I’m contacting you on behalf of the Beaver Hills Initiative (BHI), a group of more than 30 volunteer organizations.  We’re hoping the members of Alberta Trail Net will support the Beaver Hills UNESCO Biosphere nomination.

The Beaver Hills region is just 20 minutes east of Edmonton. It’s a unique geographical area: an island of boreal forest and wetlands surrounded by aspen parkland. It is home to a huge diversity of animal and plant life as well as a national park, two provincial parks, and a provincial recreation area.

But there’s also vibrant economic development and potential in this area.  The BHI is working to ensure we continue to maintain a balance between environmental sustainability and economic prosperity.

If the UNESCO Biosphere nomination is successful, the BHI will formally join an international network to pool ideas and learn about the best approaches for sustainable economic  prosperity.

We’re asking that you encourage your members to support this initiative – simply by going to www.beaverhills.ca and clicking on the link that says ‘Biosphere Nomination’.

All it takes is their name and e-mail and their support will be declared. The deadline to show support is March, 2015.

You can also spread the word about the Biosphere Nomination by providing a link to www.beaverhills.ca on your website, telling people about this initiative in mail-outs, e-newsletters, on your Facebook page, or Tweet about it. Our Twitter account is @BHIBiosphere and our Facebook page is “Beaver Hills Biosphere”.

We will be officially launching the Beaver Hills UNESCO Biosphere Nomination at the Beaver Hills Bioblitz Day at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre on Sunday, January 18^th, 2015 from 1-4 pm. Please join us — we’ll have a booth set up to record your support in some very creative ways!

Thank you,

Councillor Glen Lawrence

Chairman, Beaver Hills Initiative