Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve (RLBR) recently hosted a delegation from Japan. Nobuhiko Wakamatsu, Ryo Sakurai and Akiko Sakai spent a week learning about the similarities and differences between the RLBR and the biosphere reserve in Japan.
Ryo Sakurai is a PhD degree candidate in the School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Florida as well as a technical assistant at the Graduate School of Science and Technology at the Yokohama National University. Nobuhiko Wakamatsu, PhD, is a secretariat for the co-ordinating committee for MAB at the Yokohama National University. Dr. Akiko Sakai is an associate professor of plant ecology at the Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences and is also on the co-ordinating committee for MAB.
Countries with a UNESCO designated biosphere reserve can also have an intergovernmental scientific program designed to improve the relationship between people and their environment globally. "The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme proposes an interdisciplinary research agenda and capacity building that target the ecological, social and economic dimensions of biodiversity loss and the reduction of this loss", states the website.
Maureen Reed is the vice-chair of MAB Canada and Ryo Sakurai the vice-chair of MAB Japan. An invitation was extended to the Japanese delegation to visit the Redberry Lake BR as an opportunity to strengthen their knowledge base.
Wakamatsu was funded by MAB Japan while Sakurai and Sakai were funded by their biosphere reserve and research division. Sakurai explained it is common for people to not have specified funding for these opportunities but, in Japan, not having money is not an excuse not to travel and learn.
Maureen Reed is also associated with the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan. Reed and two colleagues, Joe Schmutz and Vladimir Kricsfalusy, were in attendance for the three-day visit and lifestyle experience in the Hafford area.
Ryo Sakurai explained the primary reason for travelling to Saskatchewan to visit RLBR was to learn more about how biosphere reserves can engage students and residents into contributing to the success of the UNESCO designated region. "MAB combines natural and social sciences, economics and education to improve human livelihoods and safeguard natural ecosystems, thus promoting innovative approaches to economic development that is socially and culturally appropriate and environmentally sustainable."
"People here (Saskatchewan) are very passionate about their area," commented Sakurai, "we feel that people here are doing something valuable and we are honoured that they are sharing it at the international level."
Sakurai continued by explaining how they would like to encourage the students in the educational system to contribute more to developing a sustainable community. It is a difficult task that requires the co-operation and collaborative efforts of many local, regional and national groups at the education and government levels.
Besides lively conversation and the irreplaceable level of knowledge that was exchanged between the visitors and hosts, everyone was able to enjoy some recreational time. The morning of Aug. 28, the delegation, guests and hosts visited a local farmyard where they enjoyed horseback riding and attempts at perfecting the roping technique.
In the afternoon, Vinessa Currie-Foster, co-owner of Clearwater Canoeing out of Paynton, provided a historic adventure. Participants were provided with an opportunity to dress up in historic voyageur attire and experience a ride in the eight-passenger Voyageur canoe on Redberry Lake. The evening concluded with a Ukrainian theme supper, which introduced traditional dishes from beet borsch with cream to cabbage rolls and perogies. The typical sunny autumn weather made the day's events enjoyable and memorable.
Sakai, Wakamatsu and Sakurai have set their own expectations of taking what they have learnt regarding building international, regional, sub-regional and sub-specific networking data and ideas back with them to implement in Japan.
This is not the first, nor will it be the last, foreign delegation that has visited Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve. RLBR has hosted delegations from China, France and Germany.
