Polar bears not endangered: MP
Aglukkaq campaigns to shoot down possible third attempt to halt trade of Arctic carnivore
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, June 22, 2015
NUNAVUT
Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq is campaigning proactively against any further attempts to classify polar bears as an endangered species in league with jaguars and rhinos.
Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq delivers a speech about Canada's polar bear management during a conference earlier this month in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. She argues polar bears play an essential role in the way of life of aboriginal communities in the North. - photo courtesy of Ted Laking |
"The United States has tried in the past to up-list the polar bears so that we could not export or trade the polar bear," said Aglukkaq. "We did not want a third attempt of the U.S. to be done."
She held a forum in West Virginia earlier this month to bring together U.S. government scientists, non-governmental organizations and representatives from Canada to explain Canada's polar bear management system.
"It is important to note that Inuit have been for thousands of years living off of the land alongside the polar bear and all the wildlife in the Arctic," said Aglukkaq. "Inuit have for thousands of years depended on the wildlife for survival. To manage it carefully is an integral part of our culture and our survival."
She said Canada uses a robust management system that involves traditional knowledge and scientific research. She said polar bear numbers have been stable in recent years.
"We also were very clear that this is not about science or traditional knowledge — this is about using the best scientific knowledge plus traditional knowledge together to make sure that we had a very strong management program in place," said Aglukkaq.
She doesn't want Inuit to have to go to South Africa in 2016 for the next Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, where there could be an attempt to up-list polar bears.
"We don't want to go through this process for a third time," said Aglukkaq, who wants to get out ahead of the conference.
"Hopefully, the international community agrees with Canada's position."
Over the past five years, governments and other organizations in the country have invested more than $9 million in polar bear monitoring.
The latest traditional knowledge and scientific research place most Canadian polar bear sub-populations, of which there are 13, at likely stable, stable or increasing.
