Each Biosphere Reserve is intended to fulfill three complementary functions: a conservation function, to preserve genetic resources, species, ecosystems and landscapes; a development function, to foster sustainable economic and human development, and a logistic support function, to support demonstration projects, environmental education and training, and research and monitoring related to local, national and global issues of conservation and sustainable development.

In 2004, UNESCO recognized the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve as a unique area of natural and cultural heritage, validating the community's intention to protect, promote, and celebrate the richness of this heritage while it strives to maintain and develop the economic base needed to ensure a high quality of life.

Georgian Bay has a rich history of Aboriginal settlement, commercial fishing and shipping, logging camps and railway lines. As resources became scarce in the mid-1800s, the economic history shifted to recreational cottage development. Small service communities along the coast continue to rely on seasonal tourism, although due to increasing pressures on southern and central Ontario, they face greater residential and retirement developments.

While its southern end is located only 165 km from the Greater Toronto Area, eastern Georgian Bay has very little road access in comparison to surrounding areas. The large amount of Crown Land set aside in parks and conservation reserves makes the coast one of the longest and largest corridors of almost continuous protected landscape in south-central Ontario. There is great potential to foster economic and human development because of the high quality environment for tourism-based jobs, scientific research, educational pursuits, and healthy lifestyles.

Integrating conservation with sustainable development is the overarching purpose of UNESCO biosphere reserves. Recently, the Severn Sound Environmental Association developed a Community Sustainability Plan. Several Cottagers' Associations have also initiated major Community Plan documents that are meant to inform Official Plans at the municipal level. These processes will influence both conservation and development along the eastern coast of Georgian Bay.

Tourism is currently a strong economic driver in the region and the GBBR Inc. is committed to fostering sustainable tourism. It recognizes that this region provides both opportunities as well as challenges.  Existing retail and non-profit organizations like museums, art galleries, resorts, restaurants, festivals/events are eager to move into the tourism industry but require assistance with training, product development and knowledge of the region's assets in order to do so.  Private and public sector funds are being utilized for improved product marketing and training, but not necessarily in the most logical and measurable means and not in the context of sustainability.

The GBBR Inc. adopts the definition of Sustainable Tourism as developed by Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and the Parks Canada Agency, in the spring of 2005:

"Sustainable tourism actively fosters appreciation and stewardship of the natural, cultural and historic resources and special places by local residents, the tourism industry, governments, and visitors.  It is tourism which is viable over the long term because it results in a net benefit for the social, economic, natural and cultural environments of the area in which it takes place."