Arctic Ocean: Identification of Significant Habitats

A report by IUCN and the NRDC identifies 13 of the richest and most vulnerable places in the Arctic Ocean that should be considered for protection as summer sea ice melts and industrial activity expands into newly accessible areas. Such places include the Bering Strait, Chukchi Beaufort Coast, Barents Sea Coast and Great Siberian Polynya.

The report is the result of a workshop held in November 2010 where 34 scientists and indigenous peoples’ representatives used internationally accepted criteria developed under the auspices of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Publication: Workshop Report: IUCN/NRDC Workshop to Identify Areas of Ecological and Biological Significance or Vulnerability in the Arctic Marine Environment