.S.duesamountmustbereleasedbyOctober2003fortheU.S.tobecomeeligibletoparticipateintheupcomingUNESCOExecutiveBoardelections.Congressmustprovidethefunding,andthereisstrongoppositionbysomemembers.

Whyshouldwecareaboutamatterthathasreceivedsolittlepublicattention?TheUnitedStates’returntoUNESCOpresentstheUnitedStateswiththeopportunity,onceagain,toplayasignificantpartinpromotingsustainablehumandevelopmentandpeacethroughUNESCO’sprogramsineducation,thesciences,cultureandcommunications.UNESCOwasestablished,afterWWIIwithU.S.leadership,tofosterpeace-building.MuchofthecapacityandresponsibilitytoachievepeaceandasustainablefutureisconcentratedintheUnitedStates,andUNESCOprovidesaforumthatweneed,onethatisnotavailableelsewhere,especiallyforworkingwithdevelopingcountries.IhavefirsthandknowledgeofthisbecauseIhaveworkedwiththeUNESCO’sManandtheBiosphereProgram(MAB)inmorethanadozencountries.

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MABdealswiththeconservationandrationaluseoftheresourcesofthebiosphere(theportionofourplanetwhichsupportslife).

ApartofMABisdevotedtothedevelopmentofaninternationalnetworkofbiospherereserves,whichprovidesaframeworkforcountriestocooperateinconservingtheworld’ssignificantnaturalareas.Astheprojectbeganin1974,IsuggestedthatitshouldbeincludedintheU.S.andtheU.S.S.R.Summitdiscussions.Thisresultedinthe1974SummitAgreementandJointCommuniquébyPresidentNixonandGeneralSecretaryBrezhnevoftheU.S.S.R.to:

“Designatecertainnaturalareasasbiospherereservesforprotectingvaluableplantandanimalgeneticstrains,andecosystems,andforconductingscientificresearchneededformoreeffectiveactionsconcernedwithglobalprotection.”

TheAgreementreceivedinternationalacclaim,andmostmembersofCongressapplaudedit.TherewerealsofrequentconsultationswithmembersofCongressregardingthedevelopmentoftheprogramtoassurethatU.S.interestswerefullymet.TheGreatSmokyMountainsNationalPark,whichfosteredacollaborativeapproachtoworkingwithneighboringagencies,institutionsandcommunities,wasusedasanexampletodescribetheconceptofbiospherereserves,andtheParkbecameonethefirstareastobedesignatedabiospherereserve.OtherunitsinthesouthernAppalachianshavealsobeendesignated,includingtheOakRidgeNationalEnvironmentalResearchPark,theCoweetaHydrologicLaboratory,Mt.MitchellStatePark,GrandFatherMountain,andtheTennesseeRiverGorgeTrust.Thishasresultedinsignificantbenefitstotheregion,largelythroughthecollaborativeresearch,monitoring,education,andcommunityactivitiesthathavebeencarriedoutundertheSouthernAppalachianManandtheBiosphere(SAMAB)Program.

Therearenow425biospherereservesin95countriesthatserveaslandscapesforcollaborativeresearch,conservationandeducation.AsUNESCOassumesaleadroleintheUNDecadeofEducationforSustainableDevelopment,theseareaswillbevaluablelaboratoriesforeducationtowardsustainability.TheUnitedStatesmusttakeanactivepartinthisprogram,andbenefitfromit.OurMexicanandCanadianbiospherereservecolleaguesrecognizethevalueofcollaboration.Theyhaveaskedustocollaborateinprotecting,conservingandenhancingthenaturalenvironmentandthebiodiversitythatourcountriesshare,andtodealwithissuessuchasourtrans-boundaryflowofair,water,andspecies.AttheFifthConferenceofScienceandtheManagementofProtectedAreasAssociation(SAMPAA),heldinVictoria,BC,CanadainMay,2003,450participantsunanimouslyresolvedtosupportthebiospherereserveprogramasapracticalmeanstoachievecollaborativeconservation,andtoestablishaneffectiveandfunctionalNorthAmericanBiosphereReserveNetwork.CanadianandMexicanbiospherereserverepresentativeshavebeeninvitedtotheSouthernAppalachiansinthespringof2004forfurtherplanningtowardthisgoal.

HowmuchisitworthfortheUnitedStatestotakepartinprogramssuchasthese?TheannualcostofourparticipationinUNESCOisestimatedtobeabout25centsperperson.Iwriteabout

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theprogramthatIknowbest,butthereareothersthatcanhelpustoexpandlocal,nationalandinternationalcooperation.ThesearedescribedatUNESCO’swebsite:www.unesco.org.

PleasetakethetimetoletyourHouseandSenaterepresentativesknowthatitwillcostusmoreininternationalrelationshipsiftheyvotetokeeptheU.S.outofUNESCO.LetthemknowthatyoubelievetheyshouldsupporttheauthorizationandappropriationofthefundsneededforfullU.S.participation.

(V.C.“Tom”GilbertisanativeandresidentofKnoxville.HehasretiredfromtheNationalParkServicebutremainsactiveinsouthernAppalachianandinternationalconservationinitiatives.HerecentlyjoinedothersinSAMABtoestablishanon-profitU.S.BiosphereReservesAssociation,whichassistsinplanninganewU.S.biospherereserveprogram.)

DOCUMENT2,BackgroundpaperforMABVisioningWorkshop.

I prepared the following paper as background information for a U.S. MAB Visioning workshop hosted by the Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis Missouri. It describes events which led to the reestablishment of the MAB National Committee, a 2003 Survey of Biosphere Reserve managers, and how planning renewal of the U.S. MAB program got underway.

RevitalizingtheUnitedStatesBiosphereReservesProgram

V.(Tom)Gilbert

U.S.BiosphereReservesAssociation,February1,2004

Contents:1. BiosphereReservesandtheU.S.BiosphereReservesAssociation2. U.S.BiosphereReserveSurvey-20033. U.S.BiosphereReserveProgramRevitalizationObjectives4. U.S.,CanadianandMexicanBiosphereReserveCollaborationObjectives

1. BiosphereReservesandtheU.S.BiosphereReservesAssociationBiospherereservesarespecialplacesdedicatedtodiscoveringanddemonstratingapproachestoconservationandsustainabledevelopment.Worldwide,thereare425biospherereserves,including47reservesintheUnitedStates,designatedassuchbyUNESCO’sManandtheBiosphereProgram(MAB).Ninety-fivecountriesnowparticipateintheprogram,buttheU.S.biospherereserveprogram,oncealeaderintheinternationalprogram,hasbeeninactiveformorethan10years.

OnFebruary5,2003,ImetwiththeUSDAUnderSecretaryforNaturalResourcesandEnvironment,MarkRey,heagreedthatplanscouldbedevelopedtorenewtheU.S.biospherereserveprogram.ThisactionwouldsupportPresidentBush’sdecisionthattheUnitedStates

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wouldrejoinUNESCO,andparticipatefullyinitsmission.ItwouldalsosetthestageforrespondingtoarequestfromtheCanadianBiosphereReserveAssociationtoU.S.andMexicanbiospherereserverepresentativestoexplorethefeasibilityofestablishingaNorthAmericannetworkofbiospherereserves.Mr.ReyemphasizedthattheU.S.programwouldhavetobereconfiguredtofostergreaterlocalcommunityinvolvementandcollaborationinachievingbiospherereservegoals.ThecreationofaU.S.BiosphereReservesAssociationwasdiscussedasameanstoassistUSMABindevelopingthisapproach.

TheUnitedStatesBiosphereReservesAssociationwasincorporatedinApril,2003,asanon-profitorganizationtoprovideleadershipandsupportfortheU.S.biospherereserveprogram,byfosteringpublicandprivatepartnerships,andconveyingfactualinformationaboutthepurposesandactivitiesofbiospherereserves.

TheU.S.governmenthasrejoinedUNESCOandexpressedacommitmenttoparticipatefullyinitsmission,sothereisanopportunityfortheUnitedStatestoplay,onceagain,aleadingroleinthedevelopmentofthebiospherereserveprogram.TheAssociationwillhelpinthefollowingways:

• WorkingwiththeUSMABCommitteetoplanarevitalizedbiospherereserveprogram.• Affiliatingwithgroupslocallyandnationallytopromotebiospherereserveconcepts,

goalsandactivities.• Encouragingandassistingindividualreservestodevelopcooperationplanssimilarto

thoseinCanada,whichfocusonpublic-privatepartnershipsandcommunity-basedactivities.

• PlanningcollaborativeactivitieswithMexicoandCanadaincollaborationwithUNESCOandtheinternationalnetworkofbiospherereserves.

• PerformingperiodicsurveysandassessmentsofU.S.biospherereservestodeterminehowtheyarecarryingouttheirfunctions.

TheU.S.BiosphereReservesAssociationactivitiestodatehaveincluded:

• MeetingsanddiscussionswithkeyU.S.governmentofficialsthatresultedincommitmenttoplanfortherenewaloftheU.S.BiosphereReserveProgram.

• ConductingaU.S.BiosphereReservesSurveytoseektheinputofbiospherereservemanagersregardingthestatusoftheirbiospherereserves,thereserves’capacityforparticipatinginarenewedU.S.program,andtheirinterestsindevelopingcollaborativeactivitieswithCanadaandMexico.

• PlanningaSpring2005meetingtodevelopstrategyoptionsforthebiospherereservenetwork.

• ProvidebackgroundinformationtothefirstmeetingofthereconvenedNationalCommittee.

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2.U.S.BiosphereReserveSurveyResults:2003and1995

The2003survey,conductedJuly22–September22,wascarriedouttoassesstheopinionsofbiospherereserverepresentativesabouttheirbiospherereserves,andtheirinterestinrenewingtheprogram.Thereare47U.S.biospherereserves,10ofwhichhavemultipleunits,sothereareabout92biospherereservesitesorunits.Themanagers’responses,arenowbeingusedtoguideearlyplanningforrevitalizingthebiospherereserveprogram.

Inintroducingthe2003surveythereserverepresentativeswereremindedofthefunctionsofbiospherereserves:conservation,sustainabledevelopment,andcapacitybuildingtosupportconservationandsustainabledevelopment.Asummaryofinformationfromthe2003andthe1995surveys,andoftheconclusionsfollows:

A. Responsesofthebiospherereserverepresentatives:

• 2003-96%(45of47)reservesresponded.78%oftheunits(72of92)responded.

• 1995-67%(29of47)reservesresponded.46%oftheunitsresponded.B. Dothereserveshaveprograms:1)thatidentifyexplicitlywithbiospherereserve

goals?2)thatareconsistentwithbiospherereservegoals?• 2003:Explicit:46%;Consistent:86%• 1995:Explicit:49%;Consistent:48%

C. Managementbenefitsofbiospherereserves:(Respondentsrated15typesofbenefitsderivedfrombiospherereservestatus)

2003:Usingafivepointscale,respondentsreportedthatthemostsignificantbenefitsaretheimprovementinpublicrecognitionofresourcesignificance,encouragingresearch,andincreasesinenvironmentalawareness.Of15categoriesofbenefitslisted,respondentsreportedtotalsofhighlysignificantbenefits-60;significant-134;obvious-258;possibleminor-193;nobenefit-162.

1995:Theaveragesignificanceofmanagementbenefitcategorieswashigher.(Thiscouldbeattributedtomoreactivebiospherereserveprogramsduringthatperiod.)Respondentslistedthefourmostsignificantbenefitsasfacilitatingecosystemmanagement,promotingenvironmentalawareness,encouragingresearch,andfacilitatinginternationalcooperation.

D. IdentificationwithBiosphereReservegoals2003:Thesurveyrespondentswereaskedwho,amongthepartiesthatinteractwithbiospherereserves,understandsandidentifieswiththegoals.Respondentsreportthatthey,themselves,dounderstandandidentifywithbiospherereservegoals.Thereislessunderstandingfromtheirstaffandpartneragencies,andlittleunderstandingofthegoalsbylocalpeople.

1995:Resultsaresimilartothosein2003.

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E. Whoparticipates?2003:Therewere18categoriesofparticipantsinboththe2003and1995surveys.Universitiesandotherresearchorganizations,federal,stateandregionalagencies,localstaff,andconservationgroupsaresubstantiallyinvolved.Localgovernmentsareinvolvedsubstantiallyin36%oftheunits.Amongorganizationsnotsubstantiallyinvolvedarereligiousandserviceorganizations,foreigngovernmentsandinternationalagencies,andotherbiospherereserves.Thelatterindicatesthatthereislittlecollaborationandinformationexchangeamongbiospherereserves.

1995:Resultsaresimilartothosein2003.

F. Who’sconcernedoropposed?2003:Theextentofconcernoroppositioncannotbedeterminedbecausetherespondentswerenotaskedtoreportthenumberofexpressionsofconcernwithinaspecifiedperiodoftime.Baseduponthephrasingofthequestion,evenanisolatedexpressionofconcernatanypointinthereserve’shistorywouldhavecausedunitstofallintothecategoryofthosethatreceivedexpressionofconcern.Concernswerereportedmostlyfromfederalagencies(24%),localgovernments(17%),privateorganizations(14%)andvisitors(14%).However,only4units(7%)reportedsomeorganizedopposition.About90%oftherespondentsreportthatsupportcouldbeincreasedforarenewedbiospherereserveprogram.

1995:Concernswerereportedmoreoftenfromlocalresidents(24%)andprivateorganizations(21%),andlessoftenfromresourceusers(14%)andstateandlocalgovernments(10%),andleastoftenfromfederalagencies(7%)andvisitors(7%).

G. What’sneeded?2003:Respondentsratedninecategoriesofpotentialneeds.Topneedsareadditionalfundsandstaffsupport.Thenextrelatetopublicationeducationandsupport,informationexchangeamongbiospherereserves,andpolicyandguidancefromhome/hostagencies/organizations.Biospherereserveswithmultipleunitshavespecialneedsinthattheyrequirecommunicationandcoordinationamongtheirunitstofunctioneffectively.Respondentsinboth2003and1995offeredadditionalsuggestionsimportanttoenhancingthebiospherereserveprogramsintheirspecificareas.

1995:Responseswereverysimilartothoseinthe2003survey,exceptmanagersviewedaslessimportantthepolicyandguidancefromhomeagencies.

H. InterestinfutureparticipationInthe2003survey91%ofrespondents(51)indicatedtheirareawouldparticipateinplanningarenewedbiospherereserveprogram;79%saidtheywouldbeinterestedinplanningcollaborativeactivitieswithCanadianandMexicanBiosphereReserves.

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I. ConclusionsBothsurveysindicatethatmanagersseeimportantbenefitsinthebiospherereservedesignationandconcept.Thisisparticularlynotablein2003sincetheprogramhasbeeninactiveforalmostadecade.Therespondentstobothsurveysidentifiedwhatisneededtodevelopsuccessfulprograms-additionalresources,enthusiasticlocalconstituenciesthrougheducationandparticipation,bettercommunicationamongBRs,andpolicyandguidancefromhostagencies.Most(90%)oftherespondentstothe2003surveywouldparticipateinplanninganewprogram.

Mostoftherespondents(79%)wouldhelpinplanningcollaborationactivitieswithCanadaandMexico,andspecificareasofinterestweresuggestedfor40BRunits.

3.UnitedStates,CanadianandMexicanBiosphereReserveCollaboration-MeetingObjectives

Well-plannedcollaborationwithCanadaandMexicoisneeded,especiallyinoursharedecosystems-land,lakesandoceans.

InDecember2002,theCanadianBiosphereReserveAssociation(CBRA)invitedU.S.andMexicanbiospherereservesrepresentativestojoininameetingtoexplorethepotentialofestablishingaNorthAmericanBiosphereReserveNetwork.

OnMay12,2003,representativesoftheU.S.BiosphereReservesAssociationtookpartinameetingonbiospherereservesheldduringtheFifthInternationalScienceandManagementofProtectedAreasAssociation(SAMPAA)ConferenceinCanada.ThediscussionsandrecommendationsofthismeetingresultedintheConference(450participants)unanimouslypassingthefollowingresolution:

ParticipantsattheFifthConferenceofScienceandManagementofProtectedAreasAssociation(SAMPAA),heldinVictoria,BC,Canada,May12-16,2003,acknowledgethevalueoftheUNESCOBiosphereReserveprogramasapracticalmeanstoachievecollaborativeconservationofbiodiversity,throughintegratedecosystem-basedmanagementwiththeparticipationoflocalcommunitiesandindigenouscultures.WerecognizetheeffortstostrengthenanetworkofbiospherereservesinNorthAmericahavebeeninitiatedbybiospherereserverepresentativesfromthethreeNorthAmericancountriesofMexico,theUSA,andCanada.We,theparticipantsatSAMPAA5,herebyresolvetosupporttheseeffortsforthetimelyestablishmentofaneffectiveandfunctionalNorthAmericanNetworkofbiospherereserves.

U.S.,CanadianandMexicanbiospherereserverepresentativeswillbeinvitedtoameetingintheSouthernAppalachiansduringthelatesummerorfallof2004tobeginplanningofaNorthAmericanbiospherereserveprogramwiththefollowinggoals:

• TakingstockoftrendsandthreatsshapingNorthAmericanecosystems,e.g.habitatfragmentationanddestruction,speciesloss,alieninvasivespecies.

• Promotingcooperationtoaddressthreatsandconserveecologicallysignificantregions,migratory,marine,andtransboundaryspecies.

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• FacilitatingdataandinformationsharingandpromoteintegratedmonitoringandassessmenttoincreaseunderstandingofNorthAmericanbiodiversityandecosystemhealth.

• Increasingcommunication,networking,training,andidentificationandsharingofbestpractices.Identifyandshareinformationaboutexistingprogramsandagreementsforbilateralandmultilateralnetworking.

• Developingbettercapacitiestoassessprogressinbiospherereserveprograms.

Nextsteps:

• Holddiscussionswithineachcountrytoidentifypriorityprojectsanddevelopstrategiestogenerateinterestandsupportforonesthatseemdoable.

• SchedulethemeetingintheSouthernAppalachians.A4daymeeting,withfieldtrips,willbetogettoknoweachother,discusspriorities,decidegoalsforthenextfewyears,anddevelopplanstoinitiatecollaborativeprojects.ThePresidentsoftheMexicanMABCommitteeandtheCanadianBiosphereReservesAssociationboththinkthiswouldbeanimportantopportunitytoplanspecificcooperativeactivities.Thismeetingisalsoanopportunitytodiscussandexchangeinformationabouthowourdifferentgovernmentscarryouttheirresponsibilitiesinbiodiversityconservation.

DOCUMENT3,May2004:U.S.MABVisioningWorkshopatMissouriBotanicalGarden.

The following is a summary of the workshop held at the Missouri Botanical Garden at the invitation of Dr. Peter Raven, Director of the Botanical Garden. At that time hopes were high about renewing the U.S. MAB Program, but Henry Lamb found out about the meeting and plans to renew the U.S. biosphere reserves program, and he expressed his concerns to his friends in the U.S. Congress.

USMABVisioningWorkshopSummary,May2004

AUSMan and theBiosphere (MAB)Workshopwasheld onMay4-6, hostedby theMissouriBotanical Gardens, St. Louis, MO. The sponsors of the workshop were USDA Forest ServiceResearch and Development, the Southern Appalachian Man and the Biosphere Foundation(SAMAB),andtheUSBiosphereReservesAssociation.TheobjectivesoftheworkshopweretoexplorewaysofrejuvenatingtheUSMABprogram.

Workshop attendees were drawn from diverse backgrounds including Federal and Stateagencies, academia, and local communities and had past, current, or proposed futureinvolvement with the US MAB program. The format included plenary presentations andbreakoutgroupdiscussionsonspecific topicschosen tohelp informfuture investments in theprogramandshapeanupdateofthestrategicplan.

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StepstoSuccess

TheUShasoneof the finest setsofpreservedareasand laws relating tobiodiversity,butUSMABdoesnothavelong-termfundingandmostFederalagenciesdonothavemandatestoworkworldwide.Biospherereservesareplaceswherepeoplecanworkandlivewithinthebiosphereinasustainablemanner.AfullyfundedMABprogramwouldconstituteastrongcontributiontowhereweneedtobeinthefuture.

TherecommendedvisionofafutureUSMABprogramincludesthefollowing:

• InverttheMABmodel,makinghumansthecoreoftheprogram.• Encourageprivatesectorengagement.• StrengthenandsupporttheBiosphereReservenetwork.• Focusonecosystemservicesbutalsolookatthehumanfactor,includinginfluencesandthe

impacts.• Be proactive and address the issue of changing ecosystems holistically and urgently; help

societyunderstandhowtomanagethesechanges.• Increasethenumberofsynthesiscontributions.• Refocus on the urban and non-urban landscapes/systems interface, looking at landscape

andjurisdictionalfragmentation.• HighlightUSMABaccomplishmentstoassistinmarketingandfutureplanning.• Contributeto,andbepartof,theexplosionof“Informatics”inthenextdecade.• Becomeinvolvedinotherlandscapescaleandlong-termscienceprograms.

RecommendedActions

Local Level - Bring together practitioners to discuss how to: best achieve the potential ofbiosphere reserves; obtain new resources for the BR’s from the NEON initiative; build acommunication forum for BR managers; achieve recognition and build a record ofaccomplishments for the institutional memory and continuity of local MAB. This can beaccomplishedthroughmultipleactions:holdanationalconference;makeconnectionswiththeNEONprogramtoinvestigatelinkages;updatethewebsiteintoausefultool;anddeterminetheUS BRA role in facilitating communication and information exchange betweenmanagers. Todiscoverandsharebestpractices,beawareof,andhaveapresencein,othermajorprogramsofrelatedand/oroverlappingmissionsand interests,suchasNEONandLTER. Documentinganddevelopinganetworktoshare“bestpractices”amongBiosphereReservesisa“unique-to-MAB”activity that could facilitate cross-Reserve, cross-community information and idea exchange.Practices of interest are those with a human component and where peer-to-peer learning isemployed.

NationalLevel–The30thanniversaryofUSMABis in2006anddiscussionwasgearedtowardwhat could be accomplished before a national anniversary conference is convened. Forexample, build and support the BR network; redefine US MAB emphasis areas; facilitatecollaborative work; set-up new directorates; serve as repository of information generated

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throughtheBRs;andserveastheprimarycontactwithEuroMABandthecentralofficeinParis.Toaccomplishthesetasks,thekeyobjectivesoftheUSMABprogramneedtobedefined,thedirectorates need to be reconstituted, the BR communication network strengthened, andstronger links toprivatecorporationsneed tobe forged. Networking,visibilityandmarketingwerekeyfeaturestobeaccomplishedbyupdatingthewebsiteasacentral informationforumand highlighting MAB at a number of upcoming scientific conferences and in professionaljournals.

InternationalLevel–USMABneedstore-engage. Therearemanyexistingactivitiesthatwillhelpaccomplishthis, includingparticipation intheUNDecadeforEducationforSustainability,theOngoingdialoguebetweenUSBiosphereReservesAssociationandMexicanandCanadianBiosphere Reserve groups, and many other existing international agreements that the USgovernmentisapartyto.Toaccomplishthis,astrategyshouldbedevelopedtoreinvigorateourinternationalpartnerships,includinginvitingthecurrentMABdirectortotheUSfortalksandatour of some of the BRs and increase US MAB representation at important national andinternationalmeetings.

Build Capital - USMAB needs: a clear statement ofwhere it is going; a training program forbuildingpoliticalandcommunitysupport;abudgetaryplanningeffort;adirectoryof locationslooking at the interface of urban sustainability and environmental conservation, a reviewprocessofBRactivities;identificationofkeyplayers;andreviewtheselectioncriteriaforBR’stolook at community support and address community concerns. Long-term tasks includedevelopingpermanentfundingandreviewingmoreBRsasrequestedandwhereappropriate.

ConcludingThoughts

• ListenandlearnfromallperspectivesonMAB,positiveandnegative–whatisworking,whattheproblemsare,andhowcanweaddressthemconstructively.Remainapoliticalandbipartisanandstayawayfrominflexibleapproachesandperspectives.

• Lookatthecurrentandfuturesituationandchallenges(ecological,institutional)fromafresh perspective – try and look beyond traditional concepts and look for innovativeapproachesandsolutions. Identify theguidingphilosophies thatUSMABhas tooffertoday,whichembodyintegratedresearchandeducationeffortsthatengagebiological,physical,andsocialscientists,andtwo-waycommunicationbetweenscientistsandthepublicsocitizenscanmeaningfullyengageindecisionmakingaboutthemanagementofnaturalsystems.

• Support theBRsasauniquecomponentof theMABprogram– living laboratories forlearninganddemonstratingsustainablemanagementsuccesses.

DOCUMENT4,briefingforPeteRoussopoulos,U.S.F.S.,newchairmanoftheU.S.MABCommittee

After the 2004 Visioning Workshop at Missouri Botanical Garden a steering committee was established to guide planning, develop a website and a MAB

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brochure. Progress was slowed when Representative Richard Pombo, Chairman of the Committee on Resources, had his Oversight and Investigations staff conduct briefings with Dr. Barbara Weber, Chair of the U.S. MAB Committee and her Forest Service staff. The briefings conducted by Kurt Christensen and Rob Gordon were difficult, and abusive to Forest Service staff. Barbara took the brunt of the criticism. (I was not aware of it at that time, but Henry Lamb kept in close touch with Kurt Christensen, who was very critical of Forest Service involvement in MAB. )

On January 3, 2005, Barbara wrote to me that this was her last day with the Forest Service, and that Pete Roussopoulos would be officially designed as her successor as Chair of U.S. MAB. She suggested I start bringing him into the loop, so with help from the SAMAB office, I prepared the following briefing for Pete.

KeyUSMABactivities:2000-2005V.Gilbert,February20052000-2001:27yearsafterUSMABwasorganizedundertheDepartmentofState(1stNationalCommitteeconvened1973),responsibilityfortheprogramwastransferredfromStateDept.toUSFSinOct.2000.USFSestablishedMABExecutiveDirectorandProgramOfficerpositions.Candidateswereinterviewed,butUndersecretaryReyputholdonpositions.

2002:April,DougCrandall,NationalForestFoundation,andIdiscussedtheUSMABsituationatConferenceonEnvironmentalRegionalism,LincolnInstituteofLandPolicy,Cambridge,MA.IproposedSAMABasacasestudyarea:TheSouthernAppalachianManandtheBiosphereProgram:AnExampleofEnvironmentalRegionalism(Tab2),andsuggestedrenewaloftheU.S.biospherereserveprogramcouldbeameanstopromoteenvironmentalregionalism.DougsuggestedhecouldarrangeameetingwithMarkReytodiscussprospectsforUSMAB.

PresidentBushannouncedinSeptemberthattheU.S.wouldrejoinUNESCO.InNovembertheDirectorGeneralofUNESCOmetwithJohnMarburger,ScienceAdvisortoPresidentBush;RitaColwell,DirectorofNSF;andNormanNeureiter,ScienceAdvisortoSecretaryofStateaboutU.S.participationinUNESCO’sprograms.TheDG’sthemewas“promotingpeaceandsecuritythrougheducationandscience.”

InDecembertheCanadianBiosphereReservesAssociationproposedmeetingtoexplorecollaborationwithU.S.andMexicanBiosphereReserves.Iproposedastrategy,whichIsenttoDougCrandall,whoofferedtoarrangemeetingwithMarkRey.

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2003:Januaryadraftproposal,describingaccomplishmentsofMABandUSFSinvolvement,wassenttoMarkRey(Tab4),andameetingsetforFebruary5th.MeetingswerealsoarrangedwithrepresentativesofNPS,andtheUNAssociationoftheUSA..

MarkReyagreedFeb.5thtotherecommendationforrenewingabiospherereserveprograminsupportofPresidentBush’sdecisionthattheU.S.wouldrejoinUNESCO,andapprovedpreparationofaplanforcollaborationwithCanadaandMexico.BarbaraWeberwasidentifiedascontactperson.ConditionsweretojustifyMABintermsofintermsofGPRA,andto“reconfigure”theprogramwithlesscentralcontrol,andmorelocalcommunityinvolvement-the“CollaborativeConservation”approach.IsaidthatwewouldestablishaU.S.BiosphereReservesAssociationtoassistinachievingthesegoals.

InmeetingwithJohnDennisandMikeSoukup,NPS,itwassuggestedthatanassessmentofbiospherereservesmightbedoneusingNPSfunds.

February10-16,ahigh-levelUNESCOmission,ledbyAssistantDirector-GeneralforNaturalSciences,visitedU.S.andmetwithseniorrepresentativesofStateDepartment,OfficeofScienceandTechnologyPolicy,othergovernmentaldepartmentsandleadingrepresentativesofU.S.scientificbodiestodiscusscooperationwithU.S.scientificcommunityincontextofreturnofU.S.toUNESCOmembership.Theunifyingthemeofdiscussionswas…“UNESCO’scontributiontopeaceandhumandevelopmentinaneraofglobalization,througheducation,thesciences,cultureandcommunication.”EcologicalandEarthsciences,includingMABandtheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReserveswereconsideredimportantpartsofthismission,anditwassuggestedthatU.S.sidewouldhavediscussionsaboutbecomingamemberoftheMABInternationalCoordinatingCouncil.TheColumbiaUniversity-UNESCOBiosphereandSocietyProgram(CUBES),basedattheEarthInstituteatColumbiaUniversityandmanagedincooperationwiththeUNESCONewYorkOffice,wasreferredtoasakeyactivityintheU.S.program.(CUBEShasinnovativeworkonurbanareasintheU.S.,andcomparativeworkonthegrasslandsofSouthwesternU.S.,Mexico,andEastAfrica.)

InApriltheU.S.BiosphereReservesAssociation(USBRA)wasincorporated.(Tab6)ConsultationswereheldwithBarbaraWeber,USMABcommitteemembers,communityleadersandbiospherereservemanagers.InMayrepresentativesofUSBRAparticipatedintheFifthConferenceofScienceandManagementofProtectedAreasAssociation(SAMPAA),heldinVictoria,BC,Canada.AreportontheUSMABstatuswasgiven,andaresolutionwasunanimouslypassedby450participantsacknowledgingthevalueofBiosphereReservesas“apracticalmeanstoachievecollaborativeconservationofbiodiversity,throughintegratedecosystem-basedmanagementwiththeparticipationoflocalcommunitiesandindigenouscultures.”ParticipantsresolvedtosupporteffortsforthetimelyestablishmentofaneffectiveandfunctionalNorthAmericannetworkofBiosphereReserves.

June24-28,IparticipatedinaUNA-USAConferenceinWashington,D.C.,includingtheConference“DayonCapitolHill”,inwhichImetwithRep.JohnDuncan(TN),andstaffinSenatorsFrist’sandAlexander’sofficesaboutrenewingtheUSMABprogram.Allmeetings

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werepositive.(Seereportofmeetingsandstatement,whichwaswidelydistributedattheConference.(Tab7)

July-September,theUSBRA,withsupportfromtheSAMABFoundation,conductedasurveytoseektheinputofU.S.biospherereservemanagersandrepresentativesregardingthestatusoftheirbiospherereserves,thereserves’capacitiesforparticipatinginarenewedU.S.program,andtheirinterestsindevelopingcollaborativeactivitieswithMexicoandCanada.Areport,UnitedStatesBiosphereReservesSurvey,2003wasproducedinOctober.Ninetyonepercentoftherespondentsindicatedtheywouldassistinplanninganewprogram,andmanyofthemreportedobvious,significantorverysignificantadvantagestotheirareasbecauseoftheirbiospherereservestatus.(Tab8)

A“Citizen’sVoice”article,“It’sTimefortheUnitedStatestoRejoinUNESCO”waspublished,September14thintheKnoxvilleNewsSentinel.ThisresultedinaninvitationtoaceremonyinWashington,D.C.regardingU.S.returntoUNESCO.(Tab9)

October1st,afteranabsenceof19years,theU.S.rejoinedUNESCO.FirstLadyLauraBush,headoftheU.S.delegationtotheGeneralConference,declaredinheraddress:“TheUnitedStatesGovernmentwillonceagainbeafull,active,andenthusiasticparticipantinUNESCO’simportantmissiontopromotepeaceandfreedom,andthepeopleofmycountrywillworkwithourUNESCOcolleaguesthroughouttheworldtoadvanceeducation,science,cultureandunderstanding.”

InNovember,BarbaraWeber,keynotespeakeratSAMABFallConference,outlinedhervisionforrenewingUSMAB.AspecialmeetingwasarrangedwithJackFobes,formerDeputyDirectorGeneralofUNESCOandfounderoftheorganization,AmericansfortheUniversalityofUNESCO.JackofferedtodowhathecouldtohelpUSMAB.

2004:TheMABNationalCommitteewasconvenedinJanuary,andconfirmedthemissionofMABtosupportanetworkofbiospherereservesthatrepresenttheecologicaldiversityoftheUnitedStatesandserveascentersofinnovativeandeffectiveconservation,education,andprogresstowardsustainability.

InFebruary-MarchIvisitedwithbiospherereserverepresentativesinTexas,NewMexico,andArizonainsupportofUSMABplanning.

AVisioningWorkshopwasheldMay4-6,hostedbytheMissouriBotanicalGarden,St.Louis,MO,sponsoredbyUSFS,SAMABFoundation,andUSBRAssociation.Themeetingwasproductive.AccordingtoBrucePotter,PresidentoftheIslandResourcesFoundation,itwas“themostinvolvedanddedicatedgrouphehadbeenwithinyears.”(Summary-Tab10)

RobbTurnerwasappointedtotheInternationalAdvisoryCommitteeforBiosphereReservesinMay.TheCommitteehasstatutoryresponsibilityforensuringthescientificandtechnicallegitimacyofbiospherereserves,assessingnominationsfornewreserves,andoverseeingperiodicreviewreports.RobbparticipatedinameetingoftheCommitteeinJune,andreportedonthestatusandconcernsoftheU.S.program.

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InJuneItalkedwithJacquesPrescottfromtheMinistryofEnvironment,Quebec,Canada,whosuggestedthatUSMABconsideruseoftheGuidetoDevelopingaBiodiversityStrategyfromaSustainableDevelopmentPerspectiveinoureffortstorenewtheU.S.biospherereserveprogram.Thiscouldbeadaptedtobeausefultool,whichcouldbeappliedalongwithanecosystemsapproach.(Tab11)

AgrantagreementwascompletedinJunebetweentheNPSandtheCESUatU.ofTennesseetoassessthefunctioningofMammothCaveBiosphereReserveandS.AppalachianBiosphereReserveunitstodeterminehowbesttorenewU.S.BiosphereReserveactivitiesconsistentwithU.S.actiontorejoinUNESCOandparticipatefullyinUNESCO.(Tab12)Duringthenextfewmonths,backgroundinformationwaspreparedfortheprojectandinterviewswereconductedatCoweeta,OakRidge,GreatSmokyMountainsNationalParkandnearbycommunities,andwiththeMammothCaveBiosphereReserveAdvisoryCouncil.AproposalwasalsodevelopedforconductingaLincolnInstituteEnvironmentalRegionalClinicintheSouthernAppalachians.

PlansforreconveningtheUSMABCommittee,scheduledforSeptember15thwerepostponed.PoliticalproblemssurfacedwithHouseResourcesCommitteestaff.KurtChristensen,OfficeofOversightandInvestigations,andFrankVitello,Legislativestaff,SubcommitteeonNationalParksandPublicLands,askedBarbaraWebertobriefthemaboutbiospherereserves,includingtheSouthernAppalachians,andLandBetweentheLakes.ChristensenreportedlykeepsintouchwithHenryLamb,founderofSovereigntyInternational,1996,andtheEnvironmentalConservationOrganization,1988.TheseareantiUNorganizations.LambwascalledasanexpertwitnessbytheHouseResourcesCommitteetotestifyinfavoroftheAmericanLandSovereigntyProtectionActin1997.LambhasfocusedonterminatingtheBiosphereReserveprogram.(Tab13)Mycomments.(Tab14)

Rep.Pombowrote,August3,toIshwaran,DirectorofUNESCO’sDivisionofEcologicalSciences,tolearnmoreabouttheprocessforestablishingandterminatingbiospherereservesaswellasthemonitoringUNESCOrequiresforthesedesignations.Ishwaranansweredthequestions,buthedidnotexplainthattheStatutoryFrameworkfortheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReservesencouragesstatestodeveloptheirowncriteriatotakeintoaccounttothespecialconditionsthatexistineachcountry.(Ishwaran’sletterandPombo’sremarks,Tab15)IaskedDougCrandall’sadviceaboutUSMABestablishingaprocesstoevaluateU.S.biospherereservestodeterminewhichonesshouldbekeptonabasisofrealmeritsandbenefits,andfromtheevaluationproceedtodevelopaprogramthatwouldsatisfytheconcernsoftheResourcesCommittee.DougthoughtitwouldneedtobeastrongAdministrationproposalwithSenatesupport.

ACooperativeAgreementbetweentheForestServiceandtheUSBRAwassignedinSeptemberfordesigningaUSMABbrochureandinitiatingaUSMABconference.(Tab16)

October25-29,BarbaraWeber,RobbTurnerandIparticipatedintheMABInternationalCoordinatingCouncilMeeting,UNESCO,Paris,andwemetwithAmbassadorLouiseOliverandNancyCooper,ScienceOfficer,U.S.DelegationtoUNESCO.ThereispositivesupportforU.S.

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participationinMABbytheAmbassador.ShesaidshewouldseparateMABscienceandU.S.politicsanddealwiththemasseparateissues.

November-IinformedDougCrandallthatmeetingsinPariswentwell,andsuggestedanevaluationofU.S.biospherereservestoanswerkeyquestions,suchas:DoestheprogramserveU.S.interests,locally,regionallyandinternationally?(TAB17)HeforwardedthesuggestiontoMarkRey,andsaidifMarkthoughtitmadesense,hewouldforwardittoFrankGladics.Reyagreeditwasagoodidea,andheandGladicsagreedtomeetwithmeinJanuary.

December-AfterdiscussionswithBarbaraWeber,RobbTurner,Ishwaran,theMammothCaveBiosphereReserveCoordinatingCouncilandothersincludingcommunityleadersneartheGt.SmokyMountainsNationalPark,IpreparedaproposalandbackgroundmaterialsinpreparationformeetingsinWashington,D.C.IaskedMattMcKinney,UniversityofMontanaPolicyResearchInstitute,andLincolnInstituteofLandPolicy,aboutthepossibilityofdoinganassessmentofU.S.biospherereserves,ratherthanproceedingwithfurtherplanningofaClinicintheSouthernAppalachians.Heindicatedinterest,andsuggestedtheLincolnInstitutemightcontributefinancially.

2005:Jan.10-11Imetwith:1.DougCrandall-HouseResourcesCommittee;2.FrankGladics-SenateEnergyandNaturalResourcesCommittee;3.MikeSoukupandJohnDennis-NPS;4.MargueriteSullivan,MelbaCrawford,GuinnevereRoberts,AntoinetteCondo,andJohnDennis-U.S.NationalCommissionforUNESCO,DepartmentofStateandNPS;5.MarkRey-USDA.Discussionpoints,proposals,andbackgroundmaterialsusedinthemeetingsareincludedinTab18.

Keypoints:

1.CrandallthinksaletterfromIshwarantoPomboaddressingPombo’sconcernwouldbeagoodidea.HealsothinksanassessmentofU.S.biospherereservesbyLincolnInstitutewouldhelpbuildneededcredibilityfortheMABprogram.2.GladicsknowsabouttheMABProgramandsaidthatitspoliticalproblemsoriginatefromtheHouse.HecomparedthebiospherereserveapproachtotheForestService’sprogramtobuildpartnershipsforconservationintheNewYorkNewJerseyHighlands.(LincolnInstituteandUSFSconductedacliniconbuildingpartnershipsinthisregionin2004.)Gladicssaidhewould“digest”myproposalandbackgroundmaterials,andthendiscussitwithMarkReyandwithDoug.HesuggestedthathewouldthinkaboutmembersoftheEnergyandNaturalResourcesCommitteewhomightbeinterestedinsupportingMAB.3.WithMikeSoukupandJohnDennis,wediscussedthestatusoftheassessmentofMammothCaveandSouthernAppalachianBiosphereReserves.BothwillattendtheGeorgeWrightConferenceinMarch,andwillparticipateintheMABsessionduringtheeveningof16March.BothagreedthataclearstatementfromtheStateDepartmentindicatingthatparticipatingfullyinUNESCO’smissionincludedtheMABprogramwouldhelpingeneratingcongressionalsupportforMAB.4.AtthemeetingwiththeU.S.NationalCommissionforUNESCO,IdescribedtheeffortsbeingmadetorenewtheUSMABprogram,andsaidthatitwouldhelptogeneratesupportfortheeffortiftheStateDepartmentandtheCommissionmadeitclearthatthePresident’scommitmenttoparticipatefullyinUNESCOincludedtheMABProgram.Itwassuggestedthat

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theexpectedcooperativeagreementbetweenNASAandUNESCOmightbeawaytoinvolveMAB.Ms.SullivansaidthatadvocatesfortheMABprogramwouldhavetobuildlocalandcongressionalsupport.ShealsosaidthattheUSMABCommitteewouldhavetobereconstitutedwithintheframeworkoftheCommission.(Seefollow-upquestionsandanswers,Tab19)5.MarkReysaidthatitwouldbeuptotheUSFStosupportMAB.HesuggestedthatitmightbebettertoworkwiththeSenateEnvironmentCommittee,andthathewoulddiscussthiswithFrankGladics.HesaidthathewoulddiscussmyproposalwithGladics,sendmypackagetoPete,andthatPeteandIshouldgettogether.Iagreedandthankedhimforhisconsiderateresponse.

DOCUMENT5,2005:DescriptionoftheU.S.BiosphereAssociation'sroleandactivity.

By this time, the U.S. Biosphere Reserve Association had become an important means for sustaining interest in biosphere reserves. The following document provided an up-date on its activities and plans at that time.

TheUnitedStatesBiosphereReservesAssociation-UnitedStatesBiosphereReserves-

2005

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TheUnitedStatesBiosphereReservesAssociation

TheUnitedStatesBiosphereReservesAssociation(USBRA)isanon-profitorganizationincorporatedin2003toprovideleadershipandsupportfortheUnitedStatesbiospherereservesprogram,andtoconveyfactualinformationaboutthegoalsandactivitiesofbiospherereserves.

Biospherereservesarespecialplacesdedicatedtoexploringanddemonstratingapproachestoconservationandsustainabledevelopment.Worldwide,thereare459biospherereserves,including47intheUnitedStates(Map,page1),recognizedbyUNESCO’sManandtheBiosphereProgram.Ninety-sevencountriesparticipatevoluntarilyintheprogram,buttheU.S.’sbiospherereserveprogramhasbeenlargelyinactiveformorethan10years.NowtheU.S.hasrejoinedUNESCOandhascommittedtoparticipatefullyinUNESCO’sscience,educationandculturalprograms.ThisbringsanobligationfortheUnitedStatestorenewitsbiospherereserveprogramtoachievethefollowingprogramgoals:

1. Developandusebiospherereservesasmodelsforconservationofnaturalandculturaldiversitythroughvoluntarycooperativeprograms.

2. Usetheareasasmodelsoflandmanagementandsustainabledevelopment.3. Developanddemonstratethecapacitytosupportconservationandsustainable

developmentthroughvoluntarycollaborativeactivitiesofpublicandprivatesectorsandindividuals,takingappropriateaccountofandrespectingtheinterestsofpersonsandorganizationswhoownpropertiesinthebiospherereserveareas.

TheaimsoftheAssociationareto:

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• WorkwiththeUSMABNationalCommitteetoplananddevelopanationalbiospherereservesprogram,makinglocalcommunityparticipationthecoreoftheprogram.

• FostercommunityunderstandingandappreciationofBiospherereserveconceptsandopportunities,andfacilitatetheparticipationoflocalcommunitiesinplanning,coordinating,andimplementingcooperativeprogramsandactivitiesthatbenefittheenvironment,theeconomy,andlocalpeople.

• Affiliatewithgroupslocallyandnationallytopromotebiospherereserveconceptsandgoals,andconveyfactualinformationabouttheprogramsothatpeopleunderstandthattheMABprogramrespectstherightsandinterestsofpropertyownersandthatallindividualsandgroupsparticipatevoluntarily.

• Assistindividualbiospherereservestodevelopcooperationplanstoachievetheirgoals,focusingoncommunity-based,public-privatepartnershipactivities.

• PlananddevelopcollaborativeactivitieswithMexicoandCanadainaNorthAmericanBiosphereReservesNetwork,incollaborationwithUNESCOandtheinternationalnetworkofbiospherereserves.

• PerformperiodicsurveysandassessmentsofU.S.biospherereservestodeterminehowtheyarecarryingouttheirfunctions.

ActivitiestoDate

• ConsultationswithkeyFederalagencyofficials,USMABCommitteemembers,BiospherereservemanagersandlocalcommunityleadersaboutstrategicplanningapproachesfortherenewaloftheU.S.BiosphereReservesProgram.

• ParticipationintheFifthConferenceofScienceandtheManagementofProtectedAreasAssociation(SAMPAA),heldinVictoria,BC,Canada,May2003.Aresolutionwasunanimouslypassedby450participantsacknowledgingthevalueoftheBiosphereReservesasapracticalmeanstoachievecollaborativeconservationofbiodiversity,throughintegratedecosystem-basedmanagementwiththeparticipationoflocalcommunitiesandindigenouscultures.ParticipantsresolvedtosupporteffortsforthetimelyestablishmentofaneffectiveandfunctionalNorthAmericannetworkofbiospherereserves.

• ConductedaUnitedStatesBiosphereReservesSurveytoseektheinputofbiospherereservemanagersregardingthestatusoftheirbiospherereserves,thereserves’capacityforparticipatinginarenewedU.S.program,andtheirinterestsindevelopingcollaborativeactivitieswithCanadianandMexicanbiospherereservesprograms.Areport,UnitedStatesBiosphereReservesSurvey,2003,summarizingthesurveyresults,waspreparedinOctober2003.Ninetyonepercentoftherespondentssaidtheywouldassistinplanningarenewedprogramandtheyidentifiedwaystoimprovetheprogram.Mostreportedsignificantmanagementbenefitstotheirareasbecauseoftheirbiospherereservestatus,andtheybelievesupportfortheprogramcanbeincreased.

• AworkshopofbiospherereservemanagersandkeyadvisorstoinitiateplanningofarevitalizedUSMABandBiosphereReserveprogramwasheldMay4-6,2004attheMissouriBotanicalGarden.TheAssociationsponsoredthemeetingincooperationwiththeForestServiceandtheSouthernAppalachianManandtheBiosphereProgram(SAMAB).TheMissouriBotanicalGardenhostedthemeeting.

• ActivitiesPlanned

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• AssisttheUSMABCommitteeinplanningaUSMABprogram,includingdesignofanewMABbrochure.

• ConductaspecialsessiononUSMABattheGeorgeWrightSocietyBiennialConference,March16,2005,LoewsPhiladelphiaHotel.BiosphereReservecolleaguesfromCanadaandMexicowillparticipate.

USBRAInformation

TheAssociationisamember-driven,non-profitorganizationsupportedlargelybyvolunteers.CopiesoftheAssociation’sby-lawsand501(c)3documentationareavailableatsamab.org/usbra;orbywritingtheAssociationat314ConferenceCenterBuilding,Knoxville,TN,37996-4138;orcalling865-974-4583.

DOCUMENT6,March16,2005.MABSteeringGroupWorkshopinPhiladelphia.

In January 2005 I met with representatives of the NPS, Forest Service and key staff in the House and Senate. They agreed that organizing support for the renewal of U.S. MAB would be easier if the Department of State would affirm that "participating fully in UNESCO's programs" included the MAB program. (First lady Laura Bush had declared the United States would be a full, active and enthusiastic participant in UNESCO's important mission when she addressed the General Conference in October 2003.) I met with Marguerite Sullivan, Executive Director of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO and representatives of the State Department to confirm that participating fully in UNESCO programs included MAB and the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. She answered that it did not, and that it would be up to MAB advocates to develop support in the Congress. Her position was confirmed by congressional liaison officers, who said, until MAB received congressional recognition, the State Department would remain on the sidelines. This was contrary to the position of U.S. Ambassador to UNESCO, Louise Oliver, who had told me she was in favor of participating in MAB, and that we should separate the political and science aspects of MAB and deal with them as separate issues. With the prospect of the State Department remaining on the sidelines until there was Congressional recognition of MAB, we began to rethink the MAB strategy. Some of this is reflected in the Executive Summary of a report of the MAB Steering Group meeting in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, held in conjunction with the George Wright Society.

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ExecutiveSummary

TheSteeringGroupfortheU.S.MABProgrammetonMarch16,2005inconjunctionwiththeGeorgeWrightSociety’sbiennialmeetinginPhiladelphia,PennsylvaniatoreviewprogresstoplannextstepsinrenewingtheU.S.MABandbiospherereservesprogram.SpecialguestsfromtheUNESCOMABofficeandtheCanadianBiosphereReservesAssociationcontributedtothemeeting.

AfocusofU.S.MABactivityhasbeenthedevelopmentofcommunicationtools—awebsiteandabrochure.ThedraftwebsitedevelopedbyDanNeary,USDAForestService,waspresentedforreviewandwillbemadepublicafterreviewers’suggestionsareincorporated.Developingthebrochureis“onhold”untiltheU.S.NationalCommitteemeets.ReconstitutingtheU.S.NationalCommitteehasbeenakeyinitiative,andtheUSMABcoordinator,DebHayes,USDAForestService,hasbeencommunicatingwithcurrentfederalagencymembersaboutasuitabledateformeeting.ConsultationshaveoccurredwiththeUSNationalCommissionforUNESCOaboutreestablishingthecommitteeandtheproceduralrequirements.

PeteRoussopoulos(USDAForestService),thenewchairmanforU.S.MAB,endorsedtheongoingreviewoftheBiosphereReservesandthedraftingofcriteriaforU.S.BiospherereservesaspositivestepsinmovingU.S.MABforward.Heidentifiedthereestablishmentofanactivenationalcommitteeandacommunicationsstrategyasessentialnextstepsonthepath.

NatarajanIshwaran,theSecretaryforMABatUNESCO,offeredencouragementtotheU.S.indefiningitsconnectiontotheMABprogram.PresentationsoutlinedUNESCOorganizationandprioritiesmadecleartherelationshipofMABtoUNESCOfocalareas.TheinformationisbeneficialinplanningandseekingfundingforU.S.proposals.

OtheropportunitiestostrengthentheprogramdiscussedbyparticipantsincludetappinganurbanconstituencyinterestedinMABanddevelopingpartnershipswithrelatedNGOsandlarge-scaleresearchactivitiesliketheNationalScienceFoundation’sNationalEcologicalObservatoryNetwork(NEON)andLong-termEcologicalResearch(LTER)Network.TheconsistencyofobjectivesoftheMABprogram—especiallybiospherereserveprogramthatemphasizecommunitydirection—andtheadministration’sfocusonCooperativeConservation(ExecutiveOrderNo.13352)helpsaffirmthedirectionoftheU.S.MABprogram.BettertailoringthebiospherereserveprogramtoU.S.conditionsistheobjectiveofdevelopingU.S.-specificbiospherereservecriteriaandV.C.(TomGilbert)oftheUSBiosphereReservesAssociationdiscussedthiseffort.Andlastly,GlenJamiesonoftheCanadianBiosphereReservesAssociationdiscussedtheAssociation’seffortstofostercommunicationacrossbiospherereservesandincommunitieshostingbiospherereserves.TheCanadianAssociation,theU.S.BiosphereReservesAssociation,andMexicancounterpartshavebeendiscussingthebenefitsofNorthAmericancooperationandwillcontinuediscussionsatsubsequentmeetings.

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ThePlanForward

PeteRoussopoulosbecamethechairmanofU.S.MABearlyin2005,afterBarbaraWeber’sretirement.RoussopoulosconfirmedtheobjectiveofthemeetingastodeterminehowtotransformU.S.MABintoafunctioningprogram,includingidentifyingandplanninghowtoproceedwithnecessarystepsandtasks.

Roussopouloswaspositiveaboutactivitiesthathaveoccurredinthelastyearsaying,“there’sagoodpathilluminatedhereandI’mreadytogetmyshouldertothewheel.”Amongthepositivestepsarethereviewofnetwork,whichiswelltimedandproducinggoodinformation,andthestepstodevelopU.S.-specificcriteriafortheBiosphereReserves,asisallowedbytheMABconvention.Subsequentstepsrequirethereconstitutionofthecommittee(ameetingisplannedforApril).

RoussopoulosassessedthevalueoftheMABprogram(especiallyBRprogram)asstrongertodaythanpreviouslybecauseofinherentlytransboundaryissueslikeinvasivespecies,globalwarming,globalizationofmarkets,andevenlandmanagementactivities.RoussopoulosnotedthattheMay2004meetinghadconfirmedtheemphasisonpeoplewiththeirrelationshiptobiodiversityandotherecologicalvalues.Thisparallelsthegroundswellofinterestinwaystoremuneratepeopleforecosystemserviceswiththeendresultbeingsustainability.

RoussopoulosproposedtoapplythreequestionsnowandatsubsequentstepsintheprogressionoftheU.S.MABprogram.Theyare

• Whatvaluearewetryingtocreatewiththeactivity/project?• Whatinternalcapacitydowehavetocreateit?• Whatexternalrelationsarenecessarytodoit?

Importantactivitiesinthisyearincludethereestablishmentofthenationalcommittee.Thisisaprerequisitetothefullimplementationofanyothersteps.Roussopoulosandotherparticipantsadvocatedtheinclusionofnon-Federalmembersonthenationalcommitteebecausetheybroadenperspectiveandhelptobuildpoliticalconstituency.TheNationalCommitteewillmeetinApril2005withtheFederalmembersonly,asthisisthefastest,mostdirectpathtoreconstitution.DebHayesnotedthatbecausethenationalcommitteewillserveundertheauspicesoftheU.S.CommissionforUNESCO,FACArequirements(formeetingannouncement/openness)arenotofconcern.

RoussopoulosalsonotedtheappropriatenessofredesigningthecriteriaforU.S.biospherereserves.TomGilbertnotedthatparticipatingcountriesareencouragedbytheStatutoryFrameworkfortheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReservestoestablishnation-specificcriteria.Are-reviewofbiospherereserveswillfollowuponacceptanceofthenewcriteria.

AcriticalneedRoussopoulosnotedisthatofanexplicit,sustainablecommunicationsstrategy.Callingsuchastrategyan“untappedresource”fortheprogram,Roussopoulosnotedthatthe

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specificsofthestrategy—who,what,when,where,how—canbedeterminedaftertheNationalCommitteeisinplace.Roussopoulos’meetingsinWashington,D.C.,scheduledtofollowthismeetingareanimportantstepinU.S.MABcommunications.HiskeymessagenowisthatwearerebuildingtheU.S.MABprogramandwewantallinput.Coupledwiththeneedforacommunicationsstrategyisaneedforacongressionalrelationsstrategy.GlenJamiesonnotedthattheCanadianBiosphereReservesAssociationisfocusedoncommunicationwiththecommunities,governmentandotherconstituencies.

Buildingthecapacityoftheprogramisessential,andreestablishingthecommitteeandimplementingacommunicationsstrategyarekey.Fundingandkeysupporterswillassist,aswell.HavingsupporterslikeBillGreggandJackWaide(USGS)withintheagenciesishelpful,andRoussopoulosandGilbertspeculatedthattheprogramhasnaturallinkstoUSDAForestService’sstateandprivateforestrysection,whereRoussopoulosiscurrentlyactingdirector.GilbertnotedthattheForestService(research)hastwoUSMABpositions“onthebooks”thatremainunfilled.WithintheStateDepartmenttheOfficeofEShasresponsibilityforMAB,withsomeoversightcomingfromtheInternationalOffice.

AnotherinwayistheExecutiveOrderandWhiteHouseconferenceoncooperativeconservation.JohnTwist,ForestSupervisoronBlackHillsNationalForest,istheForestService’splannerforthisconference.Thecooperativeconservationconceptiswellalignedwiththegoalsofbiospherereserves.DebHayesproposedthatSAMABandUSMABpresentaposterjointlyattheconference.HayeswilldiscussthiswithTwist.

AsintheMay2004visioningworkshop,theimportanceofestablishingappropriatelinkstoLTERsites,andtheNEONprogramwasdiscussed.Establishingarefinednetworkoflocationsatwhichtoposekeyquestionsisimportant,andRoussopoulosassertedthathavingscientificquestionsthatcanbeansweredbytheUSMABprogramatUSBiosphereReservesiswhatwill“kickoff”theprogram.AnotherpotentialallianceiswiththeNationalAssociationofConservationDistricts,whichisconnectedwellwithruralAmericaand,likeMAB,emphasizespeople.

DOCUMENT 7, June 23, 2995, Letter to Representative Pombo On May 24, 2005, Rep. Richard Pombo, Chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Resources wrote a letter to Mark Rey, Under Secretary of Natural Resources and the Environment, U.S. Department of Agriculture, asking Mr. Rey to have the Forest Service turn over every record relating to U.S. MAB dating back to January 2001 when the Forest Service took over lead responsibility for the program. This was to include meeting agendas, notes and records, emails, phone logs-everything. These records were for an official investigation of the MAB program, to be conducted by Kurt Christensen and Rob Gordon of the Committee's Oversight and Investigations staff. (This followed the meetings

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Christensen and Gordon had with Barbara Weber and her staff.) Barbara retired on January 3, 2015, after these episodes, and wished me the best in work with the Biosphere Reserve Association, but I knew the investigation of MAB would not be fair, so I wrote to my Representative on the House Resources Committee, John Duncan Jr. and to Rep. Pombo. The following letter was to Pombo.)

U.S.BiosphereReservesAssociation

2228IslandHomeBoulevard

Knoxville,TN37920

June23,2005

HonorableRichardW.Pombo

U.S.HouseofRepresentatives,CommitteeonResources

2411RayburnHouseOfficeBuilding

Washington,DC20515

DearRepresentativePombo,

IamwritingtoassistyouandtheCommitteeonResourcesbyofferingtoprovidefirsthandinformationabouttheManandtheBiosphere(MAB)ProgramtotheCommittee.IhaveagreatdealofexperiencewiththeMABProgram,havingservedastheUSMABProgramCoordinatorfortwoyears,andbeforethatinternationalspecialistforMABinUNESCO,andasaconsultantonMABinseveralcountries.IorganizedtheexpertpanelsthatdevelopedthecriteriaandguidelinesfortheBiosphereReserveProgram,andproposedtheNixon-BrezhnevsummitagreementonBiosphereReservesin1974to“DesignatecertainnaturalareasasBiosphereReservesforprotectingvaluableplantandanimalstrains,andecosystems,andforconductingscientificresearchneededformoreeffectiveactionsconcernedwithglobalprotection.”TheDepartmentoftheInteriorpresentedtheDistinguishedServiceAwardtomeforthisworkwithMAB.

IappreciatetheconcernsthatyouandtheCommitteehaveabouttherightsofpropertyownersneighboringthecoreareasofU.S.biospherereserves,andIhavediscussedthesewithmyCongressmanJohnDuncan.RespectfortherightsofpropertyownersisakeytenetofallU.S.biospherereserves,andparticipationisentirelyvoluntary.TheintentoftheProgramistofostercollaborativeconservationandexchangeofinformationthatwillhelppropertyownersandotherstakeholderstosustaintheirnaturalandculturalresourcesandtheeconomicvalueof

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theirland.IunderstandthatinsomeareasimplementationofUNESCO’sguidelineshavecausedconfusionandconcern,andIknowtherehasnotbeenenoughcommunicationwithlocalpeople.Sincetherearetheseconcerns,specialcriteriaforU.S.biospherereservesshouldbedeveloped.TheStatutoryFrameworkoftheInternationalNetworkofBiosphereReservesencouragesmember-StatestoelaborateandimplementnationalcriteriaforBiosphereReserves,whichtakeintoaccountthespecialconditionsofthemember-Statesconcerned.Ibelievethattakingsuchactionwouldhelptoaddressyourconcerns.

IformedtheU.S.BiosphereReservesAssociationtoworkcloselywiththeUSMABCommitteeinimplementingthebiospherereserveconceptandgoals,andtofosterthenecessarypartnershipstoachievethegoals.TheUnitedStatesplayedasignificantpartindevelopingtheinternationalMABProgramandtheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReserves,whichhasgrownto459areasin97countries.Thecumulativeexperienceoftheseareasandofthethousandsofpeoplewhocontributedtotheirdevelopmentoverthepast33yearsisavaluableresourcefortheUnitedStates,andforadvancingconservationandsustainabledevelopmentinsignificantrepresentativeecosystemsthroughouttheworld.Manybiospherereserveprogramsinothercountries,includingMexicoandCanadawanttorenewcooperativeMABactivitieswiththeUnitedStates,soIhopethatwecandiscussthissometimesoontofindawaytoaddressyourconcerns,andtoreinvigoratetheUSMABProgram.

Sincerely,

VernonC.Gilbert

President,U.S.BiosphereReservesAssociation

DOCUMENT8,October2005,ProposedapproachforameetingwithHenryLamb

In a September 3, 2005 web article for WorldNetDaily entitled "Biosphere Reserves- who needs `em?" Lamb asked why the U.S. participates in a UN program that requires the creation of “… a mechanism to manage human use and activities” in biosphere reserves." Lamb knew this was a provision of the Statutory Framework of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, and he used this to help convince members of Congress to oppose biosphere reserves. As I expected, Representative Pombo did not reply to my letter, but I had several conversations with Rep. Duncan's staff and his staff. They w put me in touch with Kurt Christenson, who was conducting the investigation of MAB. Kurt told me that Pombo's letter to Mark Rey had been copied to M. Sullivan in the State Department. He also said had asked her to disband the U.S. MAB Committee.

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The following briefing for Pete Roussopoulos describes some of my conversation with Kurt, and the approach I thought we should take in a meeting with Henry Lamb.

To:PeteRoussopoulosFrom:TomGilbert,October17,2005Subject:MeetingwithHenryLambandTomMcDonnellThefollowingnotessuggestanapproachtowardpossibleagreementwithHenryLambandTomMcDonnellonsomeissues.Reachingagreementmaybedifficult,butitisworthtrying.ImetwithCongressmanDuncaninKnoxvillelastweektoinformhimaboutUSMAB.IaskedhimtosupportafairassessmentoftheprogramandtolearnfirsthandaboutSAMAB.Ibelievethathewill.AfteranexchangeofemailswithScottFischerofRep.Duncan’sstaff,andKurtChristensen,KurtcalledmeonOctober4thtotalkaboutUSMAB.HesuggestedthatIshouldmeetand“breakbread”withHenryLamb,whoisinfluentialwithsomemembersofCongress,andhashelpedonlegislationsuchastheendangeredspeciesbill.IagreedtomeetwithLamb,butsaidIwouldlikeyoutojoinus.Kurtthoughtthiswasagoodidea,sohecontactedLamb,whorepliedthatheandTomMcDonnellhaveaninterestinmeetingwithusforoneday.Lambsuggestedthefollowingagenda,whichKurtandScottrefinedandconsideredrelevant.(Theyaskedifwehaveideastoadd.)

1. ClarifypurposesandgoalsofBiosphereReserves2. DiscussionofTomMcDonald’s(McDonnell’s)report-HowdoestheUSgoabout

reexaminingallcurrentBR’stodetermineiftheconformtocurrentMABanddomesticconsiderations?

3. Howdoestheprogramsecuresupportfromstateandlocalgoverningbodies?KurtwroteonOct.12thatChairmanPomboandCongressmanDuncanarehappysuchadialogueisintheworks.Background:HenryLambisExecutiveVicePresidentoftheEnvironmentalConservationOrganization,andChairmanofSovereigntyInternational.HehaswrittenmanyarticlesandwebstoriesabouttheUNandbiospherereserves.HecontendsthatanexpandingUNsystemandbiospherereservesposeagreatdangertoindividualfreedom,propertyrights,freemarkets,andultimately,tonationalsovereignty.HewroterecentlythattheSAMABprogramisdesignedto“seduceorcoercestateandlocalgovernmentstoimposelandusepoliciesthatoriginatewiththeUNESCOCommitteeinParis,France.”HeoftenstatesthatonlytheU.S.Congresscanstop“…therelentlessdrivetowardglobalgovernance.”LambformedSovereigntyInternational,Inc.in1996tocountertheinfluenceofIUCN(WorldConservationUnion)andmajorNGOs,andto“…bringeducationalinformationtotheinternationalpolicydebate.”

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InaSeptember3,2005webarticleforWorldNetDailyentitledBiosphereReserves-whoneeds`em?LambaskswhytheU.S.participatesinaUNprogramthatrequiresthecreationof“…amechanismtomanagehumanuseandactivities”inbiospherereserves.TomMcDonnellisamemberoftheBoardofDirectorsofSovereigntyInternational,Inc.,andaconsultanttotheAmericanSheepIndustryAssociationandtoseveralstategovernments.HewasformerlyavicepresidentoftheAmericanSheepIndustryAssociation,thenationalorganizationrepresenting64,000sheepproducersintheU.S.McDonnellpreparesarticlesandanalyticalreportsabouttheUN,usingselectivequotestoshowthatbiospherereservespresentdangerstopropertyownersandthefreeenterprisesystemintheU.S.Commonground?Thefollowingareasmaybecommongroundforsomeagreement:

1. Rightsofpropertyowners:Inhisbook,ThisLandisOurLand.Howtoendthewaronprivateproperty,CongressmanPomboadvocatesincentivesandrewardsforpropertyownerstoparticipateinspeciesconservationandlandstewardship.Hestates“…RewardingpeopleforspeciesconservationandgoodlandstewardshipisthekeytostrengtheningtheEndangeredSpeciesAct.Itisthatsimple.”Pomboalsoclaimsthatthebalanceofwildlifeprotectionhasswungtoofarawayfrommeetingtheneedsofpeopleofthiscountryforfood,clothing,housing,fuel,andothervitalpublicneeds.HenryLambasksinarecentarticle,“HowdoestheUnitedStates,andmoreparticularlythepeoplewholivewithinthesebiospherereservesbenefitfromtheU.N.designation?”Weneedtoshowthatbiospherereservesfosteractivitiesthatbenefitpropertyowners,andthatrightsandinterestsofpropertyownersinbiospherereserveareasarerespected.

2. Managementofhumanuseandactivitiesinbiospherereserves.LambaskswhydoestheU.S.participateinaU.N.programthatrequiresthecreationof“…amechanismtomanagehumanuseandactivities”inanareasuchastheSouthernAppalachianBiosphereReserveand46similarareasacrossthenation?InwitnesstestimonybeforetheCommitteeonResources,June10,1997,regardingtheAmericanLandSovereigntyAct(HR901),hestates“…TheUnitedNationsderivesitsauthoritytoaffectlandmanagementthroughtheExecutiveBranch’scommitmenttomeetthesecriteriaandconditionswhichareestablishedbytheUnitedNations,notbytheCongressoftheUnitedStates.”(HereferstotheSevilleStrategy,whichprovidedrecommendationsfordevelopingeffectivebiospherereserves.Comment:UNESCOrecognizesthatmanybiospherereserveslacktheauthoritytomanageuseandhumanactivitiesinbiospherereserveareas,soalternativeapproacheshavebeendevelopedtoencouragecooperation.TheCanadianBiosphereReserveCooperationPlans,forexample,havebeensharedbyUNESCOasamodelforachievingcooperationoflandownersandotherpartnersinbiospherereserveareas.TheStatutoryFrameworkoftheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReservesencouragesStatestoelaborateandimplementnationalcriteriaforbiospherereserves,whichtakeintoaccountthespecialconditionsoftheStateconcerned.(Ishwaranagrees,andsuggestedcasestudiesinU.S.andseveralcountries.)

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Proposedmeetingagenda:DiscussionofMcDonnell’sreportshouldbefirstforitmayhelpwiththeothertwoitems.HisreportistheAnalysisoftheEvolvingNatureoftheUnitedNationsEnvironmental,Scientific&CulturalOrganization’sMan&BiosphereReserveProgram,andUnitedStatesCompliancewithitsStatutoryFramework,August15,2005.Somekeypointsare:

• “TheUnitedStatesmayfinditself,liketheUnitedKingdom,havingtoeithermodifyexistingreserves,orwithdrawingthemfromtheprogramcompletely.(p.1)Comment:Decisionstodososhouldbebasedonathoroughassessmentofthebenefitsoftheprogram,andpotentialbenefitsforarenewedprogram.CertainrecommendationsoftheSevilleStrategyandcriteriaoftheStatutoryFrameworkdonotapplyintheUnitedStates.StepsareunderwaytoelaborateandimplementcriteriawhicharesuitableintheUnitedStates,similartowhattheCanadianshavedone.

• McDonnellmakesreference(p.2)totheFirstBiosphereReserveCongressinMinsk,USSR,andrecommendationstoinvolvelocalpeopleinthedevelopmentofregionalperspectivescenteredonbiospherereserves.Comment:Iwasthereandmadetherecommendationbasedupona“CooperativeRegionalDemonstrationProjects”thatwehadstartedwithUSAIDsupportinthemountainsofRwanda.Itfocusedonparticipationoflocalfarmersandmeetingtheirneeds,aswellasconservingMt.gorillahabitat.

• McDonnellsays(pp5and6)thatoverthecourseoftwentyyearsbiospherereserveswentfrombeingareasofconservation,researchandeducationtobeingtheatersforreconcilingpeopleandnatureonaregionalbasis.HeimplieslinkingbiospherereserveswithpovertyreductionandequitabledevelopmentmayconflictwiththeU.S.Constitutionandthefreeenterprisesystem.Comment:ThisinterpretationseemstoconflictwithChairmanPombo’sthesisthatwildlifeconservationhasswungawayfrommeetingtheneedsofpeople(seeabove).ThegeneralauthorityforagenciestoparticipateinMABisNEPA,whichdeclaresthattheFederalGovernmentshoulduseallpracticablemeanstofulfilltheresponsibilitiesofeachgenerationastrusteeoftheenvironmentforsucceedinggenerations;andtoassureforallAmericansasafe,healthful,andproductiveenvironment.McDonnellalsosaysthattheSevilleStrategymentionstheoriginalroleofbiospherereservesinresearchandmonitoringonlyonceinitskeydirections.Actually,theimportanceofresearchandmonitoringisrecognizedinthetenkeydirectionsforregionalbiospherereserves.No.4is“Reinforcescientificresearch,monitoring,trainingandeducationinbiospherereservessinceconservationandrationaluseofresourcesintheseareasrequireasoundbaseinthenaturalandsocialsciencesaswellasthehumanities.”No.5is“Ensurethatallzonesofbiospherereservescontributeappropriatelytoconservation,sustainabledevelopmentandscientificunderstanding.”McDonnell(p8),likeLamb,pointsoutthattheStatutoryFrameworklaysoutcriteriaformanagementofbiospherereserves.WeshouldacknowledgethatstrictcompliancebytheAdministrationwithcertainarticlescouldpotentiallycauseproblemsintheUnitedStates,andthattheUSMABCommitteewilltakestepstocorrectthis.

• McDonnellsays(p10)thatnonewbiospherereserveshavebeendesignatedintheU.S.inthelast14yearsbecauselocaloppositionhasblockedthenominations.NewnominationshavenotbeenmadebecausetheUSMABCommitteeandprogram

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havebeeninactivebecauseofpoliticaloppositioninCongress,butwearenowbackinUNESCOandcanbenefitfromparticipatingeffectivelyinthebiospherereserveprogram.TheTennesseeRiverGorgeTrust,a27,000-acreareaalongtheTennesseeRiverintheCumberlandMountains,appliedfordesignationasabiospherereserveunitwiththesupportoflocallandowners.Noactionhasbeentaken,buttheareahasfunctionedtocarryoutthegoalsoftheprogram,andJamesBrown,ExecutiveDirectoroftheTrust,reportedthatthebiospherereserveprogramhasbroughtthefollowingsignificantmanagementbenefitstothearea.Facilitationofinternationalcooperationwasdescribedasahighlysignificantbenefit.AbiospherereservenominationfromPuertoRicowassubmitted,butwaswithdrawnbecauseofobjectionsbytheHouseResourcesCommittee.ThePuertoRiconominationhassubstantiallocalsupport.WhentheMABNationalCommitteeisreconstitutedundertheU.S.NationalCommissionforUNESCO,proceduresshouldbedevelopedwherebyworthynominationscanbemade,preferablywithCongressionaloversight.

• McDonnellpointsoutthatUNESCOdocumentsshowthattheacreageofexistingU.S.biospherereserveshasbeenexpandedfrom43,560,254in1994toover77.4millionacresin2005,equatingtothe5thlargeststate,NewMexico.Theselargeareasareintendedtobezonesofcooperation,butLambandMcDonnellwillnotacceptthisexplanation.Itistimetorevisetheprogram,anddevelopanapproachthatclearlyfostersvoluntarycooperationamongpartnersaroundbiospherereservecoreareas.

• McDonnellsays(p11)thatareportfromtheU.S.shouldbedueinNovember,butthattodatetherehasbeennoindicationthatsuchareporthasbeen,orisbeingprepared.Technically,thesereviewsarepreparedunderauthorityoftheUSMABCommittee,buttheCommitteehasnotbeenreconstituted.

• McDonnell(p12)pointsoutthattheStatutoryFramework,Article7,Section2,statesthatbiospherereservesshouldbegivenappropriateandcontinuingpromotion,butthattheU.S.MABreserveprogramisoneoftheleastknownprogramsintheU.S.,andthatfewofthereservesdisseminateinformationmaterialaboutthereserve.Hesaysthisputstheminnon-compliancewiththeStatutoryFramework.Comment:Thisisacleverapproach.TheysucceedininfluencingCongresstocutfundsforMABandbiospherereserves,theprogrambecomesinactiveinmostareasforadecade,andtheniscriticizedfornotadheringtothecriteriaintheStatutoryFramework.However,managerswhorespondedtotheBRSurveyin2003recognizetheneedforbettercommunicationsaboutBRs,theirfunctionsandbenefits,andsomeareashavebeenabletokeeptheprogramgoing.IntheMammothCaveBiosphereReserve,wherepoliticalsupportwasstrongenough,theprogramhasbeengivenappropriateandcontinuouspromotion,andtheprogramhasachievednumerouspublicbenefits.JackEversole,CoordinatoroftheMammothCaveBiosphereReserveCouncil,states“…TheMammothCaveAreaInternationalBiosphereReservehasproduceddirectandtangiblebenefitstolocallandownerswithoutanyinfringementontheirsovereignty.(ReportofU.T.CESU:MammothCaveandSouthernAppalachianBiosphereReserve.)

• McDonnellsays(p14)asaresultoftheSevilleStrategya“baitandswitch”hasbeendoneontheU.S.Actually,theSevilleStrategywascreatedwithU.S.participation,anditencouragesflexibilityandinnovationtoimprovethebiospherereserveprogram.LeadersinUNESCOandtheICCrecognizethatbiospherereserves

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shouldservelocalaswellasnationalneeds.GonzaloHalffter,PresidentoftheMABInternationalCoordinatingCouncil,hasbeenapioneerindevelopingprograms,whichservelocalneedsinMexicanbiospherereserves.

DOCUMENT9,November2005:PaperpreparedaboutpotentialareasofcommongroundformeetingwithHenryLambandTomMcDonnellonNovember8,2005,V.Gilbert,November5,2005.

Mr. Lamb proposed the following agenda topics for our meeting. Kurt Christensen (Congressman Pombo’s staff) and Scott Fischer (Congressman Duncan’s staff) reviewed them. I replied that I thought these were good topics for discussion.

1.ClarifypurposesandgoalsofBiosphereReserves

2.DiscussTomMcDonnell’sreport-howdoestheU.S.goaboutreexaminingallcurrentBR’stodetermineiftheyconformtocurrentMABanddomesticconsiderations?

3.Discusshowtheprogramsecuressupportfromstateandlocalgoverningbodies.

TomMcDonnell’sreportofAugust15,2005,AnalysisoftheEvolvingNatureoftheUnitedNationsEnvironmental,Scientific&CulturalOrganization’sMan&BiosphereReserveProgram,andUnitedStatesCompliancewithitsStatutoryFramework(http://sovereignty.freedom.org)containsrecommendationsthatmightprovidecommongroundsforagreement.ThefollowingdiscussionrelatestoissuesandconcernsdescribedinMcDonnell’sreport.

• AreviewoftherelevanceoftheU.S.BiosphereReserveprogramisneeded.IfanyU.S.biospherereserveisnotrelevanttoU.S.interests,itsprogramshouldeitherbemodified,orthereserveshouldberemovedfromtheinternationallist.However,thereviewshouldnotbebasedonastrictinterpretationofthearticlesintheStatutoryFrameworkoftheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReserves.TheStatutoryFrameworkarticlesareflexible,andareintendedtoencourageandpromotegoodworkingexamplesofbiospherereserves.De-listingproceduresareanexceptiontothisbasicallypositiveapproach.TheStatutoryFrameworkstatesthatindividualbiospherereservesremainunderthesovereignjurisdictionoftheStateswheretheyaresituated,andthatStatestakethemeasurestheydeemnecessaryaccordingtotheirnationallegislation.TheStatutoryFrameworkencouragesStatestoelaborateandimplementnationalcriteriaforbiospherereserves,whichtakeintoaccountthespecialconditionsoftheStateconcerned.TheU.S.governmentshouldtakethisapproachtowarddeterminingwhetherornotthebiospherereserveprogramisrelevant.

• Involvementoflocalpeopleinbiospherereserveactivitiesisneeded.McDonnellnotesthattheimportanceofinvolvinglocalpeopleinthedevelopmentofregionalperspectivesbegantoformattheFirstInternationalBiosphereReserveCongressheldin

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Minskin1983.Actuallytheideaofinvolvinglocalpeoplebeganearlierin1974withtheMABTaskForceon‘CriteriaandGuidelinesfortheChoiceandEstablishmentofBiosphereReserves,’whichrecommendedestablishingcouncilswithlocallandowners,andenvironmentaleducationprogramswithlocalinstitutions.FurtherdevelopmentofthisideaattheFirstBiosphereCongressin1983wasbasedlargelyonaproposalthatIpresented…“CooperativeRegionalDemonstrationProjects:EnvironmentalEducationinPractice.”ThisconceptwasbasedonbiospherereserveprojectsinRwanda,MexicoandKenya,whichdemonstratedhowgovernmentofficials,scientists,andlocalpeoplewereworkingtogethertosustainthenaturalresourcesoftheirregions,andatthesametime,toimprovetheeconomicandsocialstandardsofpeoplelivinginandaroundthesebiospherereserves.

• CongressmanPombo,inhisbook,"ThisLandisOurLand:Howtoendthewaronprivateproperty,"advocatesprovidingincentivestopropertyownerswhoparticipateinspeciesconservationandlandstewardship,andhestatesthatthebalanceofwildlifeprotectionhasswungtoofarawayfrommeetingtheneedsofpeople.Manybiospherereserveprogramstodaycontrastwithtraditionalconservationprogramsinthattheydofocusonmeetingtheneedsoflocalpeopleasanessentialpartoftheprogram.InRwanda,forexample,itisessentialforlocalpeopletoparticipateinsavingtheMountaingorilla.Conservationofthisuniqueresourcebenefitslocalpeopleandothersthroughouttheworld.

• Overthecourseoftwentyyears,biospherereserveswentfrombeingareasofconservation,researchandeducationtobeingtheatersforreconcilingpeopleandnatureonaregionalbasis.

• ItisinthebestinterestsoftheU.S.forthebiospherereserveprogramtorenewitsfocusonconservation,research,andeducation.AvisionfortheUSMABprogramandbiospherereservesshouldbedevelopedthatfocusesonresearchandeducation,withanemphasisoninteractionsbetweenpeopleandtheirnaturalresources,andpotentialsolutionsforconservingnaturalresourcesandsustainingcommunities.Thiswouldcomplywithakeydirectionforinternationalbiospherereservesto…“Reinforcescientificresearch,monitoring,trainingandeducationinbiospherereservessinceconservationandrationaluseofresourcesintheseareasrequireasoundbaseinthenaturalandsocialsciencesaswellasthehumanities.”

• TheU.S.doesnotcomplywiththeStatutoryFramework,Article7,Section2,whichstatesthatbiospherereservesshouldbegivenappropriateandcontinuingpromotion.

• U.S.biospherereservesshoulddisseminateaccurateinformationaboutthereservesandtheirgoalsandfunctions.InrespondingtoasurveyofU.S.biospherereservemanagersin2003,managersrecognizedthisneed,andacknowledgedthatmostpeopledonotknowaboutbiospherereserves.Themanagersunderstandthatpublicunderstandingandsupportforreserveprogramsisessential.However,mostprogramshavebeeninactiveforadecadebecauseCongressprohibitedseveralagenciesfromfundingMABactivities.Insomeareas,suchastheMammothCaveAreaBiosphere

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Reserve,wherepoliticalsupportremainedstrong,thebiospherereservehasbeengivenappropriateandcontinuingpromotion,andgovernmentofficialsandlandownersacknowledgethattheprogramhasproducedmanydirectandtangiblebenefits.

Conclusion:TheU.S.biospherereserveprogramshouldbereviewedtodetermineitsrelevancetotheUnitedStates.SuchareviewshouldalsobeusedtohelpdeterminehowtheprogramcanbeimprovedforthebenefitoftheUnitedStates,andlocallandownerswhowishtoparticipate.RelevanceofthebiospherereserveprogramtotheUnitedStatesshouldbeevaluated,notjustonthebasisofwhetherornotindividualreservesmeetStatutoryFrameworkcriteria,butonbenefits,andpotentialbenefits,ofanationalprogram;andofU.S.participationintheinternationalprogram.Thebenefitsofcollaborationwithothercountriesmustbeconsidered,especiallywithCanadaandMexico,whereconservationofecosystemsandnaturalresourcesisasharedconcern.Theroleofbiospherereservesthroughouttheworldinconservinggeneticresourcesthathumansneednowandinthefuturemustbeconsidered-fromwildgenepoolsofeconomicallyimportantforestandaquaticspecies,toconservationofgeneticresourcesthatareimportanttoagriculture.ParticipatingintheinternationalnetworkofbiospherereserveswouldenabletheUnitedStatestobenefitfromthesynergyandexperienceofothers,andimproverelationswithothercountries,particularlythosewhoseboundariesandecosystemsandmigratoryspeciesweshare.Asabasisforthereview,UnitedStatescriteriaforbiospherereservesshouldbeelaboratedandimplementedto:

• ClarifytheobjectivesofUnitedStatesparticipationintheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReserves,andtheroleofU.S.reservesinconservation,researchandeducation.

• ClarifythatbiospherereservesintheUnitedStatesremainunderthesovereignjurisdictionoftheUnitedStatesandthelegalauthoritiesthatadministerthedesignatedreserveareas,andthattheUnitedNationshasnoauthorityorinterestindictatinglandusepolicies,orpractices,inanyU.S.biospherereservearea.

• ClarifythatU.S.biospherereservesfostervoluntarycooperativeactivitiestoachievethereservegoalsandfunctions;andthatbiospherereservemanagersdonothavetheauthoritytoprescribemanagementpolicies,plans,ormechanismstomanagehumanuseinzonesoutsidetheircoreareas.

• Clarifythatparticipationoffederal,stateandlocalgovernmentagencies,non-governmentalorganizationsandlocallandownersinU.S.biospherereserveprogramsandactivitiesisencouraged,butisstrictlyvoluntary.

• InsurethateachU.S.biospherereserverespectstherightsandinterestsofpropertyowners,andtotheextentpossible,fostersactivitiesthatbenefitlocalcommunitiesandpropertyowners.

• InsurethateachU.S.biospherereservedisseminatesinformationalmaterialaboutthereserve,itspurposes,goalsandactivities.

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CongressionaloversighttoregularlyevaluatetheprocessunderwhichtheUnitedStatesdesignatesandoperatesbiospherereservesshouldbeconductedtoimprovethevalueoftheprogramtotheUnitedStates.

InaSeptember3,2005webarticleforWorldNetDailyentitled"BiosphereReserves-whoneeds`em?"LambaskedwhytheU.S.participatesinaUNprogramthatrequiresthecreationof“…amechanismtomanagehumanuseandactivities”inbiospherereserves."LambknewthiswasaprovisionofArticle4oftheStatutoryFrameworkoftheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReserves.TheseArticle4criteria,onwhichbiospherereserveperformanceisbased,continuetobeaproblemtoday.

DOCUMENT 10, November2005: ReportofthemeetingwithHenryLambandTomMcDonnell Three days before the meeting with Henry Lamb, Pete Roussopoulos called me to say that he could not attend the meeting, and that he could not tell me the reason. I suspected he had been instructed not to attend by Forest Service officials in Washington, D.C. This proved to be correct because of this development. On November 2, 2005, Ann Bartuska, Deputy Chief for Research and Development, USFS, wrote a letter to Marguerite Sullivan, Executive Director of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO, that the FS, R&D would no longer participate in the MAB . The letter stated the FS was returning the program leadership to the State Department. (The USFS had taken over leadership for U.S. MAB from the State Department on October 11, 2000.) Dr. Bartuska asked Ms. Sullivan to let the USFS know to whom the records and other documentation should be submitted. (To my knowledge, there was never a reply to Bartuska's letter, and the MAB records and documents were kept in unlabeled boxes for years, and were retrieved by Dr. William Gregg.) The following is a report of my meeting with Lamb and McDonnell.

MeetingofHenryLamb,TomMcDonnell,andTomGilbert,November8,2005attheAlexisInn,Nashville,Tennessee,onNovember8,2005todiscussthefollowingtopics:

1. ThepurposesandgoalsofBiosphereReserves2. TomMcDonnell’sreport,AnalysisoftheEvolvingNatureofUNESCO’sManand

BiosphereReserveProgram,andU.S.CompliancewithitsStatutoryFramework.(http://sovereignty.freedom.org).HowdoestheU.S.goaboutreexaminingitsbiospherereservestodetermineiftheyconformtocurrentMABandU.S.domesticconsideration?

3. Howdoestheprogramsecuresupportfromstateandlocalgoverningbodies?

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1.PurposesandGoalsofBiosphereReserves

GilbertdescribedthehistoryoftheMABBiosphereReserveprogram,andhowU.S.leaders

hadhelpedtoshapetheprogram.Forexample,StanleyCain,ecologistandformerAssistant

SecretaryoftheU.S.DepartmentoftheInterior,hadamajorroleattheBiosphere

ConferenceheldinParisin1968.Dr.Caincalledforconservationofnaturalareas,andfor

multi-agency,public-privatejointplanning.Thisthemepersistedandguidedthe1974Task

Forceon‘CriteriaandGuidelinesfortheChoiceandEstablishmentofBiosphereReserves,’

whichsetoutthefollowinggoalsandpurposes:

• Conservethediversityandintegrityofbioticcommunitiesofplantsandanimals

withinnaturalecosystems

• Provideareasforecologicalresearch

• Providefacilitiesforeducationandtraining

TheU.S.-SovietUnionSummitAgreementonBiosphereReservesinJuly1974provideda

majorboostfortheprogramwhenbothcountriesagreedtodesignateareasasbiosphere

reservesforprotectingvaluablegeneticresourcesandecosystems,andforscientific

research.TheGreatSmokyMountainsNationalParkandtheCoweetaHydrologicStation

weredesignatedforthesepurposes,anditwasagreedearlyonintheprogramthatthe

traditionalbufferzoneconceptswouldnotbeappliedinthisandotherU.S.regions.Several

otherexamples,includingbiospherereservesinMexico,Rwanda,andKenya,were

describedtoillustratehowthebiospherereserveprogramworkedtoprotectvaluable

geneticresources.

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2.TomMcDonnell’sreport

RecommendationsinthisreportprovidedabasisfordiscussionandagreementaboutwhatisneededtomakesuretheU.S.BiosphereReserveprogramcomplieswithU.S.domesticandinternationalinterestsandconsiderations.Forexamplethereisgeneralagreementinthefollowingareas:

a. Areviewoftherelevanceofthebiospherereserveprogramisneeded.ThereviewshouldbedonebaseduponbothU.S.domesticconsiderationsandinternationalinterests.TheStatutoryFrameworkforBiosphereReservesencouragesStatestoelaborateandimplementtheirowncriteria,whichtakeintoaccountthespecialconditionsintheStateconcerned.ThisshouldbedoneintheUnitedStates.

b.Localpeopleshouldbeencouragedtoparticipateinthedevelopmentofbiosphere

reserveprograms.Itshouldbethepolicyofallbiospherereservestofosterparticipationoflocalpeople,recognizingthatparticipationintheprogramisvoluntary.Participationcanbeencouragedinvariousways,suchasparticipationinlocalbiospherereserveassociations,orcouncils.ThiswasamajorgoalandpurposeoftheU.S.BiosphereReservesAssociation.

c.ThefocusonresearchandeducationshouldberenewedinU.S.BiosphereReserves.

SucharenewalofthebiospherereserveprogramwouldberelevanttoU.S.interests,andwouldalsocomplywithoneofthekeydirectionsofMABinternationalprogram,whichisto“…Reinforcescientificresearch,monitoring,trainingandeducationinbiospherereservessinceconservationandrationaluseintheseareasrequireasoundbaseinthenaturalandsocialsciencesaswellasthehumanities.”

3.Howdoestheprogramsecuresupportfromstateandlocalgoverningbodies?

Biospherereservemanagersrecognizetheneedforsecuringsupportfromstateandlocalgoverningbodiesandhaveattemptedtodosoinvariousways.However,mostprogramshavebeeninactiveformorethanadecadebecauseCongressprohibitedseveralagenciesfromfundingMABactivities.Insomeareas,suchastheMammothCaveBiosphereReserve,therewasafirmstructureforsecuringsupportthroughtheBarrenRiverAreaDevelopmentDistrict.Inthisarealocalofficialsandmanylandownersacknowledgethattheprogramhasproducednumeroustangiblebenefits.

4.Conclusions

WeagreedtherearebeneficialaspectstoU.S.participationinthebiospherereserveprogram.Werecognizedheroleofbiospherereservesinconservinggeneticresourcesofimportancetoagriculture.Werecognizedtheneedforcollaborationwithbiospherereservesinothercountries,especiallywithCanadaandMexico,whoseecosystemsandresourcesweshare.However,Mr.LambandMr.McDonnellexpresseddeepconcernaboutthepotentialoftheU.S.

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biospherereserveprogramtoviolatetherightsofpropertyownersinbiospherereserveareas,iftheU.S.AdministrationcomplieswithprovisionsofArticle4oftheStatutoryFramework.

Mr.LambsuggestedthatawaytoresolvetheissueswouldbethroughCongressionallegislationtoauthorizetheMABBiosphereReserveprogram.WeagreedwewouldproposetotheHouseCommitteeonResourcestoformasmallgroupof4-6personstodraftsuchlegislation.Weagreedthatwithappropriatelegislation,regularCongressionaloversighttoevaluatehowtheU.S.designatesandoperatebiospherereservescouldresultinamorerelevantandvaluableU.S.program.

DOCUMENT11,January14,2006:EmailcorrespondencewithLamb..

To:HenryLambfromTomGilbert

Subject:Replytoyouremailof1/11/06

Henry,

ThefirstthingweneedtodoistodeterminewhetherornotChairmanPomboandCongressmanDuncanwillsupportourproposaltodraftlegislationtoauthorizetheU.S.biospherereserveprogram.Kurtsaidthattheywerehappythatourdialoguewasintheworks,butwilltheysupportoureffortsifwe,andthey,agreeonobjectiveswewantlegislationtoachieve?Proceduresshouldbeestablishedwiththeirguidanceafterthisquestionisanswered.

Myapproachhasbeentoseekpotentialareasofcommonground.IthoughtourmeetingonNovember8wasproductive,butyourresponsetomydraftsummaryindicatesthatyoudidnotagreeonseveralimportantpoints,sothisleavesmeindoubtthatconfrontingareasofdisagreementhead-onwillwork.Weshoulddetermineifwecouldagreeonafewbasicissues.

OneoftheseisthattheU.S.BiosphereReserveprogramisacomponentoftheUNESCOinternationalprogramandtheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReserves.YouinsistthattheU.S.doesnotcomplywitharticlesoftheUNESCOStatuaryFramework,butthensaythatyourgroupwillbereluctanttohavetheU.S.programattachedtoUNESCO.Yousaythatyouagreethatbiospherereservescanbebeneficialinconservinggeneticresourcesofimportancetoagriculture,butseemtodenythatparticipationwithothercountriesintheinternationalnetworkcanbeausefulmeanstoachievethisgoal.ItisunrealistictothinkthatwecouldcreateanewandseparateU.S.programtoachievethisgoal.

OnebasicareawhereIthinkweagreeisthatlegislationauthorizingU.S.biospherereserves,alongwithU.S.criteriaforparticipatingintheprogram,couldhelptoclarifytheU.S.-UNESCOrelationship;andthatproperauthoritiesintheU.S.authoritieswouldalwaysgovernU.S.biospherereserveprogramsandlandusedecisionswithoutUNESCOinterference.

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WecannotagreeonsomeoftheissuesyouraiseinyourresponsetomydraftsummaryreportofourNovember8meeting,buttheCongressandtheAdministrationshoulddeliberatethese.Iwillrespondbelowtosomeoftheareaswhereyoustatedthatwedidnotagree:

Item2a:TomMcDonnell’sreport.Heconcludedthatareviewoftherelevanceofthebiospherereserveprogramisneeded.Iagreed,butsaidthatthereviewshouldbebaseduponbothourU.S.domesticandinternationalinterests;andthatU.S.criteriashouldbeelaboratedandimplemented,asisencouragedbythattheStatutoryFrameworkoftheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReserves.IthoughtweagreedtothisbecauseTomMcDonnelldescribedtheseriousproblemoferodinggeneticbasesofcertaingeneticresourcesimportanttoagriculture.Healsoexpressedconcernaboutcontrolofaggressiveinvasivespecies.

Isaidthattheseweretolargeextentinternationalissues,andthatthebiospherereserveprogramsprovideameanstoaccomplishthesegoals,aswellastosustainothernaturalresourcessuchasmigratoryspeciesandecosystemsthatwesharewithothercountries.

ThesebenefitswillnotbeavailableunlesstheU.S.isanactiveparticipantintheWorldNetwork,anditisunrealistictothinkthatwecancreateaseparate,detached,U.S.program.Iamnotawareofany“constantsourceofU.S.bashingbytheinternationalcommunity”becauseofU.S.non-compliancetoStatutoryFrameworkarticles.Tothecontrary,IhavemetandcorrespondedwithdelegatesfrommanycountrieswhoareverypleasedthattheUnitedStatesisplanningtoparticipate,onceagain,inUNESCOMABprograms.IknowfromfirsthandexperienceinmanycountriesthattheMABprogramprovidesuswithwaystoshareknowledgeandmakefriends,andthatwewilllosemorerespectintheinternationalcommunityifwedecidenotparticipateinMAB.

Item2b.Localpeopleshouldbeencouragedtoparticipateinthedevelopmentofbiospherereserveprograms.

Isaiditshouldbethepolicyofallbiospherereservestofosterparticipationoflocalpeople.Wedoagreethatalllocalandstate-governingauthoritiesaffectedbyabiospherereserveshouldapproveit,butyoustatethatyoucannotsupportanybiospherereserveprogramthatpromotessustainabledevelopmentamongthelocalcitizenry.Iflocalpeopleandtheirelectedauthoritiesdecidethatprotectingnaturalandculturalresourcesofanareaisadesirableornecessarygoal,itistheirrighttodevelopprogramsandregulationstoachievetheirgoals.Certainlythisshouldbedonewithproperrespectfortherightsandlegitimateinterestsofpropertyowners,butthisshouldbethecase,whetherornotittakesplaceinabiospherereserve.

Conclusions.

Youstatethatyoudonotagreethatthereare“beneficialaspectstothetoparticipationinthe(U.N.)biospherereserveprogram,”asithasevolved;butyouagreethatbiospherereservescanbebeneficialinconservinggeneticresourcesofimportancetoagriculture,andthatyouarewillingtoparticipateinthedraftingoflegislationtodefinethescopeandpurposesforaU.S.

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biospherereserveprogram.Thiscouldbeagoodstart.AsIhavesaid,UNESCOauthoritiesencourageustodevelopandimplementU.S.criteriaforbiospherereserves.

WeneedCongressionalauthorityandoversightfortheprogram.Legislationwouldestablishtheappropriateauthority,suchasaMABNationalCommitteetoguidetheprogram,butwecanrecommendcertainprinciples.However,stateandlocalareasdesignatedasbiospherereserves,orbiospherereserveunits,mustbeallowedtocontinuetoparticipateintheprogramiftheychoosetodoso,asisthecaseintheMammothCaveAreaBiosphereReserveandanumberofothers.

DOCUMENT12,April25,2006:

To:HenryLambfromTomGilbert

Subject:Conservationofgeneticresources

WhenIsentourideasforbiospherereservelegislation,IsuggestedthatabiospherereserveprogramintheUnitedStatescouldbenefitpropertyownerssuchasfarmersandranchers.CongressmanPombostatedthatprivatepropertyownersarethetruestewardsoftheland.Thisisthehope.Biospherereservescanonlybeasmallpartofthesolution,buttheycanhelppropertyownerswhowishtoparticipatetobecomebetterstewardsoftheland.SomeoftheCanadianBiosphereReservesaredemonstratinghowthiscanbedone.

WhenwemetinNashvillelastfall,youandTomMcDonnellacknowledgedthatbiospherereservesmayhavearoleinconservinggeneticmaterialsthatareimportanttoagricultureandfoodsuppliesintheUnitedStates.Manybiospherereservesthroughouttheworldcontainprioritygeneticresources,andconductassociatedresearchandeducation,andtheUnitedStatesshouldparticipateactivelyinthiseffort

Yousuggestedthatourefforttoworktogethertoresolvesdifferencesandreachcommonobjectivescouldbeprecedentsetting.Youareright.Ifwesucceed,itcouldbeofgreatbenefittosociety.

Ilookforwardtofurtherexchange,andavisitwithyousometimethisspring.

DOCUMENT13,October2006PresentationtotheMABICCConference

ConservationandSustainableUseofBiodiversity:Panel1,MAB/ICCConference,UNESCO,October25,2006

PanelistVernon(Tom)Gilbert,UnitedStatesBiosphereReservesAssociationaddressedthefollowingtopics:

1. Theexperienceofbiospherereserves,andlessonslearned,particularlyintheUnitedStates.2. Theapproachtozoninginbiospherereserves.3. Settinganewcoursetobiodiversityconservationbaseduponlessonslearned

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Experienceofbiospherereserves,andlessonslearned,particularlyintheUnitedStates.TheUnitedStatesparticipatedactivelyintheBiosphereReserveprogram.TheU.S.–U.S.S.R.SummitAgreementonBiosphereReservesin1974benefitedtheentireinternationalprogram.Formorethan10yearstheU.S.developedcooperativeactivitieswithothercountries,particularlyMexicoandCanada.IhavefondmemoriesofourcooperativeeffortswithDr.HalffterinthebiospherereservesinMexico,andIappreciatehowmuchheandtheInstituteofEcologyhavecontributedtoconservationofbiodiversityandimprovingthewellbeingofpeopleinandaroundbiospherereserves.Wehadagoodprogrambutitwasstopped.Whatwentwrong?Determinedgroups,ledbySovereigntyInternational,whichmycolleagueCathieAdamsisrepresenting,wereconcernedthatUNESCOprograms,BiosphereReservesandWorldHeritagesites,wereviolatingtherightsofprivatepropertyownersintheUnitedStates.TheseorganizationsconvincedmembersoftheU.S.Congressthatthiswasarealdanger,andin1996theChairmanoftheHouseResourcesCommittee,DonYoung,wrotealetterintohiscolleaguesinCongress,whichread:IsBoutrosBoutros-GauliZoningLandinYourDistrict?…NowwefindoutthatanareaonU.S.soilthesizeofthestateofColoradohasbeendesignatedaspartoftheUnitedNationsBiosphereReserveprogram.…ThisprogramoperateswithoutanylegislativedirectionandnoauthorizationfromCongress.A“BiosphereReserve”isaUnitedNationsexperimentwithinsovereignU.S.Borders.TheCongressmanwentontostatethatthelidwasabouttocomeoffthis“OneWorldZoningEnterprise,”andtheCongressproceededtocutfundsforU.S.MABbyamendingagencyauthorizationandappropriationbills.ThecurrentChairoftheHouseResourcesCommittee,RichardPombo,hasalsoopposedbiospherereserves,andhisstaffiscurrentlyinvestigatingtheprogram.Mr.Pombowroteabookin1997called,“ThisLandisOurLand:HowToEndTheWarOnPrivateProperty.”Inithestates,“TherightsandprivilegesofowningapieceofpropertyrepresentamajorsteptowardfulfillmentoftheAmericandream.”Hedescribesprivatepropertyownersthetruestewardsoftheland,andsays,“Americaisbothalandandapeople.Neithershouldbesacrificedforthebenefitoftheother.”Statementssuchastheseprovidecommongroundforbothproponentsandopponentsofbiospherereserves.Duringthepastyear,withencouragementfromCongressmanPombo,IhavemetwithHenryLamb,theleaderoftheoppositiontobiospherereserves.Ourdialoguehasbeenconstructive.IhavesaidthatMABattemptstoputwelfareofhumansatthecoreofitsprograms,butIhavealsolearnedaboutmistakesthathavebeenmade,andhowarevitalizedbiospherereserveprogramcouldbemoreeffectiveinconservingbiodiversityresources.Mr.Lamb,inhisinvitedtestimonybeforetheHouseResourcesCommitteeinJune1997,regardingtheAmericanLandSovereigntyProtectionAct,identifiedasignificantproblemregardingbiospherereserves.Hetestified,“ThisCommittee,andtheAmericanpeople,havebeentoldbytheAdministrationrepresentativestheUnitedNationsdoesnothavetheauthoritytoaffectfederallandmanagementdecisionswithintheUnitedStates.”Thenhesaid,“TheUnitedNationsderivesitsauthoritytoaffectlandmanagementdecisionswithintheUnited

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StatesthroughtheExecutiveBranch’scommitmenttomeetthecriteriaandconditionswhichareestablishedbytheUnitedNations,notbytheCongressoftheUnitedStates.”Hewasreferringtobufferzonesinbiospherereserveareas,andcallsformanagementplansandpoliciestomanagehumanuseinbufferzones.Approachtozoninginbiospherereserves.Thecurrentapproachtodesignatingcore,buffer,andtransitionzonesistoocompartmentalizedinspatialterms,anditcannotberealisticallyappliedinreserves,whichhavemultiplejurisdictions,landuses,andprivateproperties.Ifbiodiversityresourcesaretobeconservedandmanagedsustainably,itwillhavetobeachievedthroughcooperativeprocesses,startinglocally,andextendingasfarastheproblemsextend.Thetendencytoregardzonesasfixedignorestherealityofthechangingnaturalandsocialoperatingenvironments.TheCanadianCooperationPlanmodelismuchmoreappropriateformostareas.Itis“grassroots”inorganization,anditsfocusesonpartnerships,bothfromthepublicandprivatesectors,toparticipateintheattainmentofbiospherereserveobjectives.Theterm“biosphereareas”asusedinSwedenwouldalsobemoreappropriateinmostareastoday.Therightsandinterestsofpropertyownersinbiosphereareasshouldbedealtwithasaseriousissue.Weshouldemphasizecooperativeprocessestoaddressthebiodiversityconservationissuesthatconcernbothpublicandprivatesectorsinanarea.ItisrarelypointedoutthattheStatutoryFrameworkforBiosphereReservesemphasizestheneedtobeflexibleandadaptive,andthatitencouragesStatesto“elaborateandimplementnationalcriteriaforbiospherereserves,whichtakeintoaccountthespecialconditionsoftheStateconcerned.”TheMABCouncilandtheSecretariatneedtoemphasizethispoint,andencourageStatestodeveloptheirowncriteria.ThisiswhatweplantodointheUnitedStates.Settinganewcoursebaseduponlessonslearned.IntheUnitedStatesourdialoguewiththeopponentsofbiospherereserveshasbeencivilandconstructive,andwearenowcooperatingtodraftlegislationdealingwithbiospherereserves.Mr.Lambsaidthathethoughtoureffortstoresolveconflictinginterestscouldbeprecedentsetting,andmightprovideanexampleforotherstosolveproblemsintheirowncommunities.Sofarwehaveagreedtothefollowingimportantpoints:

• Protectionoftherightsofpropertyownersinbiospherereserveareasisessential.• Biospherereservescancontributetoconservationoflandscapes,ecosystems,species,

andgeneticdiversity.Governmentagenciescannotachievethisalone,norcanitbedonesolelyinprotectedareas.

• Privatepropertyownersshouldparticipatevoluntarily,butshouldnotbecoerced.Incentivessuchaseducation,training,andtechnicalassistancecouldbeprovided.Benefitsfromecosystemgoodsandservices,controlofairandwaterpollution,andspreadofinvasivespeciesareinterestsofpropertyowners.Suchproblemscannotbesolvedbyindividualowners,agencies,orcountries,orthroughisolatedcoursesofaction.

Insettinganewcourseofaction,theMABCouncilshouldconsiderthatthemajorityofthelandscapesandecosystemsinbiospherereserveareasincludeprivateproperties,andthatmostofthepriorityspeciesvaluedforfoodproduction,timber,medicine,andnaturalresourcesfor

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industrialuse,requirehabitatsthatarefoundonprivatelands,sogreatereffortsshouldbemadetoinvolveprivatepropertyownersinbiospherereserveprograms.Biospherereservesshouldhelptosolvesuchproblemsbybringingmoreecosystemservicesbenefitstoprivatepropertyowners.Ifbiospherereservesweretofocusmoreonconservationandsustainableuseofgeneticresourcesofvaluetofarmersandranchers,e.g.foodcropsandlivestock,timber,medicines,andindustry;andresearchandeducationrelatedtothesefunctions,thiswouldprovideincentivesfortheirparticipation.Insituconservationshouldbecarriedoutinclosecooperationwithexsituprograms(seedbanks,arboreta,plantations,farms,andotherlivecollections),buttodateIdonotknowofanyareaswherethesecompatibleapproachesarelinkedthroughdeliberateplanningandaction.Thisfunctionofbiospherereservescouldbestrengthenedbyclosecollaborationwithfarmersandranchers,andwithinstitutionsthatfocusprimarilyonsustainingtheresourcesthatareimportanttoagriculture,suchastheConsultativeGrouponInternationalAgriculturalResearch(CGIAR)Centers.

I did a quick check of biosphere reserves to determine what I could find on wild crop relatives, and traditional crop priority species the reserves contain. The species included rice, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, onions, cabbage, coffee, bananas and plantains, apples, mangos, avocados, peaches, plums, citrus and many other species. A more thorough survey could help to determine what species are most important to people in the reserve areas, and what strategies might be developed to sustain them. Harvard biologist Stephen Jay Gould said, “We will not fight for things we do not love.” I would add that we cannot love things we do not know or understand. Without knowledge and understanding of the links between ecosystem goods and services and human welfare, there will continue to be a large gap between conservation theory and practice. Research, education and demonstration programs that focus on the value of conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources in biosphere reserve areas would help narrow this gap.

DOCUMENT14,May2007

The following is the draft bill that Henry Lamb and I submitted to the House Committee on Resources. It had been widely review and approved by biosphere reserve representatives and Lamb's associates before it was submitted to Representatives Duncan's and Pombo's staff.

DRAFT

May,2007

ABilltoauthorizetheUnitedStatesManandtheBiosphereReservesProgram

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Section1.SHORTTITLE.

UnitedStatesBiosphereReservesAuthorizationAct

Section2.FINDINGSANDPURPOSES

Findings.Congressfindsthefollowing:(1) TheUnitedStatesManandtheBiosphere(USMAB)BiosphereReserve

program,withappropriateCongressionalauthorityandoversight,canmakeasignificantcontributiontotheconservationoflandscapes,ecosystems,species,andgeneticdiversity.TheprogramcanfostercooperationamonggovernmentagenciesandtheprivatesectorintheUnitedStates,aswellascooperativeconservationactivitieswithothernations.Thiswouldcontributetoefficiencyingovernment,costsavings,andtherefore,totheprimaryobjectivesoftheGovernmentPerformanceandResultsAct.

(2) TheStatutoryFrameworkfortheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReserves,adoptedbytheUnitedNationsEducational,Scientific,andCulturalOrganization(UNESCO)encouragesparticipatingStatestoelaborateandimplementtheirownnationalcriteriaforBiosphereReserves,whichtakeintoaccountthespecialconditionsoftheStateconcerned.UnitedStatesBiosphereReservecriteriadescribedinthisActcanenhancetheeffectivenessofBiosphereReservesintheUnitedStates,andhelptostrengthenunderstanding,communicationandcooperationatlocaltointernationallevels.

(3) TheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReserves,nowsome500areasin103countries,shouldbeutilizedmoreeffectivelytoaddressthelossofgeneticresourcesofimportancetoagriculture,forestry,industry,andmedicine.ThisindicatesaneedforeffectiveUnitedStatesparticipationintheinternationalprogram.

(B)Purposes.(1) ABiosphereReserveintheUnitedStatesisdefinedasageographicarea

thatisproposedbyafederal,state,localgovernment,orprivateauthorityasdescribedinthefollowingUnitedStatescriteriaforBiosphereReserves,forthefollowingpurposes:

A. Tocontributetotheconservationoflandscapes,ecosystems,species,andgeneticvariation;

B. Toprovideafocalareaforresearch,monitoring,educationandtrainingregardingmethodsandprocedurestoenhanceconservationoflandscapes,ecosystems,species,andgeneticvariation;

C. Toprovideforthecreationofamanagementandfundingmechanismandbodyforeachdesignatedarea.

(2) ToprovideCongressionalauthorizationandoversighttothefederalagenciesadministeringandparticipatingintheU.S.MABProgram,andguidancetostateandprivateareasparticipatingintheprogram.

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(3) Toprovideincentives,suchastechnicalassistance,educationandtraining,toprivatepropertyowners,andothers,whovoluntarilyparticipateintheBiosphereReserveprogram

(4) ToensurethateachUnitedStatesBiosphereReserverespectstherightsandinterestsofcitizenslivinginornearBiosphereReserveareas.

(5) Toprovidetheauthority,anddefinetheprocess,underwhichtheUnitedStatesmaydesignateandoperateBiosphereReserves,aspartoftheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReserves;andtoensuretheUnitedStatesparticipateseffectivelyinactivitiessuchasacquiringdataonthestatusandgeographicdistributionofpriorityspecies,encouragingcooperationwithlocalinstitutions,andindividuals,suchasfarmersandranchers;andfostersresearchandeducationtoconservepriorityspeciesinBiosphereReserveareas.

Section3.AUTHORITY

Congressauthorizes,andestablishesintheDepartmentofInterior,theUnitedStatesManandtheBiosphereProgram,inaccordwiththefollowingcriteriaandregulations.

TheUSMABProgramshouldbeoverseenbyanationalcommittee,consistingoffederalagencyrepresentativesandstateorlocalelectedofficials,asdeterminedbytheSecretaryofInterior.

Section4.CRITERIAFORUNITEDSTATESBIOSPHERERESERVES

ThefollowingarticlesdescribethecriteriaandregulationsforBiosphereReservesintheUnitedStates:

(A) Definition

BiosphereReservesintheUnitedStatesareareasofterrestrial,aquaticandcoastal/marineecosystemsoracombinationthereof,whicharerecommendedbythenationalcommittee,andapprovedbytheSecretaryandtheCongress.

(B) Jurisdiction

IndividualBiosphereReservesintheUnitedStatesremainunderthesovereignjurisdiction

oftheUnitedStates,andtheauthoritiesthatadministerthedesignatedreserveareas.

DesignationofanareaasaBiosphereReserveshallnotsupersedeexistinglaws,orother

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authorities,norconveyanyuserestrictionstoincludedareasorimposeanyobligations

uponthirdparties,includingprivateparties,nordoesitconveyanyrestrictionsor

requirementsuponprivatepropertieswithintheareaoradjacenttothearea.Useof

eminentdomaintoacquirepropertiesadjacenttoabiospherereservecannotbejustified

basedonanarea’sstatusasabiospherereserve.RecognitionasaBiosphereReserveinno

wayaffectsUnitedStatessovereigntyoversucharea.Federal,stateandlocalgovernment

agencies,non-governmentalorganizationsandlocalresidentsallparticipatevoluntarily.

EachU.S.BiosphereReservewillrespecttherightsandinterestsofpersonswithownership

orotherlegallyrecognizedinterestsinlandorothernaturalresourceswithinoradjacentto

thedesignatedreservearea.

(C) GoalsandFunctions

UnitedStatesBiosphereReservesexploreanddemonstratecooperativeapproachesto:

(1) Contributetotheconservationoflandscapes,ecosystems,speciesandgeneticvariation.

(2) Providelogisticsupportsuchasresearch,monitoring,educationandtrainingregardinglocal,regional,nationalandglobalissuesrelatedtoconservationofecosystemsandofthegeneticresourcestheycontain,andtofostercooperativeactivitiesamongpublicandprivatesectors.

(D)ConditionsForanareatoqualifyfor,andmaintainBiosphereReservestatusintheUnitedStates,thefollowingconditionsapply:(1) Theareaisownedbytheentityorentitiesproposingthedesignation,

andencompassesecologicallysignificantlandscapes,habitats,andecosystemsintheUnitedStates.

(2) Ithassignificantvalueforconservationofnaturalresourcesandgeneticdiversity,orforrelatedresearch.

(3) Itprovidesopportunitiestoexploreanddemonstrateapproachestoland/resourceusepracticesforconservation.

(4) Ithasthecapacitytoserveasacentertoadvanceknowledgeofconservationpractices,includingprivatepropertyownerstewardshippractices,andprovidetechnicalassistancetothosewhoparticipate.

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(5) Itincludesamappedcoreorfocalarea,whichmaybealegallyconstitutedasapark,forestorotherdesignationandhavemanagementplansthataddressitsconservationgoalsandlogisticfunctions,butthespatialextentofcooperationtoconserveecosystemsandlandscapeswilldependupontheissuesthattheBiosphereReserveaddresses,andthechangingenvironmental,socialandculturalconditionsthatexistinthearea.

(6)EachBiosphereReserveareawillestablishaCooperationCouncil,whichwillberesponsibleforpreparationforcooperationplansandfundingmechanisms.TheCouncilshouldbeestablishedtotakeintoaccountthespecialconditionsoftheareaconcerned,butshouldgenerallyconsistofagencyrepresentatives,propertyowners,andstateorlocalelectedofficials,ortheirdesignees,fromwithinthedesignatedareas.PlanswillbepreparedineachUnitedStatesBiosphereReservetoimplementitsconservationgoalsandlogisticfunctions.TheCooperationCouncils,withparticipationofpublicandprivatesectors,andelectedofficials,willpreparetheplans,withassistanceasneededfromtheUnitedStatesBiosphereReservesAssociation,andothernon-governmentorganizations.

(7)TheparticipatingagenciesandotherentitiesmayprovidefinancialandothersupporttotheBiosphereReserve,whichmayincludegrants,contracts,interagency,andcooperativeagreementstosupporttheBiosphereReserve’sactivities.

(8) Localgovernmententitiesmayoptoutoftheplanningprocess,andmaychoosenottoparticipateintheimplementationoftheBiosphereReservePlan.

(E) DesignationandModificationProceduresforUnitedStatesBiosphereReserves(1)NominationofnewUnitedStatesBiosphereReserves:

a.NominationsbasedontheabovecriteriaforaU.S.BiosphereReservemaybeadvancedbypublicorprivateentities,withapprovalofthemajorityoflocalgoverningauthoritieswithinthedesignatedarea.b.TheNationalCommitteereviewnominationsandmakerecommendationstotheSecretarywhomayapprovethenomination.Then,baseduponrequestbythenominatedBiosphereReserve,andapprovalbytheSecretaryandtheCongress,theNationalCommitteemayforwardthenominationtotheUNESCOMABSecretariatfordesignationasaninternationalBiosphereReserve.

(2)ModificationstoexistingUnitedStatesBiosphereReserves.

WithinfouryearsafterenactmentoftheAct,eachoftheexisting47U.N.designatedBiosphereReservesintheUnitedStateswillreorganizeitsstructuretoconformwiththe

47

requirementsofthisAct,ortheSecretarywillrequestthatUNESCOremovetheBiosphereReservefromtheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReserves.

(F)ParticipationintheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReserves

UnitedStatesBiosphereReservesmayparticipatevoluntarily,asappropriateunderUnitedStateslawsandregulations,intheWorldNetwork.Thismayincludescientificresearch,informationexchange,educationandtraining.Theappropriateauthoritiesmakeavailabletheresultsofresearch,associatedpublicationsandotherdata,takingintoaccountintellectualpropertyrights,tomaximizethebenefitsfrominformationexchange.

TheUnitedStatesparticularlyencouragesthedevelopmentofcollaborativeBiosphere

ReserveactivitieswithCanadaandMexico,CentralAmericanandCaribbeancountriesto:

(3) TakestockoftrendsandthreatsshapingNorth,CentralAmerican,andCaribbeanecosystems,landscapes,speciesandgeneticresources.

(4) Fostercooperationtoaddressthesethreats,especiallyintrans-boundaryareas,andregardingmigratoryspecies.

(5) Increasecommunication,training,sharingofinformation,andpromotingbestpracticesamongBiosphereReserveareas.

(6) DevelopthecapacitytomonitorandassessprogressinBiosphereReserveprograms.

(G) Periodicreviews

ThestatusofeachBiosphereReserveissubjecttoareviewevery10years.TheUnitedStatesBiosphereReservesAssociationwillassistinthisreviewbasedupontheUnitedStatesandinternationalBiosphereReservecriteria.Modifications,asneeded,willberecommendedtoeachareaandtheU.S.NationalCommitteetoenablethereservetocarryoutitsintendedfunctions.IftheNationalCommitteedeterminesthattheaBiosphereReservecannotmakethenecessarymodificationstomeetinternationalcriteria,theCommitteemayrecommendtotheUNESCOMABSecretariatthattheU.S.BiosphereReserveshouldberemovedfromtheWorldNetworklist.

DOCUMENT15,August2007.Lamb and I prepared the following statement in support of biosphere reserve legislation.

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LegislationtoRenewtheUnitedStatesBiosphereReserveProgramHenryLambSovereigntyInternationalInc.Vernon(Tom)GilbertU.S.BiosphereReservesAssociationAugust2007BiosphereReserves

BiosphereReservesareareasrecognizedbytheUnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganization(UNESCO)forpromotinganddemonstratingconservationofecosystemsandspeciesthroughresearch,educationandtrainingrelatedtosignificantlocal,regional,nationalandglobalissuesandneeds.Thereare47UnitedStatesBiosphereReserves,butmostofthesehavebeeninactiveinrecentyearsbecauseofcontroversiesabouttheprogram.Sinceitsinception,SovereigntyInternational,Inc.hasopposedthedesignationandexistenceofBiosphereReservesintheUnitedStates.ThemostimportantobjectionwasthattheUnitedStatesBiosphereReserveswerecreatedwithouttheapprovalofCongress,or,ofstatelegislaturesorothergovernmentalbodiesofelectedofficials.TherewasalsoconcernthatUNESCO’sguidelinesforestablishingbufferzonesaroundBiosphereReserveareascouldaffectlandmanagementdecisionsandprivatepropertieswithintheUnitedStates.Therefore,SovereigntyInternational’sgoalwastostopfurtherimplementationoftheprogramwithoutthespecificapprovalofCongressandofthelegislativebodiesofthestatesandcommunitiesthatwereaffected.

Ontheotherside,theUnitedStatesBiosphereReservesAssociation’sgoalwastorenewtheUnitedStatesBiosphereReserveprograminsupportoftheUnitedStatesreturntoUNESCO,andtofosterbetterunderstandingoftheconservation,researchandeducationgoalsoftheBiosphereReserveprogram.

FindingCommonGround

In2005,theChairmanoftheHouseResourcesCommitteeRichardPombo,andRepresentative

JohnJ.DuncanJr.,suggestedthattheseopposingsides(SovereigntyInternationalandthe

BiosphereReservesAssociation)shouldmeettoseeiftherewascommonground.Thatmeeting,

betweenHenryLamb,TomMcDonnell(SovereigntyInternational),andTomGilbert(U.S.

BiosphereReservesAssociation)tookplaceinNovember2005,anditresultedinmorethana

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yearandahalfofconstructivedialoguethataddressedtheconcernsofbothsides.Issues,such

astherightsandinterestsofprivatepropertyownerslivinginornearBiosphereReserveareas,

andtheparticipationoflocalelectedofficialswereaddressed.Bothsideseventuallyagreedthat

arenewedUnitedStatesBiosphereReserveProgram,withappropriateCongressionalauthority

andoversight,couldmakeasignificantcontributiontotheconservationofecosystems,species,

andgeneticdiversityintheUnitedStates,andimprovecooperativeconservationactivitieswith

othernations,therebycontributingtoefficiencyingovernmentandtocostsavings.

ProposedLegislation

TheproposedbilldefinespreciselywhataU.S.BiosphereReserveis,anditclearlydefinestheauthorityfortheprogram,itsgoalsandfunctions,andtheconditionsforanareatoqualifyfor,andmaintain,BiosphereReservestatusintheUnitedStates.Thebillemphasizesthatparticipationintheprogramisvoluntary.

ThebillreflectsaunifiedsolutionthatwehopethatmembersofCongresswillsupport.PassageofthisbillwillhelpsetthecourseforestablishingamoreeffectiveBiosphereReserveprogramintheUnitedStates,andforrenewalofourleadershipintheinternationalprogram.

SignedbyLambandGilbert

DOCUMENT16,MarkLeighton,HarvardUniversity,andTomGilbertmeetingsonU.S.MAB,Washington,D.C.,June23-27,2008.

By this time, Kurt Christensen was pleased with the progress that Henry Lamb and I had made, so he decided to end the investigations of MAB. We were now focusing on getting some members of Congress to support the legislation Lamb and I had submitted to the House Resources Committee. Numerous letters in support of MAB had been sent to various members of Congress.

Meetings were held with the following officials and Congressional staffers. A package of information about MAB, the Madrid Action Plan, and a draft authorization bill was given to each person.

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1. Kelly Siekman and Ross Corotis (U.S. National Commission for UNESCO) 2. Jennifer Barrett (Rep. Mark Udall, Democrat, Colorado) 3. Leslie Ann Duncan (Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands) 4. Ben Miller (Rep. George Miller- Democrat, California) 5. Ray Wanner and John Daly (Vice Presidents- Americans for UNESCO 6. MelindaKimble,RayWanner(U.N.Foundation),JohnDaly(Americansfor

UNESCO),LeonardHirsch(Smithsonian)7. MichelleMiranda(SenatorRonWyden,Democrat,Oregon)8. LaTonyaMiller(SenatorLamarAlexander,Republican,Tennessee)9. ThomasLillie(RepublicanProfessionalStaff-CommitteeonEnergyandNatural

Resources)10. RachelKondor(Rep.RaulGrijalva,Democrat,Arizona)11. BertFrostandJohnDennis(NPS)12. AlexandraThornton(DirectorofPublicPolicy,JaneGoodallInstitute)13. AshleyPalmer(SenatorBobCorker,Republican,Tennessee)

Summary KellySiekmanandRossCorotisthoughtameetingonthebenefitsofrenewalofU.S.MABshouldbeorganized,andthatCongressionalstaffersshouldbeinvited.ThiscouldbeheldinSeptember.RossisfinishinghistermasScienceAdvisor,butwillbeavailableasaconsultanttoStateDepartment.Theneedtoincludebiospherereserverepresentativesfromstatesandnon-governmentalorganizationswasdiscussed.

JenniferBarrett,DeputyLegislativeDirectorforRep.MarkUdall,waspositiveaboutMAB,buttheCongressmanisnowrunningfortheSenate.WeexplainedthatthebiospherereservesinColorado,whichwereactiveinpastyears,hadhelpeddeveloptheinternationalmountainactivitiesofMAB.

LeslieDuncan,HouseSubcommitteeacknowledgedthatprogresshasbeenmadewithopponentsofbiospherereserves,butthoughttherewaslittlechanceforabilltobeintroducedthisyear.ShesuggesteditwouldbebestifaRepublicintroducedthebill.

BenMiller,LegislativeDirectorforCongressmanGeorgeMiller,saidtheyhaveafullplate,butthathewouldhelp.HethoughtabriefingforCongressionalstaffwasagoodidea,andsuggestedthattheInternationalConservationCaucusshouldbecontactedabouthelping.

Ray Wanner and John Daly suggested that their newly elected Congresswoman, Donna Edwards (Maryland), might support MAB legislation. They said Americans for UNESCO would prepare transition papers for the next administration. This could be a way to communicate the need for U.S. reengagement in MAB.

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ThemeetingwithMelindaKimble,RayWanner,JohnDaly,andLeonardHirschwasallpositive.MelindawilltrytolocatefundingtosupportU.S.reengagementinMAB.ShesaidtheU.S.biospherereserve/universitylinkagesareimportant,andshouldbeemphasized.WementionedthatKnuteNadelhoffer,DirectoroftheU.ofMichiganBiologicalStation,andPhilippeCohen,DirectoroftheStanfordUniversity,JasperRidgeReserve,hadagreedtocontacttheirrepresentativesaboutMAB.Finally,wediscussedtheideaofcombinedinsituandexsituconservationandmanagementofprioritygeneticresourcesinbiospherereserves.

MichelleMiranda,NaturalResourcesCounselforSenatorRonWyden,iscurrentlyworkingwithDr.JerryFranklin,long-timeU.S.biospherereserveleader,onforestrylegislation.ShesaidthatSenatorsRonWydenandLamarAlexander(Tennessee)workwelltogether,andthattheymightsupportaU.S.MABbill.

LaTonyaMiller,LegislativeAssistantforSenatorAlexander,thinksthatabriefingforCongressionalstaffisagoodidea.Shemayhelpmakearrangementsforthemeeting.

TomLilliewaspositiveaboutMABandthoughtabriefingforCongressionalstaffwasagoodidea.HesaiditshouldbeheldintheCapitalbuilding,andlinkedwithanimportantoccasionoranniversaryifpossible.

HethoughtthatDeputySecretaryofInterior,LynnScarlett,andAssistantSecretaryforFish,WildlifeandParks,LyleLaverty,wouldsupportMAB,andthattheyshouldbebriefed.(Ms.ScarlettcoordinatesInterior’spolicyinitiativestoimplementPresidentBush’sexecutiveorderoncooperativeconservation.LyleLavertyhasextensiveexperienceinnaturalresourceandparkmanagement.)

TomsaidhewaspleasedtotalkwithMiguelCleusner-GodtwhenMiguelwasinD.C.

JohnDennis,NationalParkService,whoattendedtheMadridCongress,arrangedourmeetingwithBertFrost,AssociateDirector,NaturalResourceStewardshipandScience.Hispredecessorwasco-chairoftheU.S.MABNationalCommittee.BertwillbriefDeputySecretaryLynnScarlettandAssistantSecretaryLyleLavertyaboutMABbeforetheproposedSeptemberMABmeeting.

AlexThornton,DirectorofPublicPolicy,JaneGoodallInstitute,workedfortenyearsascounselandsenioradvisortoformerSenatorTomDaschle.Alexsaidshewouldhelp.(Shewouldbeexcellentonstrategiesforlegislation,andeditingbriefsthatwillbeneeded.)AlexrecommendedcontactingtheprestigiousWilsonCenteraboutpossiblyhostingabriefingforAdministrationofficials.

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AshleyPalmerisLegislativeAssistanttoSenatorBobCorker(Tennessee),whoisamemberoftheSenateEnergyandNaturalResourcesCommittee.SenatorsAlexanderandCorkerworkcloselyonissuesofimportancetoTennessee,sobenefitsoftheSouthernAppalachianManandtheBiosphereReserveProgram(SAMAB)weredescribed.

DOCUMENT17,PaperpreparedforbriefingCongressionalstaff,ameetingthatwastobehostedbySenatorRonWyden.With funding and assistance from the U.N. Foundation, final arrangements were made for briefings of Congressional staffers, and I had prepared the following background paper, but our timing could not have been worse. The economic crisis was causing panic, and the Congress was focused on a bailout bill. We knew that MAB would not be a priority, so decided to cancel the meeting, and reschedule it if there should be a suitable time in the future.

UNESCOManandtheBiosphere(MAB)Background

V.Gilbert,U.S.BiosphereReservesAssociation

Congressstaffbriefing,October3,2008

HavingbeeninvolvedinMABfor36years,Iwilldescribeafewhighlights,andoutstandingpeoplewhoplayedmajorroles.ThereisnodoubtthatU.S.canbenefitfromthecumulativeexperienceandsynergyofthemanywhocontributedtothedevelopmentofMABovertheseyears.

Slide:“PlanetinPeril”,the1968UNESCOBiosphereConference

• Theneedsofsocietyincreaseeverygeneration,whilelargeareasoftheglobedeteriorate.Along-termintergovernmentalprogramontherationaluseandconservationofthenaturalenvironmentanditsresourcesisneeded.

Slide:Dr.StanleyCain(AssistantSecretary-DepartmentoftheInterior)

• “Wehavecometoaperiodofhumanhistorywhenthereisagreatneedfor…amultidisciplinary,multi-agency,public-privatejointplanningthatcanstemonlyfromarecognitionoftheexistenceandnatureofnaturalandhumanecosystems.Essentiallyitisecologicalplanning.”…“Althoughthevisionmayhavebeenglimpsed,itisnotapromisedlandthatliessomewhereawaitinghumanenjoyment-aUtopiaorGardenofEdenthatcanbemovedinto.”

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Slide:Dr.FrankFraserDarling(distinguishedBritishecologist)

• “Ecologistscanscarcelyaffordtobeoptimists.Butanabsolutepessimistisadefeatist,andthatisnogoodeither.Weseetherenotbecompletedisasterandifoureyeswereopenwideenough,worldwide,wecoulddomuchtowardsrehabilitation.”

Slide:TheWorldtakesnotice-BiosphereReserves

• DistinguishedscientistspreparedforthechoiceandestablishmentofBiosphereReservesin1974.TheU.S.andUSSRagreedinSummitConferenceto“DesignatecertainnaturalareasasBiosphereReservesforprotectingvaluableplantandanimalgeneticstrains,andecosystems,andforconductingscientificresearchneededformoreeffectiveactionsconcernedwithglobalprotection.”(Nixon/Brezhnev,1974).Dr.JerryFranklinwasappointedchairofU.S.side.

Slide:Naturalregionsindanger

• Expertswereconcernedthatmajorsegmentsoftheworld’sbiotaandvaluablegeneticresourceswerebeinglost.Anassessmentoftheworld’snaturalregionsrevealedthatmanybiologicallydiverseregionshadfewornoprotectedareas.Sincethen,morethan90biospherereserveshavebeenestablishedintheseregions.Today,thereare531biospherereservesin105countries,whichcancontributetoconservation,research,educationandcapacitybuildingtoimprovelanduseandmakehumandevelopmentmoresustainable,buttheUnitedStatesisnotanactiveparticipant.

Slide:ForestServiceandNationalParkServiceCooperation(photoinStateDept.)

• ThefirstU.S.biospherereserveswereofficiallyestablishedin1976,withForestServiceandNationalParkServicecooperation.Theagenciesco-chairedtheBiosphereReserveDirectorate,andtheprogramflourished.TheChiefScientistoftheNPSremarkedthatthecooperationunderMABwasthebestthathehadknowninhiscareer.

• In1979,theExecutiveOfficeofthePresident,OfficeofManagementandBudget(OMB)andOfficeofScienceandTechnologyPolicy(OSTP),directedfederalagenciestoparticipatefullyinMABandcooperateinitsdevelopmentandmanagement,citingthatitwas“anexcellentopportunityforinternationalcooperationandprovidedafocusforthecoordinationofdomesticprogramsaimedatimprovingthemanagementofnaturalresourcesandtheenvironment.”InteriorandAgricultureDepartmentsweredirectedtodevelopthedomesticprogram,andState,theinternationalcomponent.

ThepanelwillhaveadditionalexamplesofprogressinMAB,soIwilltaketheremainingtimetodescribehowtheU.S.programwasdiminishedandalmostterminatedinthelate1990’s.

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• SomegroupsandmembersofCongressallegedthatBiosphereReservesviolatedU.S.sovereigntyandpropertyrights,andawellorganizedcampaignsucceededinterminatingalmostallU.S.MABactivity.

• ThreeyearsagoseveralofurgedtheAdministrationtorenewMABinsupportoftheU.S.returntoUNESCO,andIaskedmyRepresentative(J.Duncan,TN)tosupportthenecessarysteps.HeandtheformerChairmanoftheHouseCommitteeonResources,R.Pombo,suggestedthatImeetwithHenryLamb,ChairofSovereigntyInternational,Inc.,opponentofMAB,toseeifwecouldresolvedifferences.Tooursurprise,meetingsoverthelastthreeyearshavebeenmostlyconstructive,andwefoundcommonground.WehaverecentlyagreedthatU.S.biospherereservesareunderpublicstewardship,andwilllikelyremainsointhefuture,butlong-termconservationandsustainableuseofnaturalresourcesintheseareaswilldependuponthevoluntarysupportandinvolvementofprivatecitizens,andlocalelectedofficials.Webelievethiscanbeachieved,andthatarenewedU.S.biospherereserveprogram,withCongressionaloversightandauthority,canmakeasignificantcontributiontoecosystems,speciesandgeneticdiversityintheUnitedStates.WealsobelievethatinvolvementintheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReserveswillenabletheU.S.tobenefitfromthesynergyandexperienceofothers,andimproveinternationalrelations.

• ByreengaginginMABtheU.S.willbenefitfromimprovedcoordinationofdomesticprograms,therebysavingmoney,andrenewedexchangewithothernationswouldbeavaluablecontributiontoUNESCO’smissiontoadvancehumanwelfareandtransitiontoamoresustainableworld.

• Authorizinglegislation,oraresolution,isneedediftheMABprogramistoberenewed.NEPA(asamended1994)couldprovidethegeneralauthorityforFederalagencyparticipationinMABiftheCongresschooses,andsupportsfundingoftheprogram.ThelanguageofNEPAisveryappropriatetoMAB.InNEPACongressdeclaresitisthepolicyoftheFederalGovernment,incooperationwithStateandlocalgovernments,andotherconcernedpublicandprivateorganizations,touseallpracticablemeansandmeasures,includingtechnicalandfinancialassistance,inamannercalculatedtofosterandpromotethegeneralwelfare,tocreateandmaintainconditionsunderwhichmanandnaturecanexistinharmony,andfulfillthesocial,economic,andotherrequirementsofpresentandfuturegenerationsofAmericans.InNEPA,Congressrecognizestheworldwideandlong-rangecharacterofenvironmentalproblems,anddirectsFederalagenciestosupportinitiativesandprogramsdesignedtomaximizeinternationalcooperationinanticipatingandpreventingadeclineinthequalityofmankind’sworldenvironment.NEPAalsodirectsFederalagenciestomakeavailabletoStates,counties,municipalities,institutionsandindividuals,adviceandinformationusefulinrestoring,maintaining,andenhancingthequalityoftheenvironment.IfCongressresolvesthatNEPAisappropriateauthorityforMAB,thenclearpolicies,guidelinesandcriteriaforselectionandmanagementofbiospherereservescouldbeestablishedbytheAdministrationwithapprovalofCongress,therebyresolvingtheconcernsaboutsovereigntyandpropertyrights.

Document18,paperonBiosphereReservesandtheWorldFoodCrisispreparedforaMABmeetinginCanada.

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By this time Henry Lamb and I realized that our efforts to get a bill in support of MAB was futile. He wrote to me on September 16, 2008 that we should wait for an opening in the new Congress next year, and that if we found the opening he could do a series of articles to promote the idea and explain our work. This opening never came, so I thought that focusing on the role and value of biosphere reserves in relation to food might be a way to generate support for biosphere reserves. I sent the following draft to Henry because he and Tom McDonnell had agreed on that biosphere reserves had value for conserving genetic resources of importance to Agriculture. McDonnell had been Vice President for Policy of the American Sheep Industry Association. Henry replied on February 11 that this was not just an interesting project, but that it was at least a very important project. He said that Tom McDonnell had accepted a position as executive director of the Idaho Cattleman's Association, and that he might have tome to participate in projects like this.

-DraftDiscussionPaper-Biosphere Reserves and the World Food Crisis: Long-term Solutions

Canadian Biosphere Reserve Association Workshop, February 25-28,

2009 Nottawasaga Inn, Alliston, Ontario, Canada

Vernon(Tom)Gilbert,UnitedStatesBiosphereReservesAssociation

vernongilbert@comcast.net

February20,2009

Purpose

ThepurposeistoencouragediscussionabouthowtheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReserves,whichnowcontains531areasin105countries,canhelptoaddresstheglobalproblemofacceleratedlossoffoodspeciesandlong-termfoodsecurity.ItissuggestedthatapilotprogramshouldbeinitiatedinselectedbiospherereservesinNorthandCentralAmericaandtheCaribbean.

TheWorldFoodCrisis

TheWorldBankpredictsthatdemandforfoodwillrisebyfiftypercentby2030.TheFoodandAgriculturalOrganization(FAO)estimatesthatapproximately¾ofthegeneticdiversityofcropshasbeenlostoverthelastcentury,andof6300animalbreeds,approximately1350areendangeredoralreadyextinct.TheUSNationalAcademies,inaseriesofreportssuchas

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“LostCropsofAfrica”(threevolumes,1996-2008)and“LostCropsoftheIncas”(1989),describeshowhundredsoftraditionalgrains,roots,fruitsandotherfoodplantshavebeenneglectedbymodernresearchanddevelopment,andthatmaybelost.AsimilarlythreatenedheritageofancientfoodsstillpersistsinNorthAmericaaswell,especiallyintheMesoAmericanregion.

Remarkableadvancesinagriculturehavebeenmadeinrecentyears,butthesustainedproductionofourglobalfoodsupplieswillstilldependonplantdiversityinnaturalareasandtraditionalagriculturallandscapes.CanadaandtheUnitedStatesareespeciallydependentoncropgeneticresourcesthatoriginateoutsidethesecountries,sogreatereffortsshouldbemadetoprovideassistanceforconservingtheseresourcesintheirnativehabitats.Thecontinuinglossofgeneticresources,plusthefactthatnearly40%oftheworld’slandmassisnowusedtogrowcropsorgrazeanimals,indicatestheneedformoreeffectiveconservationinnaturalareas,combinedwithdeliberatecollaborationwithlocalcommunities,farmersandranchers,andinstitutionsthatspecializeinagriculture.

SergioGuevaraandJavierLaborde,arestrongadvocatesofthistypeoflandscapeapproach.1TheydescribethatLatinAmericancountriescontainmorethanhalfoftheworld’sbiodiversity,butthattodaymorethatfifty-fivepercentofindustrializedagricultureinLatinAmericaisdevotedtoproductionoftwointroducedspecies:sugarcaneandcoffee,andthatalmostseventypercentofthecultivatedlandintheregionissownwithcropsthatarenon-nativetotheAmericas:sugarcane,coffee,banana,riceandwheat.2

BiosphereReserves

Biospherereservesareespeciallysuitedtothelandscapeapproach,andassitestoassessandunderstandtheinter-linkagesamongfoodandwatersecurity,energyandclimatechange.Theexpertpanel,whichdesignedthecriteriaandguidelinesforBiosphereReservesin1973-4,emphasizedthatbiospherereserveswouldbeameansto“keepoptionsopenandpreventtothebestofourability,thedepletionofthegeneticdiversityoflife.”Theyconcludedthatbiospherereservesshouldconserveadiversityofgeneticresourcestoimprovecultivatedanddomesticspecies,todevelopnutritiousfoods,andtoprotectagainstoutbreaksofinsectsanddisease.Theypredictedthatthiswouldbecomeevenmoreimportantbecauseoftheexpandedneedsoflargerpopulationsinthefuture.“Asknowledgegrowsandneedschange,wearelikelytohavetoreturnmoreandmoretowildstockstosatisfythem.”3

1 Sergio Guevara is President of the MAB Ibero-American and Caribbean Community Network. Javier Laborde is a forest ecologist. 2S.Guevara,andJ.Laborde,“TheLandscapeApproach:DesigningNewReservesforProtectionofBiologicalandCulturalDiversityinLatinAmerica,”InstituteofEcology,Xalapa,Mexico,2008)

3 MAB Expert Panel on Project 8: “Conservation of natural areas and of the genetic material they contain,” MAB Report series No. 12, UNESCO, Paris, 1973.

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TheThirdWorldCongressonBiosphereReserves,heldFebruary4-8,2008,inMadrid,Spain,attendedby829participants,concludedthatbiospherereserveswouldbetheprincipalinstrumentsthroughwhichUNESCOwoulddemonstrateitscommitmenttosustainabilitythroughsite-basedresearch,capacitybuildinganddemonstrations,andthreechallengethemeswereidentified:

• Lossofbiodiversityandabilityofecosystemstoprovideservicesessentialforhumanwell-being

• Climatechangewithconsequencesforsocieties,ecosystemsandbiodiversity• Urbanizationandenvironmentalchange.

Aspecialpartnershipmeetingof30representativesfromCanada,MexicoandtheUnitedStatesresultedinenthusiasticsupportfortransnationalcooperationfocusingonthesechallenges.

Re-enforcingthismovement,theDirector-GeneralofUNESCO,Mr.KoichiroMatsura,statedrecentlythatUNESCOwouldrelyontheNetworkofBiosphereReservestobetterunderstandruralandagriculturalapproaches,andconductprojects“toanalyzeandfurtherdevelopexistinglinkagesbetweenculture,localidentitiesandsite-specificpatternsofsustainabledevelopmentinmanyruralagriculture-basedbiospherereservesandthentestandpromotetheseapproachesinotherareasfacingsimilardevelopmentchallenges.”4

TheInternationalAssessmentofAgriculturalKnowledge,ScienceandTechnologyforDevelopment(IAASTD)alsoconcludedthatagricultureshouldrelymoreonlocalnaturalprocessesandecosystems,andthatthereshouldbemoreemphasisonsmallfarmersandfamily-basedagriculture.5

Biospherereservesarewellsuitedforthisforthefollowingreasons:

• TheNetworkservesasmechanismforinformationexchangeandeducation,especiallyamongcommunitiesthathavesimilarproblems.

• Thereserveshelppreservethetraditionalknowledgeandexperienceoffarmers,andunderutilizedandneglectedcropspecies.

• Theyprotectawidearrayofspecieswithuniquetraits,suchasplantsthatcansurvivedrought,heat,orincreasedsalinity.

• Theyprovidehabitatsforadiversityofpollinatorssuchasbees,birdsandbats,whichaffectmorethanathirdoftheworld’scropproduction.Nativepollinatorsaccountforthebulkofnon-grainfoodsources,successinpreservingnativehabitatiscriticallyimportant.

• Thereservesserveasexperimentalareasforstudyandcontrolofinvasivespecies,whichafflictnaturalandagriculturalecosystems.Forexample,ArgentineantsareamajorinvaderinMediterraneanecosystemsandtheyarealsoasignificantthreattoparticularagriculturalsystemssuchascitruscrops.

4 K. Matsura, “UNESCO and the global food crisis: the need to think outside the box,” Science and Technology Review, UNESCO, Paris, January 2009. 5 UNESCO Press release about the IAASTD, November 2008

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Theseantsalsohavethecapacitytosignificantlydisassemblenativeecosystemsthroughtheeliminationofmanynativeinvertebrates,especiallynativeants.6

Thenetworkofbiospherereservescontainsagreatdiversityoflandscapesandgeneticresourcesthatareimportanttoagriculture.Ididapreliminaryinformationsearchthatrevealedbiospherereservescontainavarietyofwildrelativesofcropsincludingrice,potatoes,tomatoes,beans,onions,cabbage,coffee,bananasandplantains,apples,pears,grapes,mangoes,avocados,peaches,plums,citrus,andnutspecies.Manyofthesereservesalsosupportresearchandeducationtoimprovemanagementoftheseresources.

Biospherereserves,withtheiremphasisonworkingcooperativelywithneighboringcommunities,areespeciallywellsuitedtodemonstratehowinsituconservationcanbecombinedwithconservationandimprovedutilizationofimportantgeneticresourcesonfarms,inbotanicalgardensandarboreta,andinseedbanks.Suchprogramsarecompatible,buthaveneverbeenplannedtoworktogetheronregionalorinternationalscales.TheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReservesprovidesthisopportunity,andbyimplementingsuchimprovedagriculturalpractices,biospherereservescanmakeasignificantlong-termcontributiontowardsolvingtheworldfoodcrisis,aswellasprovidingimmediatebenefitstolocalcommunitiesaroundtheworld.

Suggestedstepstowarddevelopingaprogram

Thefirststepcouldbetoidentifypersonsinterestedinformingaprojectteam,whichwouldorganizeworkshopstodevelopthegoals,objectivesandstrategyforapilotproject.AtthesametimetheUNESCOMABSecretariatshouldoutlinethegoalsandframeworkforaglobalprogram,beginidentifyingpartners,andgatheringinformationfrombiospherereserves.Forexample,theSevilleStrategyGoal1istousebiospherereservestoconservenaturalandculturaldiversity,withinwhichisanobjectiveistousethereserves“forinsituconservationofgeneticresources,includingwildrelativesofcultivatedanddomesticatedspecies,andconsiderusingthereservesasrehabilitation/reintroductionsites,andlinkthemasappropriatewithexsituconservationanduseprogrammes.”Thenextperiodicreviewofbiospherereserveperformance,duetobeconductedin2009,shouldaskwhichwildrelativesandtraditionalvarietiesofcropsthereservesalreadycontain,andwhatopportunitiesthereareforlinkingwithlocalpeoplesanduseprogramsaswellaswithexsituactivities.

Weshouldalsoidentifytheinnovativeprogramsandagriculturalpracticesthatexistinbiospherereserves,asabasisforinformation-sharingprogramwithinregionalnetworksandtheWorldNetwork.Canada,forexample,hasseveralinnovativeprojects,includingtheClayoquotBiosphereReservemulti-yearprojecton“PracticingSustainability,"whichwillcommencein2009,andcontainaHealthyFood,HealthyCommunitiesinitiative.Theywilllooktobuildknowledgeandlocalcapacityaroundfoodsecurity,foodaccess,foodcost

6 Personal communication (2/17/09) from Philippe S. Cohen, Administrative Director, Jasper Ridge Biological Reserve, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-5020.

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issues,nutritionawareness,traditionaldietsanalysisandpromotion,marineandforestgardeningpotential,etc.Manycommunities,includingoursintheSouthernAppalachiansBiosphereReserve,willbeinterestedinexchangewiththisproject.

Periodicalsandprogramsthatmightassistbiospherereservemanagersshouldalsobeidentified.Forexample,theCenterforInformationonLowExternalInputandSustainableAgricultureandtheILEAwebsite(http://ilea.leisa.info)hasinformationonsustainablefamilyfarming,climatefriendlycropsandreportsonagricultureandclimatechange,couldbeusefulinbiospherereserveareas.TheCanadian-basedInternationalDevelopmentResearchCentresupportsresearchandeducationdesignedtoadaptscienceandtechnologytotheneedsoflessdevelopedcountries.Theirsectoronagriculturehasvastexperienceinworkingwithfarmers,andcouldbeavaluableallyinaglobalbiospherereserveprogram.

Thefirststepsofprojectorganization,informationgathering,andsharingcouldbedonewithoutgreatexpense,andthiscouldprovideabasisfordecidingpriorities,developingproposals,andmarshallingresourcesformoreexpensiveonsiteactivitiessuchas:

• Ecogeographicalsurveystodeterminethestatusandgeographicdistributionofpriorityspecies,andgapanalysistodetermineneedforspecializedreserves.

• Analysisofinsituandexsituactivitiesinselectedareas,andinformationonorganizations,institutions,andindividualsinterestedinparticipatinginlandscapeandspeciesmanagement.

• Identificationofresearchandeducationneedsandopportunitiesforcollaborationandcapacitybuildingwithlocalinstitutionsandstakeholders.

• Developmentofimprovedagriculturalpracticesandtechnologiesappropriateforindividualbiospherereserveareas.

• Planningandestablishmentofmonitoringsystemstotractsustainabilityprograms.

• Informationandeducationalmaterialstohelplocalauthoritiesandcommunitiestoestablishcollaborativeinsituandexsituconservationprograms,andimprovedagriculturalpractices.

• ImprovededucationandtrainingthroughouttheWorldNetworkofBiosphereReserves.

Expectedresults

Asignificantresultoftheproposedprojectwouldbeeducation.Biospherereserveswouldcontributetobetterpublicunderstandingoftheimportanceofecosystemgoodsandservicestohumanwelfare,andmakeatransitiontowardsustainabilityeasiertoachieve.Inaddition,localpeopleswouldhaveincreased(economic)incentivestocontinueandexpandtheirtraditionalfoodways.Ourfoodanditsoriginsisoneofthemostinterestingsubjectswecouldchoose.

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CONCLUSIONAlltheseeffortstorevivetheU.S.MABProgramwereunsuccessful,andtheexperiencedescribedaboveindicatesitwilltakeanextraordinaryefforttosucceedtoday.HenryLambsaidhehopedwecoulddemonstrateacivil,constructiveapproachtoresolvingdifferences,andthatthiscouldbeprecedent-setting,andhelppeoplediscoveranewwayofapproachingproblemstheymayhaveintheirowncommunities.WedidsucceedingettingtheHouseResourcesCommitteeceasedtheirinvestigationofMAB.RepresentativesPomboandDuncanwerepleasedthatwehadfoundcommonground.However,wedidnotsucceedingettingsupportforthebillwesubmitted.HenrywroteinMarch2009,"Withallthecrapthat'soccupyingCongress,there'slittlechancethatanyonewilleventhinkaboutBiosphereReservesorprivatepropertyforalongtime."Hesaidthatsincehishospitalstayandsubsequentproblems,hehadlostinfluencewiththepropertyrightscrowd.Henrydiedin2012.Inlightofthisexperience,itwouldbebettertolinktheU.S.MABprogramwithpriorityAdministrationprogramssuchasfoodsecurity.Inthisway,thesignificantresourcesofbiospherereservescouldbeharnessedforconserving,restoringandutilizinganamazingvarietyoffoodgeneticresources.ThiscouldthenbedevelopedasaneducationalcomponentoftheUNESCOandAsiaSocietyinitiativeonGlobalCitizenshipEducation-oneofthemostneededinternationalprogramstoday..

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