Research, Monitoring and Education: Exploring the "Logistics Function" of Four Canadian Biosphere Reserves‪.‬

Abstract Research and monitoring are the fundamental components of the biosphere reserve logistics function, providing information at the local and regional level to move the conservation and sustainable development functions forward. Four Canadian biosphere reserve case examples of logistics activities are examined. Findings confirm that: communities are providing leadership through civil society organization administration of biosphere reserves and their activities; many logistics activities are carried out in the transition area of biosphere reserves where people live, work and interact with the environment; collaborative approaches, with the biosphere reserves providing the neutral forum, are used to develop and implement logistics activities such as monitoring and stewardship; and place is emerging as a framework for information gathering, analysis and reporting. Areas that require attention include: better use of existing research to inform on monitoring design; links between monitoring information and decision making; tracking the "big picture" of research, monitoring and stewardship; extension of proven information sharing activities; and promotion of inter-disciplinary and systems research. Biosphere reserves can be viewed as ongoing experiments in sustainability and future tracking and evaluation should provide insights into local and regional sustainability.