Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve

Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve

The official logo of the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in Manitoba, Canada.

Official Logo of the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve.
The location of the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve main office in Manitoba, Canada.

Location of the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve main office in Manitoba, Canada.

Location Manitoba, Canada
Nearest city Dauphin
Coordinates 50°30′0.935″N 99°54′44.686″W / 50.50025972°N 99.91241278°W / 50.50025972; -99.91241278Coordinates: 50°30′0.935″N 99°54′44.686″W / 50.50025972°N 99.91241278°W / 50.50025972; -99.91241278
Area 15,000 km2 (5,800 sq mi)
Designated 1986
Governing body UNESCO
Website http://www.rmbr.ca

Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve (RMBR) is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1986 as part of its Man and the Biosphere Programme. The RMBR, which encompasses Riding Mountain National Park and twelve surrounding municipalities in the province of Manitoba, is one of 16 Biosphere Reserves in Canada.[1] Ecologically sensitive ecosystems include the grasslands, deciduous forest and boreal forest.[2] The Biosphere Reserve extends the protection of these ecosystems outside of park boundaries. Municipalities in the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve include Clanwilliam – Erickson, Dauphin, Gilbert Plains, Grandview, Harrison Park, Lakeshore, McCreary, Rosedale, St. Rose, Riding Mountain West, Rossburn, and Yellowhead.[3] First Nations in the Biosphere Reserve include Rolling River First Nation, Keeseekoowenin First Nation, Waywayseecappo First Nation, and Tootinaowaziibeeng First Nation. Asessippi Provincial Park and Duck Mountain Provincial Forest also border the Biosphere Reserve.[4]

History

Created in 1986, the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve is a non-profit volunteer organization, managed by representatives from the surrounding area. The organization's stated mission is "to foster and encourage, through research, information exchange, education and communication, a sustainable regional economy with high biodiversity and landscape values, with Riding Mountain National Park as a key component."[5] Prior to its creation in 1986, The Riding Mountain Liaison Committee (RMNLC) was entrusted to oversee the integration of this area and surrounding communities, eleven of which participated in a consultation process.[6]

Upon establishment, the Biosphere Reserve included 18 municipalities, several of which were merged in 2015 as a result of the Manitoba Municipal Amalgamation Act enacted in 2013 by the Manitoba provincial government. A Biosphere Reserve Management Committee (BRMC) was created to oversee the area. Biosphere Reserve land situated outside of Riding Mountain National Park is both privately and publicly owned and managed.

Since its formation several local initiatives have been hosted by the Biosphere Reserve. It participates in promotion of locally grown foods in its "At The Farm Gate" Spring Market, and maintains a Native Species Garden .[7] It has hosted children from elementary schools in the region and has run local geocaching programs through Caching Riding Mountain.[8] Public workshops held by the Biosphere Reserve have covered topics such as climate change, beaver problems, sustainable agriculture, and the potential of poplar. In 1996 when Louisiana Pacific received hardwood cutting rights, the Biosphere Reserve researched "the impact of timber harvesting on cavity nesting birds and other species found in the corridor between the Ducks and Riding Mountain.".[9][10]

Other activities undertaken by the Biosphere Reserve include the rehabilitation of fish spawning areas on the Milk River. One major challenge confronting the Biosphere Reserve was the spread to tuberculosis from the local elk population to the bovine population of the areas in the transition zone outside the national park.[8] As animals such as elk, beavers and moose freely move within the boundary of the Riding Mountain National Park and the Zone of Cooperation , a balance needed to be struck between ensuring the integrity of the larger ecosystem as well as protecting agricultural farmland.[6] As water also flows abundantly through the greater region, a Water Stewardship Project was launched in 2012 in association with the Centre for Sustainable Watershed.[6] Despite present funding issues, issues of relevance to the region and local population inside the Manitoba escarpment continue to be investigated.[6]

Geography

Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve covers 15,000 square kilometers of land in South-western Manitoba, with the core area, Riding Mountain National Park (RNMP), covering nearly 3,000 square kilometers. The Park, established in 1933 and governed by Parks Canada, predates RMBR by fifty-three years. It has a town site, Wasagaming, several trails, and a wild bison enclosure at Lake Audy.

Significant geographic landmarks in Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve include the Shell River Valley in the west, Manitoba Escarpment in the East, and Valley River and Wilson River in the North.[2][11] The local climate is cool and moist due to a higher elevation than the surrounding area.[6] Due to these unique conditions, several different ecosystems are present in the vicinity of the Biosphere Reserve, including the deciduous forest, boreal forest, and grassland.[2] Many small lakes and marshes dot the landscape in the transition zone.[6]

A total of 29, 758 individuals reside in the transition zone of the Biosphere Reserve as of the 2011 census, with an average population of 2.8 persons per square kilometer. When the area under the jurisdiction of Riding Mountain National Park is taken into account, the population density is 2.2 persons per square kilometre.[6]

Events

Held one weekend each summer in Sandy Lake, Manitoba, in the Rural Municipality of Harrison Park, this family festival includes bed races, a pancake breakfast, fireworks display, and an interdenominational hymn.[12]

The Clear Lake Chamber Music Festival is a classical live music festival in Manitoba. The first Festival, held in 2006, featured pianist Alexander Tselyakov, cellist Yuri Hooker, violinists Daniel Scholz, and Philippe and Mark Djokic.[13]

This Canadian prairie music festival, held in Kelwood, Manitoba, features local musicians and was first held in 2006. It has featured musicians such as Fred Penner, Sierra Noble, Old Bones Buffalo, Burnt Project, Don Amero, Al Simmons, Carly Dow Band, and Scott Nolan Band.[14]

DUKE Fest is a music festival held annually in Rossburn, Manitoba since 2014. It has featured musicians such as Ryan Keown Band, Jake Boreskewich, Sonny and the Hurricanes, In Too Deep, and Tom Dowden.[15]

This winter festival, held annually in McCreary, Manitoba since 2013, is based out of McCreary Community Centre and McCreary Golf and Country Cub as of 2016. Events held in the municipality include a Maple Syrup trivia night , performances by local musicians, horse drawn wagon rides, and sampling of maple taffy.[16]

Recreation

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Welcome to the Biosphere". Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve. Retrieved 28 August 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Riding Mountain Ecosystem Community Atlas. Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. 2004. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  3. ↑ "Partners and Related Organizations". Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  4. ↑ "Maps and Resources". Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  5. ↑ "About Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve". Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Stadel, Christoph (July 2015). "A Mountain in the Prairies – the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve, Manitoba, Canada" (PDF). eco.mont: Journal on Protected Mountain Areas Research 7 (2). ISSN 2073-1558. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  7. ↑ "'At the Farm Gate' program links buy-local consumers, producers". Brandon Sun. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  8. 1 2 "Riding Mountain hosts students for three-day trip". Brandon Sun. 9 June 2010. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  9. ↑ Stilwell, Bill (November 16, 1999). "Riding Mountain biosphere Reserve". Russell Banner.
  10. ↑ Stilwell, Bill (November 16, 1999). "Riding Mountain biosphere reserve". Russell Banner.
  11. ↑ "Manitoba Ecosystem Community Atlas". Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. 2004. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
  12. ↑ Irwin, Candy (July 29, 2011). "Sandy Lake is Worth the Trip". South Mountain Press.
  13. ↑ Villeneuve, Joanne (July 29, 2006). "There's a Lot of Depth to what he Does". Brandon Sun.
  14. ↑ "Sierra Noble Will Headline at Kelwood Fest in August". Brandon Sun. May 4, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Meet the 2015 Bands". Rossburn DUKE Fest. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  16. ↑ "Something Sweet Coming to McCreary for Fourth Annual Maple Syrup Festival". The Neepawa Banner. Friday, February 26, 2106. Retrieved March 12, 2016. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ↑ "Onanole Trail Officially Opens". The Municipality of Harrison Park. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  18. 1 2 Drinkwater, John (August 13, 2015). "New trail connect park to Trans-Canada Trail". Neepawa Banner. Retrieved August 31, 2015.
  19. ↑ Huck, Dawn. "Official Opening of the Elk Link Trail". Trails Manitoba. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  20. ↑ "Member Curling Clubs and Associations in Manitoba". CurlManitoba. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  21. ↑ "Golf Manitoba - Member Directory". Golf Manitoba. Retrieved 31 August 2015.

External links

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