Ottawa, Thursday May 11, 2006
Inuit oppose and seek clarification of the decision announced on May 2, 2006 by The World Conservation Union (IUCN) to upgrade the status of the polar bear to “vulnerable” on the Red List. While we accept the climate change science that projects a reduction in habitat over the next 50 years, changing “Red List” methodology to upgrade the polar bear’s status to “vulnerable” at this time while populations remain robust, unacceptably exaggerates the situation.
“We were blindsided by the announcement,” say Inuit leaders Jose Kusugak President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, and Duane Smith President of Inuit Circumpolar Conference (Canada). “We are members of the IUCN and we were not consulted, or warned ahead of time of this change of status. So, you can imagine our feelings when a decision that affects us directly was made without our involvement.”
Speaking at the Canada-Norway Bilateral Northern Dialogue today in Ottawa, Mr. Smith outlined Inuit concerns over the change of status of the polar bear.
“The polar bear is central to the image of the Arctic. It’s a legendary animal in our lives. It’s spoken of with reverence. It’s integral to our culture. To contemplate life without it is unfathomable.”
Mr. Kusugak said, “The comprehensive Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) report released in 2004 probably made last week’s announcement on the vulnerable status of the Polar Bear inevitable.
The ACIA concluded that:
Marine species dependent on sea ice, including polar bears, ice-living seals, walrus, and some marine birds, are very likely to decline, with some species facing extinction.
And
For Inuit, warming is likely to disrupt or even destroy their hunting and food sharing culture as reduced sea ice causes the animals on which they depend to decline, become less accessible, and possibly become extinct.
More than 70% of the world’s 20,000 – 25,000 polar bears are found in Canada and they constitute an important economic resource to Inuit. Polar bears are hunted according to a well-managed, sustainable quota system through cooperative management bodies established under comprehensive land claim agreements.
Inuit leaders have written to federal environment minister Rona Ambrose this week, seeking a meeting to discuss the Government of Canada’s approach to climate change in light of this development with the polar bear.
The leaders also stated that Inuit hunters need reassurance as to the continuation of their harvesting rights and activities as a result of this announcement. In addition, the longer term status of polar bears should be addressed in the “Made in Canada” climate change plan soon to be considered by the federal cabinet.
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Contact:
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Stephen Hendrie
Director of Communications
Tel: 613.277.3178
Inuit Circumpolar Conference
Corrine Gray
Executive Director
Tel: 613.563.2642