Arctic

The Arctic is one of the few regions on Earth where nature has remained almost untouched. It is home to polar bears and reindeer, seals and whales. 7 out of 238 globally important ecoregions are situated here.

The Arctic is one of the most vulnerable ecoregions. Temperature in the Arctic has increased by 5-10 degrees, while the average global temperature rise is 2 degrees. Rapid melting of the ice is a serious treat: due to it polar bears may become extinct by the end of the century.

Polar bears are threatened not only by global climate change. According to specialists from the Wrangel Island Nature Reserve, poachers kill an estimated 200-300 bears every year in the Russian Arctic. Pollution constitutes another threat to the Arctic as toxins tend to degrade much slower in colder climates. Besides, Arctic animals have high levels of fat that accumulate toxins.

WWF's work in Russian arctic regions (Taimyr, Yakutia, Chukotka, Murmansk region, Nenetsky and Yamalo-Nenetsky regions) is organized around 3 objectives:

• setting up and supporting the network of protected areas;
• rare and endangered species conservation;
• environmental education of the population.

WWF is the only NGO that has united the efforts of 8 Arctic countries through its national offices in USA, Canada, Norway, Denmark (Greenland), Finland, Sweden, Russia, and Iceland Nature Conservation Association.

WWF has taken an active part in setting up 30 protected areas in the Russian Arctic. The total reserve area is more than 35 million hectares, which equals the area of Finland. On the whole, WWF helped to double the area protected nature territories.

WWF puts special stress on polar bear protection by supporting the Wrangel Island Nature Reserve, which serves as a «maternity hospital» to polar bears, combating poaching and monitoring populations.

Via offices and special camps WWF works with the local population of Chukotka and Yakutia to achieve sustainable management of natural resources in the region.