This week, the Capital Regional District approved a plan that would work to nominate Greater Victoria as a UNESCO-designated biosphere region.
Approved at Wednesday’s CRD board meeting, it means the CRD has added the UNESCO designation nomination process to its strategic plan for 2027-2031.
“It made the list,” says Brad Procter, referring to the list of approved strategic plan items for the next four years.
He’s the chair of the Greater Victoria NatureHood, a conservancy group that approached the CRD with the nomination idea back in 2024.
Procter says he’s “excited, recognizing it will still take some time. These processes are long, but excited about the steps that have occurred so far.”
Submitting the actual nomination application is still a few years out.
“At this stage, they [the CRD] recommended moving forward, but haven’t committed funds or staff to it,” says Procter.
Next, in 2026, CRD staff will look at allocating funds, resources and staff to research and build out the the designation process.
Procter says the conservancy group will support CRD with these next steps in the coming year.
“If we start in earnest with a formal application in 2028, maybe 2030 might be a good goal,” he says.
He says it’s worth the time investment – not just for nature conservancy groups but for tourism in Victoria.
“We spend a lot time in the environmental space, but what’s different about this is it’s an opportunity to work hand in hand with the business community, tourism, different levels of government – all working towards a combination of environmental conversation and support for the tourist community in Victoria. It’s a unique opportunity for everyone,” he says.
Vancouver Island has 2 UNESCO Biospheres
If the nomination is successful, the Greater Victoria Area would become the third UNESCO Biosphere Region on the Island.
Currently there are two UNESCO Biosphere Regions on Vancouver Island, Clayoquot Biosphere Trust and Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region.
The World Network of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves includes 727 sites in 131 countries.
“When you read a write up on a place you might travel to…often it’s how a place is described, he adds.
“It identifies a place of particular special value, in that regard we think Victoria is a very special urban biosphere with so much nature in the city. It’s usually the number one region we all live here, to be so close to the natural environment and we we celebrate that,” says Procter.
Additional information including the boundaries of the Greater Victoria UNESCO Biosphere reserve program have yet to be determined.
Learn more about the GreaterVictoria Naturehood program here.