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Linking Culture and the Environment

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86 Tourism, Sustainability <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Social Milieux<br />

governments (see Haase et al., 2007; L<strong>and</strong>au <strong>and</strong> Splettstoesser, 2007). It<br />

appears from this example that commitment to regulation is linked with<br />

attachment to a region that goes beyond <strong>the</strong> business requirement of profit.<br />

Ano<strong>the</strong>r example of bioregional governance is <strong>the</strong> Georgian Bay<br />

Biosphere Reserve, part of <strong>the</strong> UNESCO system of biosphere reserves<br />

throughout <strong>the</strong> world that contributes to conservation, sustainable development<br />

<strong>and</strong> environmental education, research <strong>and</strong> monitoring. Recognized in<br />

2004 by UNESCO, this site is one of more than 500 in <strong>the</strong> world. The Georgian<br />

Bay Biosphere Reserve is managed by Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve Inc.:<br />

a non-profit organization that works through partnerships to balance<br />

conservation with sustainable economic development . . . [<strong>and</strong>] work[s] by<br />

networking with conservation organizations, community groups, as well as <strong>the</strong><br />

educational <strong>and</strong> scientific communities located in <strong>the</strong> region.<br />

(Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve, 2008a)<br />

As <strong>the</strong> region moves towards developing its tourism offerings, <strong>the</strong> Georgian<br />

Bay Biosphere Reserve Inc. emphasizes sustainable tourism as benefiting <strong>the</strong><br />

social, economic, natural <strong>and</strong> cultural environments of <strong>the</strong> region, following<br />

<strong>the</strong> definition of sustainable tourism adopted by <strong>the</strong> Tourism Industry<br />

Association of Canada <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Parks Canada (Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve,<br />

2008c). The Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve Inc. also intends to foster cooperation,<br />

collaboration <strong>and</strong> information-sharing among <strong>the</strong> organizations<br />

currently involved in research <strong>and</strong> monitoring in order to improve planning<br />

<strong>and</strong> decision making (Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve, 2008b). The spatial<br />

focus inherent in <strong>the</strong>se reserves makes <strong>the</strong>m a good example of <strong>the</strong> potential<br />

for bioregional governance; given <strong>the</strong> significance <strong>and</strong> potential of tourism<br />

development in this region, it bodes well that sustainable tourism is an explicit<br />

part of <strong>the</strong> philosophical foundation of this management group.<br />

If sustainability is to be an attainable societal goal that is relevant to tourism<br />

as well as to o<strong>the</strong>r endeavours, <strong>the</strong> following critical features are required<br />

according to <strong>the</strong> literature discussed above:<br />

●<br />

●<br />

●<br />

active involvement of actors, from local residents <strong>and</strong> business owners to<br />

(senior) governments;<br />

judicious application of science tempered by <strong>the</strong> practical concerns of<br />

local people; <strong>and</strong><br />

a spatial (ra<strong>the</strong>r than sectoral) focus, possibly concentrated at <strong>the</strong> regional<br />

level.<br />

It is this community-based approach to sustainability (Woodley, 1993) that<br />

seems to offer <strong>the</strong> best underst<strong>and</strong>ing of local people’s feelings, knowledge<br />

<strong>and</strong> thoughts, <strong>and</strong> that respects <strong>the</strong>ir attachment to <strong>the</strong> place <strong>and</strong> region.<br />

Methodology<br />

The research reported here was completed during September–October, 1997,<br />

among <strong>the</strong> communities of <strong>the</strong> north shore of Lake Superior for <strong>the</strong> Superior

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