Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve

Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve
Official Logo of the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve.
Location of the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve main office in Manitoba, Canada. Show map of Manitoba Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve (Canada) Show map of Canada
Location	Manitoba, Canada
Nearest city	Dauphin
Coordinates	50°30′0.935″N 99°54′44.686″W / 50.50025972°N 99.91241278°W / 50.50025972; -99.91241278
Area	15,000 km2 (5,800 sq mi)
Designated	1986
Governing body	UNESCO
Website	http://www.rmbr.ca

Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve (RMBR) is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1986 as part of its Man and the Biosphere Programme. The RMBR, which encompasses Riding Mountain National Park and twelve surrounding municipalities in the province of Manitoba, is one of 16 Biosphere Reserves in Canada.^[1] Ecologically sensitive ecosystems include the grasslands, deciduous forest and boreal forest.^[2] Although grasslands occupy only 7,400 of the total 1,331,800 hectares, they are considered of national importance since they exist as discrete units and the rare climax rough fescue community represents the eastern extent of its range.^[3] The Biosphere Reserve extends the protection of these ecosystems outside of park boundaries. Municipalities in the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve include Clanwilliam – Erickson, Dauphin, Gilbert Plains, Grandview, Harrison Park, Lakeshore, McCreary, Rosedale, St. Rose, Riding Mountain West, Rossburn, and Yellowhead.^[4] First Nations in the Biosphere Reserve include Rolling River First Nation, Keeseekoowenin First Nation, Waywayseecappo First Nation, and Tootinaowaziibeeng First Nation. Asessippi Provincial Park and Duck Mountain Provincial Forest also border the Biosphere Reserve.^[5]