Monthly Archives: March 2015

Arctic mammals and the big picture

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Arctic mammals linked to sea ice
polar bear (Ursus maritimus)
narwhal (Monodon monoceros)
beluga (Delphinapterus leucas)
bowhead (Balaena mysticetus)
ringed seal (Pusa hispida),
bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus)
spotted seal (Phoca largha)
ribbon seal (Phoca fasciata)
harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus)
hooded seal (Cystophora cristata)
walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)

It’s looking more and more likely that sea ice in the Arctic has broken yet another ominous record – the lowest winter extent ever recorded. While low ice in the winter isn’t necessarily a harbinger of much less ice in the Arctic summer, it is a sign of increasingly thin, slow growing ice – and that’s bad news for Arctic animals.
But just how bad? A new paper published this week is the first to assess the state of the Arctic’s ice-dependent marine mammals – 11 in all. From whales to seals to polar bears, these species depend on the seasonal comings and goings of the ice edge to find food, breed and give birth. Arctic people, especially the Inuit, depend on these animals for subsistence. The well-being of these animals matters both locally and globally.
Despite their importance, there’s still a lot we don’t know about Arctic mammals. The paper, Arctic marine mammal population status, sea ice habitat loss, and conservation recommendations for the 21st century, fills in some gaps by collating everything we know about the populations of 11 different Arctic mammals over the past 35 years – a time of rapid ice loss and thinning. Some of the paper’s findings:
 

Head of ringed seal above the water. Blomsterhalvøya, Spitsbergen (Svalbard) arctic archipelago, Norway. © WWF-Canon / Sindre Kinnerød

Head of ringed seal above the water. Blomsterhalvøya, Spitsbergen (Svalbard) arctic archipelago, Norway.
© WWF-Canon / Sindre Kinnerød

More open water in the summer

Changes in ice can disrupt life for both prey (seals give birth on ice during a short spring window) and predators (polar bears feast on the fat-rich new pups).  Since the 1980s, some parts of the Arctic have seen much longer periods of open water in the summer – from 5 weeks to as much as 5 months longer.

File photograph of a bowhead whale. Photo: WWF/Paul Nicklen, National Geographic Stock

File photograph of a bowhead whale. Photo: WWF/Paul Nicklen, National Geographic Stock

Population trends vary, but ice is key

Data in the Arctic can be spotty, but the researchers founds some clear trends. In areas where ice is declining quickly, mammals that depend on ice are too.  Seals and polar bears are particularly affected. Whales, meanwhile, could benefit from less ice in the short term, as open water expands their habitat and food supplies.
However, temperate species are also expanding their ranges. Killer whales, with a long dorsal fin that makes navigating in ice difficult, are moving north into previously icy waters where they prey on Arctic whales.
Ice dependent mammals, likewise, may move north when possible. Polar bears, for example, are already moving towards the Last Ice Area, a fringe along northern Canada and Greenland where ice is expected to remain the longest.

“Sleeping” polar bear waits for a walrus calf to come close. Photo: Alexey Ebel / WWF-Canon

“Sleeping” polar bear waits for a walrus calf to come close. Photo: Alexey Ebel / WWF-Canon

More info needed

For most of the populations reviewed, there simply isn’t much data available. “Accurate scientific data – currently lacking for many species – will be key to making informed and efficient decisions about the conservation challenges and tradeoffs in the 21st century,” says author Kristin Laidre.
Although monitoring every population fully is essentially impossible (due not least to financial constraints), the authors encourage goverments to commit to an improvment in long-term monitoring, and to look at other methods of data collection, such as working with subsistence hunters or exploring remote technologies.

_ Students on Ice _ walrus on ice (Medium)

Walrus, Nunavut, Canada. Photo: Students on Ice


 

What can we do?

In an environment that’s changing so quickly, conservation measures need to be fast, creative and well-balanced. The authors recommend that governments continue to work with local and indigenous peoples to co-manage Arctic mammal populations. They also suggest that management consider the responses of different species to changes in ice, and more study and mitigation of industrial impacts in Arctic water.
That means protecting the key habitats for these mammals, and avoiding risky industrial development projects in such crucial places.
WWF also recommends focusing attention on places where ice will persist the longest, like the Last Ice Area.
But ultimately, only global commitments to reduce carbon emissions can slow the loss of sea ice habitat in the Arctic. “We may introduce conservation measures or protected species legislation, but none of those things can really address the primary driver of Arctic climate change and habitat loss for these species,” says Laidre.
A global switch from fossil fuels to wind, solar and other renewable energies can help reverse ice loss in the Arctic. A WWF study found that it is not only feasible, but cost-effective, for 100% of the world’s energy to come from renewable sources by 2050.

United States leadership in the Arctic

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The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Louis S. St-Laurent ties up to the US Coast Guard Cutter Healy in the Arctic Ocean Sept. 5, 2009. The two ships are taking part in a multi-year, multi-agency Arctic survey that will help define the Arctic continental shelf. Photo: Patrick Kelley, U.S. Coast Guard

The Canadian Coast Guard Ship Louis S. St-Laurent ties up to the US Coast Guard Cutter Healy in the Arctic Ocean Sept. 5,
2009. The two ships are taking part in a multi-year, multi-agency Arctic survey that will help define the Arctic continental shelf. Photo: Patrick Kelley, U.S. Coast Guard


Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr., USCG (Ret.) is the US State Department’s Special Representative for the Arctic. This article originally appeared in The Circle 01.15.
When I became the first United States Special Representative for the Arctic in July 2014, I had just retired from nearly 40 years in the United States Coast Guard, finishing my career as the 24th Commandant.  Ironically, I both started and ended my Coast Guard service focusing on the U.S. portion of the Arctic. My first assignment was aboard a Coast Guard cutter homeported in Adak, Alaska, in the Aleutian Island chain.  During this assignment, I saw first-hand what the Arctic was all about. At the end of my career, I oversaw the completion of the first-ever Coast Guard Arctic Strategy, an achievement I’m very proud of and that has served our country well.
Now I have the great fortune to lead U.S. Arctic diplomacy and prepare for the United States’ chairmanship of the Arctic Council.  I feel very privileged to do so at such an important time in the history of the Arctic region. Not since the Cold War has there been such a focus on the Arctic and the critical role it plays in the world.  The Arctic Council – the only forum focused solely on the circumpolar Arctic – has evolved in encouraging ways to help Arctic governments and residents meet new challenges.
As chair, Canada has done a fantastic job of raising public awareness about Arctic indigenous peoples and their economic needs. We will follow Canada’s leadership and many of its priorities as we take the chair on April 24, 2015. Our chairmanship theme, “One Arctic:  Shared Opportunities, Challenges, and Responsibilities,” reflects the fact that although there are many dimensions to the Arctic, in the end it is one region of peace, stability and cooperation.
We see three general sub-themes logically flowing from the overarching theme under which we will organize a number of new initiatives:  Arctic Ocean safety, security and stewardship; improving economic and living conditions; and addressing the impacts of climate change.
The Arctic Ocean is still relatively unstudied as compared to the other oceans. We want the Council to support scientific research cooperation through a binding agreement that would reduce barriers to access for ships, equipment, research teams, samples and other logistical issues, and at the same time explore whether a Regional Seas Program for the Arctic Ocean might further cooperation on research priorities and joint efforts. We want to shine a light on the emerging problem of ocean acidification – a direct consequence of climate change that is happening more intensively in the Arctic Ocean than anywhere else owing to its cold temperatures. With the ever-increasing human presence in the Arctic Ocean, we plan to hold tabletop and live exercises among the Coast Guards and rescue services to ensure we are all prepared for the natural and/or man-made disasters that are all but inevitable.
Improving economic and living conditions is a high priority for the United States because all of the Arctic States have citizens living there, albeit in different circumstances.  Much of the Nordic Arctic is well-developed; generally speaking, the Saami indigenous peoples enjoy better economic and living conditions than indigenous peoples in the United States, Canada, Denmark/Greenland and Russia. Our communities are largely remote, often poverty-stricken, and lacking in some of the most basic human needs such as access to clean water, indoor plumbing and sewage services, reliable, affordable electricity and fuel, and good jobs.  These conditions contribute to physical and mental health problems, and eventually to high suicide rates, especially in men and boys. We hope that all eight Arctic States will join us in exploring solutions to these problems, including testing and deploying new technologies through public/private partnerships, encouraging foreign direct investment to stimulate job growth, and sharing expertise and best practices across our borders.
We all know that climate change is happening faster in the Arctic than in other regions of the world; in fact, the impacts of climate change underlie nearly all human activity in the region.  We hope to focus on climate change in our chairmanship in several ways, but most importantly by pressing the Arctic States and the Observer States to reduce their black carbon and methane emissions.
Our country does not contain the largest piece of the Arctic, but we do take the Arctic region very seriously and we look forward to our coming two years in the chair of the Arctic Council.

Improving the lives of Northerners

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Leona Aglukkaq is the Conservative Canadian Member of Parliament for the riding of Nunavut and Minister for the Arctic. This article originally appeared in The Circle 01.15.
As Canada approaches the conclusion of its two-year Arctic Council Chairmanship, I’m proud to say we have worked to directly improve the lives of Northerners and foster environmentally responsible development throughout the Arctic.
Following my appointment as Minister for the Arctic Council in August 2012, I consulted with Northerners from across the Arctic and their message was clear: the well-being and prosperity of the people living in the North must be the top priority for the Council.
For this reason, Canada’s Chairmanship has focused Arctic Council work on the theme, “Development for the People of the North.”
There have been more than a few examples of the projects that we have developed over the course of our two year chairmanship, reflecting this overarching agenda. A key priority has been the establishment of the Arctic Economic Council (AEC), which held its inaugural meeting in September 2014. Many economic and social challenges including high costs of living, skilled labour shortages, and extreme weather are common across the Arctic. From my travels, it became clear to me that we often do not share information well between Arctic peoples. Often times when we face a challenge, someone somewhere else in the Arctic has already faced that same challenge and has a solution. Rather than reinvent the wheel, we, as a Council, should foster collaboration across the Arctic. The AEC will serve as a fundamental mechanism to facilitate Arctic-to-Arctic collaboration between business leaders by providing a forum to discuss common challenges, share best practices and look for business opportunities to develop and benefit the North.
The AEC will also serve as a link between business and government by enabling businesses to inform the work of the Arctic Council. Additionally – and this will be key to its success – Arctic Indigenous peoples have representation on the AEC, which ensures that those living in the North are active participants in decisions affecting their communities.
The AEC’s work is forging ahead, and it has now established working groups on responsible resource development, maritime transportation and stewardship in the Arctic.
Development has many aspects, including economic, social and environmental. These elements should all be considered as we work to achieve sustainable Arctic communities.
With this is mind, Canada is also working with its Arctic Council partners to promote mental wellness across the North. The goal of this project is to identify and share best practices to enable communities to improve support for mental wellness and resiliency of their residents. I am especially looking forward to the Mental Wellness Symposium taking place in Iqaluit, Nunavut in March which will focus on working with communities to advance efforts in mental wellness intervention.
Another key priority of Canada’s Chairmanship has been to incorporate traditional and local knowledge more effectively into the Council’s ongoing work. This knowledge has helped Indigenous peoples survive for millennia, and helps us understand changes in the region. The value of traditional knowledge is immense. By better incorporating it into decision making processes we will ultimately see better results for the Arctic and the people who live there.
The importance of traditional knowledge was recently highlighted in the search for Sir John Franklin’s ships from his failed 1845 voyage. One of his ships, HMS Erebus, was found just off the coast of my hometown of Gjoa Haven, Nunavut (see p. 32). For generations of oral history, Inuit have said the location was near King William Island, which is exactly where Erebus was found. This discovery emphasizes the strength and importance traditional knowledge plays in shaping not only our past, but also our present and our future. Successes such as these should make Inuit and all Arctic Indigenous peoples proud.
Over the course of Canada’s two-year Chairmanship, we have also advanced the Council’s work on other key issues, including climate change, biodiversity conservation, and shipping safety. These actions range from developing a framework for action to reduce black carbon and methane emissions in the Arctic to a new action plan to enhance oil pollution prevention.
A fundamental objective of our Chairmanship has been to strengthen the Arctic Council. This included enhancing the capacity of the six Indigenous Permanent Participant organizations to contribute to the Council’s work. The Permanent Participants have a unique and fundamental role at the Council – they are at the table with the Arctic States to ensure that they are involved in decisions affecting their communities. As we move towards the end of our Chairmanship, we are working closely with our neighbour and the incoming Chair, the United States, to advance our shared priorities for the Arctic region.
I look forward to welcoming our Arctic Council partners to Iqaluit in April for the ninth Ministerial Meeting, where we will highlight our accomplishments, and chart a path for the next two years and beyond.

Red foxes put the heat on arctic foxes in Norway

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Arctic Fox. Dmitry-Deshevykh / WWF-Russia

Arctic Fox. Photo: Dmitry Deshevykh / WWF-Russia


The arctic fox is a tough animal that can withstand harsh winter conditions. But a warming climate has led to challenges that are far more difficult to tackle than 50 degrees below zero and weeks without food.
“The arctic fox is tough. It lives in an environment that many of us shiver just to think about”, says WWF Norway’s predator specialist, Sverre Lundemo. Year round, the arctic fox lives on Norway’s mountains and in the Arctic, even when the day consists of considerably more darkness than light, the wind howls and the temperature creeps far down the thermometer. But it’s not the harsh winter making the fox’s life miserable.
“The biggest challenge for the arctic fox today is probably climate change”, says Lundemo. “Being a specialist in extreme conditions, with the ability to stay warm at -50C and survive without food for several weeks, doesn’t help if its habitat is getting warmer. It loses its competitive advantage”.
As the north warms, several species are moving into the arctic fox’s habitat. The biggest competitor is the arctic fox’s close cousin, the red fox. “The red fox is coming ever further up the mountains and it is both bigger and stronger than the arctic fox. It’s not just a serious competitor for food, but it can also take over arctic fox dens”, says Lundemo.
Red fox. Dmitry-Deshevykh / WWF-Russia

Red fox. Photo: Dmitry Deshevykh / WWF-Russia


Strictly protected species
Norway’s Ministry of Climate and Environment announced this January that the arctic fox should be a priority species under the Nature Diversity Act in Norway. This means that it receives the Act’s strictest protection and that Norwegian authorities must actively ensure that wild arctic foxes can still be found in the country. Together with the wolf, the arctic fox is the most endangered terrestrial predator in Norway. Both are listed as critically endangered on the Norwegian Red List.
What can be done?
The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet, with wide-ranging effects on all Arctic life. The solutions, however, are global in nature. To slow the most extreme impacts of climate change, nations must first reduce their dependence on oil, coal and gas. We should instead focus on renewable energy sources such as wind, water, sun and geothermal. WWF’s Energy Report shows that it’s possible for the world’s energy to be 100 percent renewable by 2050.
Adapted from an article originally posted at wwf.no.