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INUVIK
Inuvik continues to be a prime destination for those concerned about Arctic off-shore drilling.

The World Wildlife Fund has opened an office in Inuvik to allow it to have a presence for conservation in the Western Arctic. Dan Slavik, the WWF's adviser for marine spatial planning, pictured above, will staff the office located in the Aurora Research Institute. - Samantha Stokell/NNSL photo

In the same month that the National Energy Board opened an office in Inuvik, the World Wildlife Fund also found a home in the community in the new Aurora Research Institute building in August.

"Why now? Because it's at a stage where the pace of development in the Beaufort Sea is picking up," said Dan Slavik, a WWF adviser in marine spatial planning and the only staff member in the group's Inuvik office. "It's a suitable time to contribute to the Beaufort Sea Partnership to make sure we contribute to their vision. It's not our vision, but we want to contribute our knowledge of conservation when they make their decisions."

The Beaufort Sea Partnership brings together government leaders, organizations and departments, indigenous groups, industry, research and conservation groups to sustainably develop the Beaufort Sea. Some of the groups involved include hunter and trapper committees, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, NWT Tourism and the RCMP.

The WWF sees its role in the partnership as one that will provide resources and energy to assist in the development of the Beaufort Sea. One of the organization's strengths is that it is an international group and has offices in all the Arctic nations. Research in other Arctic nations can be shared with Canada and vice versa.

"The lessons and successes learned here can be applied everywhere else because the Western Arctic has become a leader in Arctic development," Slavik said. "A lot of research is going on, but there's a still a lot unknown. It never hurts to have more information. It's best to have available knowledge to make the best decisions."

Priorities

One of the organization's priorities is to have conservation and sustainable development in the Arctic.

This means it wants to identify critical habitat in eco-sensitive areas, areas that are important for traditional use or subsistence.

"We can identify them now so that when development does happen it will happen in a way to minimize risk to the significant areas," Slavik said. "We want to make sure that when development takes place they be aware and respectful of the value of the areas."

Beyond contributing to the Beaufort Sea Partnership, the organization has also financially supported polar bear studies done by the territorial department of Environment and Natural Resources and the University of Alberta and also contributed to other conservation efforts. The organization has strong ties with Alaska and the Inupiat. Slavik hopes to contribute to the sharing of information across the border, especially because the border itself is a source of dispute among politicians when it comes to development of the Beaufort Sea: whether it follows international lines or the continental shelf.

Slavik would also like to eventually go into schools in Inuvik and the surrounding communities to give presentations and hear the opinions of the local residents.

"We have an understanding that people live up here on the land and with the wildlife and that at the end of the day the local people will make the final decisions that matter," Slavik said. "We're open to people coming in and sharing their opinion, good or bad, and learn about what we're doing."

The WWF office will have an open house on Sept. 13, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

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