Thanks for checking out the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Newsletter, a quick and easy way to learn about recent developments, initiatives, research and events.
Upcoming Event on October 26 in Courtenay BC
On Monday, October 26th at 8pm, our team is heading to Courtenay BC. We'll be presenting at the Comox Valley Horticultural Society's AGM at the Florence Filberg Centre Conference Hall: 411 Anderton Ave, Courtenay BC. Free for CVHS members, $5 for non-members. Please join us for an engaging and introductory presentation about the biosphere in our backyard and its botanical wonders.
Dr. Pam Shaw, MABRRI's Research Director, spoke at the Mid Vancouver Island Habitat Enhancement Society's AGM. Her presentation asked the question, "Can the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute (MABRRI) help to balance the needs of humans and nature?"
Biosphere in Your Backyard Community Course | Sept 26 | Milner Gardens
On September 26th, we launched our very first community course at VIU's Milner Gardens. Sold out and bursting with optimism and interactivity, the course provided background on UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme, history about the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region, and opportunities for participants to play games that helped anchor the learning. We're now taking the show on the road!
VIU Open House | October 2 | VIU Nanaimo Campus
At the beginning of the month, we got to share what we do with prospective university students, parents, and the community. We spoke with over 60 people about the biosphere and its role in the region and at VIU.
North Island Wildlife Recovery& Education Centre | October 7 | Errington
The North Island Wildlife Recovery & Education Centre is a very special place within the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region. On October the 7th, Lynne Brookes, volunteer at the Centre and President of the Arrowsmith Naturalists, took members of the MABR team on a tour and told us about the incredible programmes the Centre offers: Rehabilitation of wildlife, including black bears and raptors; educational programs; tours; volunteer opportunities, wildlife garden design workshops, etc. The Centre offers leading edge rehabilitation care to wildlife and is located on a beautiful acreage within the biosphere region. See upcoming events at the Centre here.
VIU Sustainability Fair | October 8 | VIU Nanaimo Campus
The Sustainability Fair was an chance to engage VIU students, faculty and staff about the work being done at MABRRI (Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute). We were joined by the Regional District of Nanaimo's Team Watersmart, Nanaimo Recycling Exchange, Zero Waste Nanaimo, Greater Nanaimo Cycling Coalition, Nanaimo Car Share, Doumont Restoration Project, Nanaimo Area Land Trust, Hub City Cycles, VIU Solutions, ACER, VIU Environment and Sustainability, and the WEST Farmers’ Market.
Governance Update
Vancouver Island University and the Town of Qualicum Beach signed an MOU!
On September 30th, the Town of Qualicum Beach signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Vancouver Island University to collaboratively meet the mandate of the UNESCO-designated Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region.
This is another step in the right direction since VIU and the City of Parksville signed an identical agreement in July 2014, subsequently renewed in August 2015. With the Town of Qualicum Beach on board, the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region is “rounding out” its regional roundtable, the governance backbone that guides the biosphere’s actions and ongoing development. Together with VIU, the City of Parksville, First Nations, and other important regional stakeholders, the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region aims to be an international model, demonstrating how humans can live, work and play without unfairly compromising the biodiversity and ecological health of our planet.
Meet MABRRI's Post-Doctoral Fellow, Dr. Maria Inês Paes Ferreira
Dr. Maria Inês Paes Ferreira has joined the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region Research Institute (MABRRI) team as our first Post-Doc Fellow Researcher. She hails all the way from Brazil's Instituto Federal Fluminense's Macaé Campus, north of the City of Rio de Janeiro, and will be in the MABR until mid December.
Dr. Paes Ferreira's research compares collaborative models for watershed management in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and on the east coast of Vancouver Island, with a particular focus on the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region. Working closely with VIU's Dr. Pam Shaw, Dr. Paes Ferreira adds to the smiles, enthusiasm, and depth of research at MABRRI.
Between now and December, Dr. Paes Ferreira will be conducting interviews with regional stakeholders who can contribute to her research on watershed management and biodiversity conservation. She will also be publishing three academic articles on her work. We hope that you get a chance to meet this wonderful woman as she stays with us in the biosphere this fall.
Shaw TV Covers the Biosphere
Have you seen this Shaw TV feature on the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region? Staff and students speak to the significance of the UNESCO designation and shine light on the incredible people and places that make this part of the world so unique. Take a 4-minute break and enjoy!
Thanks for reading! Our next newsletter will be published mid December.
