Amazing Places are opportunities to educate and inspire visitors about their natural surroundings, and to create a connection that can quickly become powerful and deeply personal. Amazing Places tell a story about physical, biological or historical features in publicly accessible locations. Following the do no harm model, Amazing Places are chosen in locations that can handle increased visitation without compromisingwhat makes the place Amazing.
Amazing Places is based on a mapping project launched by the Fundy Biosphere Reserve in New Brunswick. It began with the desire to guide visitors beyond the national park boundaries, and especially promote hiking on the Fundy Footpath. Through the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and Mountain Equipment Co-op, three biosphere reserves in Ontario launched an Amazing Places project. These 60 places highlight each biosphere regions’ unique environmental and cultural significance.
Amazing Places in South Eastern Ontario
About UNESCO Biosphere Reserves
UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves are landscapes where communities try to balance conservation and sustainable development. There are currently 16 biosphere reserves in Canada in a world network of over 600 in 117 countries, whose overall goal is to improve the relationship between people and their environment by promoting the conservation of biodiversity and fostering sustainable development initiatives.
Biospheres are nominated by the community, not by UNESCO, and carry no laws, powers or authority. In Canada, all UNESCO Biospheres are non-government, community-led organizations, without support from federal or provincial governments. Instead, each works to accomplish its mission of improving sustainable development by raising money and seeking volunteer involvement from the community.
For more information:
Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association
UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme