Focus on Conservation of Polar Bears

Norway has invited the countries behind the 1973 polar bear Agreement to a meeting of the parties in Tromsø 17 - 19 March 2009. The meeting will be the first of its kind since 1981 where the countries decided that the agreement should be maintained indefinitely.

The background for the meeting is another meeting in 2007 where the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service convened a meeting of competent polar bear authorities to exchange information on polar bear research and management programs, the status of the polar bear populations, and to consider recommendations for additional national or collective measures to conserve the species.

It is intended that the 2009 meeting should focus on improved conservation of polar bears and their habitats, and in particular growing concerns over reduced sea-ice extent and industrial activities in polar bear habitats.

Polar bears are widespread in Svalbard, Russia, East Greenland and North America. In the Norwegian and Russian Arctic hunting of polar bear is illegal whereas hunting is regulated by quotas in other areas

The world's polar bear population is estimated to be 20-25 000 animals. Polar bears can live to be over 30 years old and are able to migrate several thousand kilometres in a year or stay within a small area for months.