ICSP

Integrated Community Sustainability Planning (ICSP)

The Integrated Community Sustainability Plan  is an important document that will provide direction on how our communities can achieve their desired future while maintaining a balance between its environmental, social, cultural and economic qualities for the 10, 20 , 30 + year time frame. ICSP’s will be developed in each of Nova Scotia’s municipalities with a draft submission September 2009 that will allow for Federal transfers of gas tax revenues.

SNBRA Board members have become engaged in the ICSP process and it was a decided upon priority at the strategic planning retreat in March 2009.  Presentations on the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve with a focus on sustainability were made to each of the 5 municipal councils including Annapolis, Digby, Yarmouth, Queen’s and Shelburne. The South Shore has formed an ICSP network linking the municipalities of Shelburne, Yarmouth and Argyle and invited SNBRA to participate in their Natural Resources and the Environment forum. SNBRA Board members have also participated in community round tables and community cafes in the counties of Queen’s, Annapolis and Digby.

Culture

The Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve preserves the cultural integrity and heritage in the region. The most significant of these cultural heritage resources is the history of the First Nations (Mi’kmaq) land stewardship. The rich cultural heritage of the region also includes the founding settlements of the first French and early British colonies in the New World at the historic sites of La Have, Fort Anne and Annapolis Royal. Black settlement by people escaping southern slave trade is celebrated along the southwestern shore region in Shelburne county. The biosphere reserve includes Mi’kmaq, Acadian, English, Scottish and many other cultures. The result of this diversity is a unique mix of traditions, food, festivals and communities.