A Legacy of Action: Youth-Led Biodiversity and the Vision for an Ottawa-Gatineau Biosphere Reserve
On April 26, 2025, Michael Leveille, teacher at St-Laurent Academy, Ottawa, presented at the Environmental Conference held at the MacSkimming Outdoor Centre, offering an inspiring view of two decades of youth-driven environmental leadership and laying out an exciting vision for the future of sustainability in Ottawa and Gatineau.
Building a Global Movement: The Macoun Marsh Legacy
Over the past 20 years, the St-Laurent Academy Macoun Marsh project at Beechwood Cemetery has been a beacon of environmental stewardship. With over 1,500 species recorded, the project has garnered provincial, national, and international attention for its hands-on, grassroots biodiversity work.
A major milestone came in 2009, when Macoun Marsh hosted an international gathering of youth committed to biodiversity conservation. In collaboration with the Convention on Biological Diversity, the event welcomed 100 delegates from seven countries, leading to the creation of an International Accord on Biodiversity. This Accord was a collective commitment, drafted and endorsed by a growing network of young leaders worldwide.
By the end of 2010, the momentum was undeniable: more than 5,000 signatures from 83 countries were collected, and the Accord was translated into 25 languages. In late 2010, a team of eight Canadian youth delegates — representing British Columbia to Atlantic Canada — presented the Youth Accord at the Convention of the Parties (COP10) in Nagoya, Japan. Through innovative use of technology like Skype, students back home were able to participate in this pivotal moment in real time.
Out of this experience, the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) was born. Since its inception in 2012, GYBN has been recognized as the official platform for youth participation within the Convention on Biological Diversity. Today, it boasts an extraordinary 1.2 million members from 172 countries — a testament to the lasting impact of the work that began in Ottawa.
A New Opportunity: Ottawa and Gatineau as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
Cities across the globe are facing profound challenges in the coming decades: climate change, biodiversity loss, and rapid urbanization chief among them. However, a new generation of planners and environmentalists believe cities can thrive by embracing nature-friendly urban design — creating spaces where people, plants, and wildlife coexist in harmony. UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program supports this vision. Its network of 714 biosphere reserves in 129 countries showcases how protecting biodiversity, supporting sustainable development, and fostering environmental education can be successfully interconnected.
Ottawa and Gatineau are perfectly positioned to join this global network. The region boasts a rich mosaic of wild and green spaces, from Mud Lake, Lac Leamy Park, and Macoun Marsh to Petrie Island, Fletcher’s Wildlife Garden, Gatineau Park, and Mer Bleu. These sites are not only ecological treasures; they are beloved community assets, deeply woven into the fabric of local life. Residents’ passion for protecting and expanding green corridors demonstrates a collective commitment to sustainability — and the timing is right to take it to the next level.
Developing a Local Youth Accord for Sustainability
The Ottawa Stewardship Council has stepped forward to champion the creation of a Biosphere Reserve for the National Capital Region. In partnership with the University of Ottawa, they are inviting youth from across the Ottawa Valley and Gatineau to participate in the development of a Local Youth Accord for Sustainability.
This Accord will serve as the foundational framework for the proposed Biosphere Reserve — articulating shared environmental values, setting aspirational goals, and establishing a clear roadmap for stewardship. It will not only represent the collective voice of the region’s young environmental leaders but also signal to the world that Ottawa and Gatineau are ready to embrace a sustainable future on the international stage.