Polar Bears: Tranditional Knowledge vs. Scientific Knowledge

Polar bears are divided into 19 distinct populations throughout the Arctic. The Baffin Bay population is generally agreed to be the most fragile and one of the best studied. Today there are 1,500 polar bear where a decade ago, there were about 5,000.

At present, there is great tension over how many polar bears should be hunted this winter, as reported in this week's Economist. Canadian scientists recommended 64, but the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, an Inuit-controlled body, decided upon 105. The Baffin bears often roam into Greenland, which set its own quota at 68. This brings the total potential take to 173-- more than 10% of the current estimated population. That's a lot for a long-lived species with low reproductive rates.

Nunavut was established in 1999. The treaties between Nunavut and the Canadian federal government make it clear that conventional science should not influence decision-making any more than "traditional knowledge". Greenland was granted home rule from Denmark in 1979 and has not participated in the scientific or traditional knowledge dialogue. Both Nunavut and Greenland savor their independence. Cross boarder communication and information exchange is essential if these two nascent entities want to preserve their credibility in wildlife management during a time of climate uncertainty.