Circumpolar Ecosystems 2000

Abstract

During February 2000, the Churchill Northern Studies Centre hosted the Fourth Circumpolar Ecosystems Conference and Workshop. ..., the objective of the Circumpolar Ecosystems meeting was to bring together Northerners and scientists to exchange information and discuss relevant options for sharing indigenous knowledge and scientific research. This has been done in the traditional winter environment that dominates northern processes and lifestyles. A number of themes were developed at the meeting. One theme was adaptation to the changing climate. Although in general the ongoing warming has brought a decline in the period of annual snow and ice cover, the timing of seasons has become unpredictable. Changes in large-scale atmospheric circulation have been associated with a greater input of contaminants from southern latitudes, which is a major cause of concern. Another theme was that the approach to the coastal marine environments must be consolidated. For example, aspects of the Hudson Bay ecosystem involve the jurisdictions of three provinces and one territory, as well as aboriginal, federal, and international jurisdictions. It was suggested that a cooperative framework is needed in approaching systems like that of Hudson Bay. The final theme was that we need strong north-south communication and the establishment of a comprehensive northern ecological monitoring and assessment network in support of the issues relating to the other themes. The discussions relating specifically to Hudson Bay have been published by the Churchill Northern Studies Centre (2000) as a report entitled "Addressing Climate Change in Hudson Bay: An Integrated Approach." ...