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