Letter re UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

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200-1627 Fort Street, Victoria BC  V8R 1H8 
Telephone  (250) 405-5151    Fax  (250) 405-5155 
Toll Free via Enquiry BC in Vancouver 604.660-2421.  Elsewhere 
in BC 1.800.663.7867 
Email  information@islandstrust.bc.ca 
Web  www.islandstrust.bc.ca 
 
 
December 2, 2019 
 
via e-mail: howesoundbri@gmail.com 
 
 
File No. 4700-20 
Ruth Simons 
Chair, Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative 
PO Box 465 
Lions Bay, BC V0N 2E0  
 
 
 
Dear Ms. Simons: 
 
Re:  Support for Atl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound being designated an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve  
 
On behalf of the Islands Trust Council, I am writing in support of Atl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound becoming a United 
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve.   
 
During the September 17-18, 2019 Islands Trust Council meeting, the following resolution was passed: 
 
That Trust Council endorse the Howe Sound Biosphere Region application to UNESCO, on the 
condition that the initiative is supported by the First Nations whose territory encompasses 
what is known as Howe Sound. 
 
In March 2019, the Islands Trust Council passed a Reconciliation Declaration and in June 2019 adopted a 
Reconciliation Action Plan. In addition, we have committed to the principles of the UN Declaration on the Rights of 
Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the recommendations of the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and 
are pleased to know that the Biosphere Region designation is underpinned by UNDRIP. 
 
The Islands Trust Area covers the islands and waters between the British Columbia mainland and southern Vancouver 
Island, including Atl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound. The Islands Trust Area is a unique and special place composed of 13 major 
islands and more than 450 smaller islands covering approximately 5,200 square kilometres of land and water. 
Approximately 26,000 people live on these islands, another 10,000 people are non-resident property-owners and 
28,000 Coast Salish Peoples consider the region their homeland.  
 
The Islands Trust is governed by the provincial Islands Trust Act which states that the Object of the Trust is to 
preserve and protect the trust area and its unique amenities and environment for the benefit of the residents of the 
trust area and of British Columbia generally, in cooperation with municipalities, regional districts, improvement 
districts, other persons and organizations and the government of British Columbia. 
 
 
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Bowen  Denman  Hornby  Gabriola Galiano  Gambier  Lasqueti  Mayne  North Pender  Salt Spring  Saturna  South Pender  Thetis 

Howe Sound Biosphere Region Initiative 
December 2, 2019 
Page 2 
 
 
The islands of the Islands Trust Area are grouped 
into twelve ‘local trust areas’ and one ‘island 
municipality’. Every four years, each area elects 
two trustees. These twenty-six trustees sit on the 
Islands Trust Council, which in turn elects four of 
its members to sit on an Executive Committee. 
With the exception of the two municipal trustees 
from 

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