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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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FUNDY |
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| General Description |
Located on the western side of the upper Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick, Canada, the area is renowned for its Acadian mixed wood forests, rugged coast line, extreme tidal ranges, salt marshes, tidal mudflats as well as for its terrestrial and marine biodiversity. The area also has a rich cultural heritage starting with the original Mi’kmaq aboriginal inhabitants. The first settlers from France and other European countries, during colonial times, had an influence in shaping of the landscape that is evident today. The southern half of the proposed area is one of the least developed areas on the east coast of North America where steep, forested river valleys are deeply incised into the landscape creating gorges with waterfalls, rapids and steep rock walls. Topographical elevations range from 30 m below sea level in the estuarine area to 400 m inland. At the head of the bay is a broad gently undulating landscape with wide ranging salt marshes in the coastal area. Included in the proposed FBR area are the three urban areas of Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview; referred to as the Greater Moncton area. This urban environment has a rich bilingual culture and heritage that is indicative of the collaboration that exists between the francophone and anglophone societies that co-exist in province. New Brunswick is the only legislated bilingual province in Canada while the City of Moncton is the first and only official bilingual city in Canada. The diverse linguistic background of the area attracts many investors, businesses and visitors to the area. |
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| Major ecosystem type | The terrestrial habitats of the Acadian Forest that is represented in the area extend over three major ecoregions: the Fundy Coastal, the Caledonia Uplands and the Eastern Lowlands. The FBR watersheds in association with adjacent wetlands, salt marshes, mudflats and estuarine areas contribute nutrients as well as micro and macro organisms that support a rich diversity of marine life in the Bay of Fundy; making it one of the richest marine environments in the world. The salt marshes provide habitat for many resident birds and provide resting and foraging areas for many migrating avian species. The estuarine areas include a range of rocky, sandy, mudflat and water column habitats. | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types |
Acadian Forest (Red spruce, Spruce / fir mixed wood, Tolerant hardwood, Cedar, Black spruce, Old field spruce) Non-Forest (Cliffs and talus slopes, Rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, Terrestrial bog / fen) Estuarine (Coastal bog / fen, Salt marshes, Mudflats, Rocky habitats, Sandy habitats, Sea grass and kelp beds) |
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| Location |
Northeastern Sackville: 64.35o N, 45.90o W Northern Petitcodiac: 65.18o N, 45.92o W Southwestern St. Martins: 65.55o N, 45.36o W |
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| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 432,310 | |||
| Core area(s) | 20,600 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | 26,100 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | 9,940 | |||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | from 30 m below sea level in the marine areas to 400 m above sea level in the terrestrial highlands areas | |||
| Year designated | 2007 | |||
| Administrative authorities | At present, the FBR Interim Board of Directors. Upon designation by UNESCO MAB, an elected Board of Directors | |||
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| Brief description |
Terrestrial and marine ecosystem research and monitoring has been taking place in the upper Bay of Fundy region for more than 100 years. Research agencies that the proposed FBR is aligned with, include but not limited to, the Bay of Fundy Ecosystem Partnership (marine), Greater Fundy Ecosystem Research Group (terrestrial), Fundy Model Forest (forest management), Université de Moncton, University of New Brunswick, Mount Allison University, Natural Resources Canada, Environment Canada, Fundy Enterprise (community economic development), the Royal District Planning Commission (land use planning) and the Petitcodiac Watershed Alliance (water quality monitoring). All of these organizations have varying research and/or monitoring programs. Once specific research requirements are identified by the FBR, it will collaborate with the appropriate agencies to write proposal and source funds to address the identified information gaps. |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Acidic deposition/Acid rain, air quality, air temperature, climate, contaminants, erosion, geology, geomorphology, global change, groundwater, habitat, heavy metals, hydrology, indicators, meteorology, modelling, monitoring/methodologies, nutrients, physical oceanography/oceans, pollution, pollutants, siltation/sedimentation, soil, topography, toxicology/toxic substances. | |||
| Biodiversity | Afforestation/Reforestation, alien/invasive/exotic/introduced species, amphibians, autoecology/synecology, beach/soft bottom, benthos, biodiversity, biology, birds, boreal forest, coastal/marine, community studies/communities, conservation, degraded areas, ecology, ecosystem assessment, ecosystem functioning/ecosystem structure, fauna, fishes, forest systems, freshwater/inland water, fungi, genetic resources, genetically modified organisms/gmo, indicators, invertebrates/insects/spiders, mammals, microorganisms, migrating populations/migration, monitoring/methodologies, natural medicinal products, natural resources, pests/diseases, phenology, plankton, plants, population genetics/population dynamics, productivity, rare/endangered/threatened species, reptiles, restoration/rehabilitation/redevelopment, species inventorying/inventory, temperate forest, vegetation studies/plant cover, wetlands, wildlife. | |||
| Socio-economic | Agriculture/Production systems, capacity building, cottage industry/artisanal industry, cultural aspects, demography, economic studies, economically important species, energy production systems/alternative energy, fishery/fisheries, forestry, human health, human migration/population exodus, hunting, indicators, indicators of sustainability, indigenous people, industry, livelihood measures, local participation, monitoring methodologies, natural hazards, non-timber forest products/ntfp, people-nature relations/man/nature, quality economies, recreation, resource use, small business initiatives, social/socio-economic aspects, stakeholders' interests, tourism, traditional practices/ethnology/traditional knowledge, transport. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | Carrying capacity/Sustainability, conflict, ecosystem approach, education and public awareness, environmental change, environmental quality, geographic information system/gis, impact and risk studies/environmental impact, indicators, infrastructure, institutional and legal aspects, integrated studies/interdisciplinaty, interdisciplinary studies, land use/land cover, landscape inventorying/monitoring, management issues, mapping, modelling, monitoring/methodologies, planning and zoning measures/zonation, policy issues, remote sensing, rural systems, sustainable development/sustainable use, transboundary/transfrontiers, urban systems/towns/cities, watershed studies/monitoring. | |||
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| Contact address |
Yves Gagnon K. C. Irving Chair in Sustainable Development, Chair, FBR Interim Board of Directors Université de Moncton NB E1C 3E9 Canada |
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| Telephone | (1) 506-858-4152 | |||
| Fax | ||||
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yves.gagnon@umoncton.ca |
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| Contact address |
Paul Bogaard Vice-Chair, FBR Interim Board of Directors Mount Allison University NB E4L 1E4 Sackville Canada |
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| Telephone | (1) 506-536-0454 | |||
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pbogaard@mta.ca |
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| Contact address |
Peter Etheridge Executive Director FBR, Secretary, FBR Interim Board of Directors 5 Yeomans Rd. NB E4E 3V9 Mill Brook Canada |
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| Telephone | (1) 506-433-3645 | |||
| Fax | ||||
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fundybio@rogers.com |
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| Last updated: 03/12/2007 |
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