Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 03/99) - International consensus on issues of climate change, global warming and the state of Arctic ecosystems was reached by delegates from eight nations in Yellowknife, last week.

Some of the world's foremost environmental scientists, along with aboriginal groups and conservation managers, met at the Explorer Hotel under the guidance of the international working group, Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF).

Russia, Greenland, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, United States and Canada were all represented.

"We have a dilemma in that our regions are very similar, but are very different politically," CAFF executive secretary, Snorri Baloursson, said.

"The challenge is for these eight very politically different nations to find common conservation issues that they all agree must be dealt with."

Baloursson, who is from Iceland, said by identifying and monitoring Arctic flora and fauna at the species, population and ecosystem levels, they hope to get their governments to speak a common language.

"The value of CAFF conferences like this one is the dialogue it produces -- having scientists come together to identify issues that interest all the countries," Baloursson said.

He said global warming, a hot political topic, was tackled in-depth.

"We are seeing climate changes," Baloursson said.

"This is the first meeting where we as a body have dealt with this issue. Where the debate comes from is if the changes are natural or man-made," he said. "Our task is to try and tell the governments how they should prepare for the eventual changes with respect to how they address wildlife, resource, and protected area management."

Gerald McKeating, Northern regional director for Canada Wildlife Services, agreed that of the many topics covered, global warming is something that concerns every nation.

"Global warming is going to affect us but what does that mean to us? Right now, we're not sure," McKeating said.

"I think we're at the point where we're talking beyond computer simulation models. We're saying here's some evidence, what does that mean."

He said some of the work Canada Wildlife Services has done in Hudson Bay shows a direct link between slightly warmer temperatures and the ice melting earlier in the spring and forming later in the fall. It's something that's already negatively affecting the polar bear population there.

He said the bears are coming off the ice pack earlier and significantly lighter than they were 20 years ago. That affects the number of cubs being born and the health of newborn cubs.

"If that trend continues, what does that mean to the community of Rankin Inlet? It's a tiny signal but these are the kinds of things the group is looking at," McKeating said.

"What is the impact of increased ultra-violet rays on Arctic vegetation? How is that going to affect the range of caribou for example? They're very real things that I or a guy in Sachs Harbour can relate to."

He said by raising awareness and having solid international support, the environmental issues that are so important to the future health of the Arctic regions can be managed.

"I think that with intelligent action, we still have an opportunity to conserve and have sustainable use of the Arctic," McKeating said.

"What that means is that every government and every native group, and all Northern peoples have to be working collectively. I think we can still do the right thing."

State Committee of Russia, deputy head of the department for natural protected areas, Vladimir Pishelier, agrees that nations must work together to make headway on Arctic environmental issues.

"We have many common species and common interests to be protected. To protect the same things, we need to understand each other," Pishelier said.

He agrees that the issue of global warming must be accepted and addressed.

"Global warming is obvious. It's important that the various nations work together. There won't be any immediate results at the international level but we must begin the process," Pishelier said.

"I don't hope to achieve results in the near future but we are at least trying to find a common approach. I just hope we will find some way out of the situation before a disaster happens."

Baloursson said CAFF completed a strategy and action plan that has identified a network of areas to be protected in the Arctic. They are in the process of getting it implemented internationally, with support from all eight Arctic nations.