Feds to put polar bears on species-at-risk list

OTTAWA -- The polar bear is finally set to be listed under Canada's species-at-risk legislation.

The federal government has given notice it intends to list the iconic white mammal as a "species of concern" under the law. Once it is listed, a plan must be devised within three years to help prevent the bears from becoming endangered or threatened.

"Listing the polar bear under SARA (the Species At Risk Act) represents an important step towards fulfilling SARA's commitment to reduce the risk of the species becoming threatened or endangered," reads an analysis on the impact of the regulatory change.

The legislative move comes almost three years after the panel of scientists that advises the government on species protection recommended the bear needed special attention.

The panel had suggested the bear be included in the list because of the potential for climate change to threaten its habitat.

"Although there is uncertainty over the overall impact of climate change on the species' distribution and numbers, considerable concern exists over the future of this species in Canada," the committee on the status of endangered wildlife in Canada wrote in 2008.

Canada is home to 60 per cent of the world's polar bears, but changes in sea-ice conditions are wreaking havoc with populations.

Four of the 13 bear subpopulations in Canada are predicted to be at risk of declining over the next 36 years. Some bears are showing declining body conditions and changing their denning locations because of a decreased availability of sea ice.

But in other areas, the number of bears is on the rise and some argue decreasing ice thickness in parts of the Arctic may actually provide better living conditions.

In Nunavut, there are so many bears in one of the regions, the government is recommending increasing the hunting quota out of concern for public safety.

Putting the bear on the species-at-risk list isn't necessary, said Drikus Gissing, director of wildlife management for the government of Nunavut.

"If the federal government wants to list species because they are concerned about climate change, they need to come and list every single species in the Arctic," he said.

"If climate change continues, it will impact every single species."

Communities in Nunavut were among the most vocal against adding the bear to the list, but Gissing said the change isn't a huge concern.

It won't take away traditional hunting rights for aboriginal people nor will it change how Nunavut already manages bear populations, he said.

But the risk of a federal management plan is it could mandate a one-size-fits-all strategy for the different bear subpopulations, pointed out Peter Ewins, the senior Arctic species officer with the World Wildlife Federation Canada.

While Ewins said he's not opposed to the bear being listed under federal law, any management plan is likely to fail.

"The No. 1 problem that dwarves everything else is fossil fuel-induced global warming and that doesn't happen in the Arctic," he said.

"So a management plan that's focused on Inuit and the Arctic and habitats and things in the Arctic isn't going to do diddly-squat. If we all stopped driving cars tomorrow, that would probably start to help."

Environment Minister Peter Kent's office did not a return a call for comment.

The proposal to list polar bears under the act was announced on July 2, and interested parties have 30 days to weigh in.

That follows more than two years of public consultations the government held after the scientific panel made its suggestion in 2008.

They visited hundreds of aboriginal and northern communities, most of which were opposed to the change. But more than 3,000 letters were also received from people living outside the Arctic Circle and the majority of them were in favour.

-- The Canadian Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 13, 2011 A6