Overview

On behalf of the Leading Edge 2001 Conference Committee, we are pleased to present the Leading Edge 2001: Focus on the Biosphere Conference Proceedings.

Leading Edge 2001, the fifth in a series of NEC conferences started in 1994, took place at the Holiday Inn in Burlington from October 17 to 19, 2001.

The conference had three interrelated themes:

• Communities in action;
• Scientific research, environmental monitoring and conservation projects; and,
• Demonstrations of sustainable development.

The conference included nearly 50 paper presentations featuring the most current research presented by a wide variety of experts. An impressive line-up of speakers — including Canada's Ambassador of the Environment and representatives from Canada's Biosphere Reserves — contributed to the recognition of Leading Edge 2001 as one of the most significant conferences in the series to date.

The conference is also a key part of the Niagara Escarpment's status as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve; namely, in the areas of community involvement, scientific research, environmental monitoring and demonstrations of sustainable development.

Leading Edge 2001 brought together more than 200 participants from Canada's Biosphere Reserves. Landowners, scientists, researchers, students, environmental interest groups, community organizations, corporations, government agencies and representatives from the United States also attended the conference to learn, teach and network. More than 80 percent participated in all three days of the conference.

A special thank you to the Leading Edge 2001 presenters. This conference proceedings represents your success; and your research, findings, discussions and conclusions are included in the proceedings for future use. Summaries of the keynote speeches and workshops are also available as PDF files.

For participants, we hope the proceedings recall for you the excellence of the presentations and the importance of the conference.

We would also like to thank our many contributors, who are listed on the Acknowledgements webpage. Without their support, Leading Edge 2001 never would have been such a huge success.

For more information on upcoming Leading Edge conferences — the next one will take place in the fall of 2003 — e-mail the Niagara Escarpment Commission or visit the NEC Website.

Sincerely,

Shannon McFadyen and Richard Murzin
Conference Co-Chairs
Leading Edge 2001: Focus on the Biosphere