Impressions of the Arctic I
Part II gives context to the broader analytical discussion on the limitations and strengths of environmental agreements through the lens of species, and of people, inhabiting the Arctic. The six case studies (wolverines, reindeer and caribou, alcids, seals, polar bears, and red king crabs) and five stakeholder perspectives provide a snapshot of challenges, opportunities, and viewpoints on how conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the Arctic can be achieved.
II
First and foremost, these case studies demonstrate that humans and biodiversity within the Arctic are intricately linked. Arctic biodiversity has provided the foundation for the establishment of humans and their cultures in the Arctic, and has been the primary source of food, clothing, shelter, fuels, and tools1
.
Indigenous languages in the Arctic have also developed and been shaped through close contact with the environment, and these languages hold a wealth of traditional knowledge in relation to biodiversity2
. Today, despite major local and regional differences, the harvesting and use of biodiversity continues to play a key role
in traditional lifestyles and economies of the Arctic. Each case study highlights the social, economic, and cultural importance of a species, whilst also discussing some of the challenges that have arisen in reconciling the needs of stakeholders. The case studies on the wolverines and seals are of particular relevance.
There are growing challenges and threats to Arctic biodiversity. As the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna’s Arctic Biodiversity Trends 2010: Selected indicators of change report recently concluded, climate change is emerging as the most significant stressor on Arctic biodiversity, although contaminants, habitat fragmentation, industrial development, and unsustainable harvest levels are continuing threats, and may interact and magnify impacts on biodiversity2
. The case
study on alcids, for example, demonstrates how climate change amplifies existing problems and may possibly create new ones, through changing the distribution of prey stocks, increasing the exposure to oil and gas, shipping, and tourism operations, and altering the pattern of pollutant deposition.
Many Arctic species have large ranges and are distributed across the circumpolar region, with populations extending beyond regions and national boundaries to include several Arctic states, and also beyond. Successful conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity requires effective multi-lateral/ international agreements and regimes in place not only to manage species distributed across national borders, but also to limit and control transboundary threats, many of which originate outside of the Arctic. The case study on polar bears, for example, illustrates how effective protection within the Arctic has helped preserve a species, but where new threats originate mainly from outside the Arctic.
40 PROTECTING ARCTIC BIODIVERSITY
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100