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Canada announces Arctic conservation study
Ottawa (AFP) Dec 8, 2009 Canada's environment minister on Tuesday announced a five-million-dollar (4.7 million US) feasibility study for the creation of an Arctic marine conservation area at mouth of the famed Northwest Passage. "As global climate change continues and traffic through the Northwest Passage is expected to increase, our government is committed to safeguarding Canada's Arctic and protecting its most special natural features," said Environment Minister Jim Prentice. "This project will allow us to significantly advance our knowledge as well as our protection and conservation activities in this area," he said. Lancaster Sound, at the eastern entrance of the famed Northwest Passage, is flanked by "dramatic cliffs and spectacular fjords," according to Parks Canada. During the summer months most of the world's narwhal, a third of North America's belugas, a large number of bowhead whales, ringed seals, harp seals and walrus are found in these waters. It is also home to one of the highest densities of polar bears in the world and is a breeding ground for about one-third of Eastern Canada's colonial seabirds, including several hundred thousand pairs of thick-billed murres, black-legged kittiwakes and northern fulmars. Share This Article With Planet Earth
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Global warming poses threats and opportunities to ArcticOslo (AFP) Dec 6, 2009 Rising temperatures are causing the Arctic's ice sheets to melt, opening the door for an economic boom in the region but also posing a major threat to the survival of its indigenous peoples. The mercury is rising twice as fast in the Arctic as elsewhere, offering a frightening preview of what the future holds for the planet and prompting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to describe the ... read more |
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