Species News

US Designates Polar Bear Critical Habitat, Creating Some Breathing Space for the Speciese

For Release: Oct 22, 2009

Steve Ertel
steve.ertel@wwfus.org
(202) 495-4562

Washington, DC, October 22, 2009 &ndash WWF applauds today’s announcement of the proposed designation of key areas of polar bear habitat across Alaska by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The requirement for the identification of “critical habitat” was triggered by the listing of polar bears as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in 2008.

“Designation of critical habitat affords important protections to the polar bear, a species imperiled by dramatic changes in its sea ice environment,” says Geoff York, senior program officer for Polar Bear Conservation at WWF. “As sea ice habitat shrinks, it becomes increasingly important to protect areas that are crucial for the bears’ survival.”

The critical habitat proposal announced today identifies habitat in three separate areas or units: barrier island habitat, sea ice habitat and terrestrial denning habitat. The total area proposed for designation would cover approximately 200,541 square miles and is found entirely within the lands and waters of the United States. Barrier island habitat includes coastal barrier islands and spits along Alaska’s coast, and is used for denning, refuge from human disturbances, access to maternal dens and feeding habitat, as well as travel along the coast. Sea ice habitat is located over the continental shelf, and includes water 300m and less in depth. Terrestrial denning habitat includes lands within 32 km (about 20 miles) of the northern coast of Alaska between the Canadian border and the Kavik River and within 8 km (about 5 miles) between the Kavik River and Barrow.

WWF works around the Arctic with local communities, scientists and governments to enhance polar bear conservation, protect their habitat, and ensure sustainable populations. WWF encourages the Department of the Interior to ensure that the views of local people are incorporated in the designation of critical habitat areas.

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