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This blog is written by guest blogger, Ellen Jakubowski. This remote 52,000-square kilometre sanctuary, rich in natural and cultural history, remains a relatively undisturbed wilderness. Archaeological artifacts reveal its tundra and river valley were inhabited by Archaic humans as early as 6000 BC and later by Inuit and Dene peoples. The area was designated as a game sanctuary in 1927 in order to conserve its population of muskoxen. This protection has allowed the hairy ungulates and many other species to thrive in the area ever since. The Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary’s landscape is unique in terms of what it offers wildlife. While its tundra, featuring heath, low shrubs and over 120 species of lichen, is typical to the Low Arctic ecoregion, it… read more →
What’s that fluffy, white ball frolicking in the snow? Weighing in at approximately 10 pounds, and 24 inches in height, it’s the Arctic Hare (Lepus arcticus)! You’ll find these hardy, little creatures bouncing about in the thick blizzard of the tundra. Taking one glance at its cartoon-cuteness prompts the question: is the Arctic Hare the Easter Bunny? Do you see a resemblance? In Canada, the Arctic Hare can be found in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as Nunavut and the Northwest Territories – just north of its slightly-smaller relative, the Snowshoe Hare. During the winter months, all Arctic Hares are white in colour. Once the spring hits, their fur changes to a blue-gray or brownish shade; however, the northernmost Arctic… read more →
Responding to pressure from environmental groups around the world, Greenland has finally released Cairn Energy’s oil spill response plans for public review. Last month, Nature Canada joined 53 other international organizations – including Greenpeace, the David Suzuki Foundation, and Council of Canadians – in sending a letter to Greenland’s Prime Minister, Kuupik Kleist, expressing serious concern over the lack of transparency regarding Cairn’s operations in this unique and fragile region. Bizarrely, the Greenland government argued it had been necessary to keep Cairn’s contingency plans confidential until now because of the “unlawful actions aimed at the safety measures at oil exploration”. Greenpeace has launched a number of protests at Arctic drilling operations over the past year. Cairn’s drilling operations — which so far haven’t yielded commercial… read more →
We were all transfixed by the environmental destruction of the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill last year. Yet, however bad the spill in the Gulf of Mexico was, almost everyone agrees a major spill in the Arctic sea would be worse. How much worse? Last November a report commissioned by the Pew Environment Group examined that question, and concluded a cleanup could take years – if it’s even possible at all. Efforts would be hampered by wintertime temperatures that can drop below minus 50 degrees Celsius, fierce Arctic storms, endless darkness and fog that shrouds the region for more than half the days of the year. Yes, drilling in the Arctic is reckless, and dangerous – and something big… read more →
Source: Parks Canada On Monday, the Ministers of Environment, Health, Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Natural Resources announced a potential boundary for the long-awaited Lancaster Sound National Marine Conservation Area (NMCA) in Nunavut. We are looking forward to engaging in the consultation process to ensure that the final boundaries safeguard this area’s rich biodiversity, and Important Bird Areas (IBA). In the past we blogged about the Government of Canada’s decision to go ahead with seismic testing in Lancaster Sound (a process known as the Mineral Energy and Resources Assessment (MERA) in which non-renewable resources are identified), despite strong opposition from High Arctic communities, Oceans North Canada, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, and more than 11,000 Canadians. However, a few weeks… read more →
Yesterday, a Nunavut court granted an injunction to block the seismic testing that was to be carried out in Lancaster Sound – a proposed National Marine Conservation Area – this summer under the joint German-Canadian Eastern Canadian Arctic Seismic Experiment. However, the block is temporary given that the Federal Government may appeal the block or undertake a second round of consultations with the Inuit communities in the region. The decision was reached because of the potential impacts on wildlife and local communities. Justice Sue Cooper, the judge behind the ruling, wrote “If the testing proceeds as planned and marine mammals are impacted as Inuit say they will be, the harm to Inuit in the affected communities will be significant and… read more →
Despite strong opposition from High Arctic communities, Oceans North Canada, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, Parks Canada and more than 11,000 Canadians, the Harper Government has decided to proceed with the seismic testing in Lancaster Sound – a proposed National Marine Conservation Area – this summer. The seismic ship is on its way NOW! This is very disappointing news for a number of reasons: 1) Plans to establish this NMCA have been ongoing for 30 years; 2) These surveys provide information on oil & gas deposits which will eventually entice industry to gear up for exploration and production in the Arctic. A spill similar to that in the Gulf of Mexico would have devastating consequences on the region’s fragile ecosystems and… read more →
st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:”Table Normal”; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:””; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} On December 18, 2009 the Geological Survey of Canada submitted a proposal to the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) for their “Eastern Canadian Arctic Seismic Experiment (ECASE)”; a joint Canadian-German (the Alfred Wegener Institute for polar and marine research is the German partner) project that is aimed at collecting data regarding the evolution of the sedimentary basins in this region and tectonic plate motion between Canada and Greenland. The experiment is set to take place in Jones Sound, Baffin Island and Lancaster Sound – a proposed National Marine Conservation Area. On May… read more →
Happy Earth Day everyone! While I was at the Canadian Museum of Nature this morning, spending time with the middle school students for the launch of Robert Bateman national writing and art contest, I received the scoop on a bit of really cool news that I had to keep to myself for a few hours — but now that the news is official (and widely reported)… A new fossil animal has been discovered in Canada’s Arctic, and it may be a missing link in the evolution of seals. Puijila darwini was a carnivorous mammal that lived 24 to 20 million years ago. This primitive animal, related to the group that includes modern seals, sea lions and the walrus, is entirely… read more →
Could trees replace tundra in Canada’s Arctic? Perhaps, according to a new report to be released by 35 of the world’s top forestry scientists. (see press release) While warmer temperatures from global warming will spell destruction for forests in places like the Western US, southern Europe and Australia, Canada’s treeline may expand northward. From the Globe and Mail: Warmer temperatures will be a boon to woodlands in northern countries, as will the presence of increased carbon dioxide in the air, which will act as a type of natural fertilizer for tree growth in the Arctic. Besides Baffin Island, forests will be able to spread to most of the Hudson Bay coastline; Southampton Island, perched at the top of Hudson Bay;… read more →