Paper Excellence commends UNESCO’s decision to establish biosphere region in B.C.
The Biosphere Reserves network includes 701 locations in 124 countries around the world
Paper Excellence appreciate the resolution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Man and the Biosphere Program, to accept the Howe Sound Biosphere Region into its set of Biosphere Reserves.
The Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative Society submitted the application to be included. The Biosphere Reserves network currently consists of 701 sites in 124 countries around the world.
UNESCO Biosphere Regions are interdisciplinary learning sites for sustainable development, where approaches to understanding and coordinating changes and interactions between social and ecological systems can be tested. Each region has three complementary and balanced roles, including:
- Conservation of biodiversity and cultural diversity
- Economic development that is socio-culturally and environmentally sustainable
- Logistic support, underpinning development through research, monitoring, education and training
Last year, the Howe Sound Pulp and Paper facility used 91% renewable energy, having reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 49% since 1990. The facility also generates biomass-derived electricity on BC’s grid, is certified to the independent ISO 14001 environmental management standard.
“This is an important project that recognizes the ecological uniqueness of Howe Sound,” commented Graham Kissack, Paper Excellence’s VP of Environment, Health, Safety and Communications.
“We have been operating in and working hard to protect this area for many decades now and we’re proud of our state-of-the-art emissions controls equipment and our facility’s salmon hatchery which hosted salmon fry from the Sunshine Coast Salmonid Enhancement Society again this summer. We look forward to building new partnerships as Howe Sound becomes a learning place for sustainable development,” he concluded.
