Since 2017, HSBRIS has led the effort to bring together a “community of communities” in Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound, working with First Nations, all levels of government, individuals, businesses, and organizations to develop a shared vision for the entire Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound watershed—including the very communities we live in. Guided by a volunteer Board of directors and volunteer Executive Director, our purpose is to champion collaboration in the Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound Biosphere Region, to sustain our UNESCO designation and more importantly, to work toward a sustainable and equitable future for all in the region.

We maximize grant funding opportunities by directly funding projects with minimal overhead. Financial gifts help cover uninteresting but essential core support costs for technology, administration, and communications.

We are the only organization working at a regional level. We are a collaboration and communications hub to advance coordinated conservation strategies, integrate regional planning and monitoring, liaise between multi-level government, First Nations, and corporate and community partnerships, and link Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound to a global sustainability network. The promise to uphold the UNESCO designation by all authorities is a catalyst for change and long-term commitment that is measured through a rigorous periodic review process every 10 years, for its advancement towards the objectives.