In 1980, a Biosphere Reserves Working Group was convened by Canada’s national committee for the UNESCO/MAB program. The goal was to foster cooperation among the existing biosphere reserves and to facilitate the development of new Canadian reserves. Under the stewardship of the Working Group, six areas in Canada had received UNESCO biosphere reserve designation by 1990. From the early 1990s onwards, Parks Canada and Environment Canada’s Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) supported the Working Group in their initiatives. Amongst other projects, the EMAN facilitated the development of biodiversity monitoring plots in biosphere reserves across the country. In 1996, the Working Group, together with representatives from the existing biosphere reserves, formed the Canadian Biosphere Reserves Association to enhance the scope of support and program activities beyond what was possible under its prior arrangements. CBRA was incorporated in 1997 and received official charitable status in 1998.