NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR POLAR BEAR CONSERVATION IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION. Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bear

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1 Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bear NATIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR POLAR BEAR CONSERVATION IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

2 Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bear STRATEGY and ACTION PLAN The Strategy was approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in The Action Plan for the period until 2020 on the implementation of priority actions for the conservation of the Polar Bear, as defined in the Strategy for Polar Bear Conservation in the Russian Federation. 2

3 Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bear NATIONAL OBJECTIVES Conservation of the existing Polar bear populations Minimization of the adverse impacts from anthropogenic factors on Polar bear populations 3

4 Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bear MAIN COMPONENTS Improvement of the legal framework Improvement of the network of PAs Improvement of conservation effectiveness outside PAs Scientific research and monitoring Prevention and resolution of human-bear conflicts Awareness raising & Education Development of international cooperation 4

5 Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bear IMPROVEMENT of the LEGAL FRAMEWORK The most important activities 1. Ensure enforcement of the Russian legislation in order to hold liable the persons accepting illegally taken skins of rare and endangered animals for processing 2. Introduce legal provisions establishing the liability of persons for providing online resources for advertising polar bear skins for sale, and the liability for acquisition of products of illegal hunting of the species 3. Establish a legal basis for the introduction of a labeling system for legally taken Polar bear skins 4. Introduce amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences of the RF increasing fines for poaching and trade in illegally taken Polar bear skins and establishing the differentiated fines depending on the value of the specific area and its protection regime 5. Restore the full-fledged institution of the state environmental impact assessment 6. Provide for further improvement of federal and regional legislation and reparation of sectoral regulations in the field of polar bear conservation Implementation dates According to the inspection schedule Has not been done yet Has not been done yet Done Has not been done yet According to the plans 5

6 IMPROVEMENT of the LEGAL FRAMEWORK. THE MOST IMPORTANT OUTPUTS Amendments on liability for endangered species poaching and trade were approved by the Federal Government The List of the most valuable wildlife and aquatic biological resources related to the species listed in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation and protected by international agreements (including Polar bear) was approved Penalty amount for illegal hunting on Polar bear increased to 1.1 mln. Rubles 6

7 Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bear IMPROVEMENT of the NETWORK of PAs The most important activities 1. Develop a draft scheme of the network of PAs for protection of the most important Polar bear habitats 2. Ensure the creation of a 24-mile marine buffer area around the State Nature Reserve Wrangel Island 3. Ensure the creation on the Arctic coast of regional Natural Monuments Cape Kozhevnikov and Kolyuchin Island (Iultinsky District, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug) 4. Ensure the creation of federal and regional PAs for protection of the most important Polar bear habitats in accordance with approved plans Implementation dates Done Done Has not been done yet Done 7

8 IMPROVEMENT of the of the NETWORK of PAs. THE MOST IMPORTANT OUTPUTS 3 National Parks Beringia, Onezhskoye Pomorie and Shantarskie Ostrova were established in 2013 with total area ha (including ha marine area) and anti-poaching patrols organized Marine buffer area around the State Nature Reserve Wrangel Island was established in PAs with total area ha, including ha - marine area have been organized for Polar bear protection Specialists of PAs hold regular trainings on the methodology of Polar bear protection and survey 8

9 IMPROVEMENT of CONSERVATION EFFECTIVENESS Ilulissat, Greenland, OUTSIDE 1 3 September, PAs 2015 Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bear The most important activities Implementation dates 1. Development of an integrated system for the protection of polar bear habitats taking into account their ecological significance to Polar bear populations, vulnerability, and traditional uses by indigenous communities 2. Ensure effective inspections of the coastal areas and settlements most frequently visited by Polar bears by environmental inspectorates jointly with law enforcement agencies for the purpose of preventing and eliminating poaching 3. Creation and support of the functioning of Bear patrols non-governmental entities aimed at the conservation and management of Polar bear populations and the protection and restoration of their habitats formed of local residents and indigenous populations Has not been done yet annually 4 Develop and implement a system of measures aimed at labeling of legally taken Polar bear skins Has not been done yet 5 Compile in a database (DB) intelligence information on illegal trade in skins of Polar bears and other parts and derivatives thereof, and on transportation of illegally acquired products made from Polar bears; involvement of the local population in collecting necessary information 6. Suppressing the channels of illegal transportation of Polar bear skins, other parts and derivatives, and of illegal trade in Polar bear skins annually Annually 7. Reduction of adverse impacts on the environment and Polar bears associated with the implementation of regional socio-economic development programs 8. Preparation of programs for the development of ecological tourism, aimed at sustainable management of Arctic ecosystems As appropriate Until

10 IMPROVEMENT of CONSERVATION EFFECTIVENESS OUTSIDE PAs. THE MOST IMPORTANT OUTPUTS 2 big commercial companies ROSNEFT and GAZPROM supported Polar Bear conservation and survey Network of Bear Patrols in the Russian Arctic: 10

11 Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bear SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH The most important activities 1. Development and staged implementation of a scientific research program including the following areas: study of the current range of the species and population size; identification of the population structure using molecular genetic and other methods; study of the sex and age distribution and demographic parameters of populations, of spatial and temporal distribution, using satellite telemetry; study of polar bear relationships with humans and other animal species; study of the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors on the population sizes and changes in the Polar bear habitats; study of the areas of increased biological productivity and high density of marine mammals, identification of the key Polar bear habitats. 2. Applied research aimed at minimizing human-bear conflicts, and the implementation of proposed measures 3. Create and complete a database (DB) on Polar bear, based on the results of research and monitoring Implementation dates annually annually annualy 11

12 The most important activities 12 Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bear MONITORING 1. Organizing and conducting the monitoring of Polar bear populations, covering the following parameters: population size, its changes and trends between years; - sex, age, spatial, and social structure of the population and its trend; reproduction rate and its trend; spatial distribution, population density; seasonal and daily movement of Polar bears; physiological condition of the animals; state of the key prey species; concentrations of pollutants accumulated in the organs and tissues of polar bears, and their impact on the organism; the number of legally taken bears of Chukotka-Alaska population 2. Unification and standardization of the following methods of monitoring of Polar bear populations: long-term tagging of animals with subsequent registration; periodic aerial counts of Polar bears; using population condition indices Implementation dates annually As appropriate 6. Organizing long-term tagging of animals with subsequent registration As appropriate 7. The monitoring of Polar bear habitats, covering the following parameters: climatic changes affecting Polar bear habitats; cases of contamination of marine ecosystems with persistent organic pollutants, hydrocarbons and heavy metals; decreases in and/or transformation of habitats as a result of economic activities or climate changes. As appropriate

13 SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND MONITORING. THE MOST IMPORTANT OUTPUTS In regular Arctic expeditions in the Kara Sea, East Siberian Sea, Chukchi Sea and the Laptev Sea for study of environmental factors and the Polar bear biology were organized. 6 automatic meteorological stations in the Arctic islands installed; More than 100 ice plants for seismic observations in the Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, East Siberian Sea and Chukchi Sea organized; Unique set (more than 2 000) of measurements of the Arctic marine ecosystem implemented; A wide range of Polar bear research conducted; Collection of biological samples for laboratory analysis selected; Satellite tagging of Polar bear females organized. 13

14 PREVENTION and RESOLUTION of HUMAN-BEAR CONFLICTS Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bear The most important activities 1. Development and implementation of means of deterring Polar bears at the sites of human settlement and economic activities, development of a system of measures to prevent bears from visiting human settlements and attacking humans 2. Strengthening the oversight of the use of rifled and smooth bore firearms, aircraft and land vehicles in the mainland tundra and on Arctic islands, and of the validity of grounds for killing polar bears 3. Preparation of leaflets, methodological guidelines and instructions on the rules of human behavior in case of a bear encounter, aimed at minimizing human-bear conflicts. 4. Development of recommendations on the rules of storing marine mammal carcasses and dressing products at hunting bases and dressing sites. Development of additional standards for storage of marine mammal carcasses and dressing products at hunting bases and dressing sites Implementation dates as applicable Done 14

15 Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bear AWARENESS RAISING & EDUCATION The most important activities 1. Improvement of information activities aimed at the dissemination of scientifically grounded nature management methods, which guarantee the absence of any damage to Polar bear 2. Promotion of knowledge on the uniqueness of the Polar bear and its biological, ecological, and aesthetic value, promotion of an attitude of care toward the Polar bear, which is a species of particular importance for the preservation of the spiritual culture and habits of indigenous minority peoples 3. Engagement of the local population into supporting measures and actions aimed at polar bear conservation, including research programs, Polar bear monitoring, and activities of Bear patrols 4. Preservation of the spiritual culture and habits of indigenous people, promotion of traditional knowledge, rituals and habits aimed at polar bear conservation and fostering an attitude of respect toward the animal Implementation dates 15

16 PREVENTION of HUMAN-BEAR CONFLICTS & AWARENESS RAISING. THE MOST IMPORTANT OUTPUTS Leaflets on the behavior of Polar bear Instructions on the rules of human behavior in case of Polar bear encounter, aimed at minimizing human-bear conflicts. 16

17 DEVELOPMENT of INTERNATIONAL Ilulissat, COOPERATION Greenland, 1 3 September, 2015 Meeting of the Parties to the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bear The most important activities 1. Fulfillment of the obligations of the RF according to the Russia USA Agreement on the Conservation and Management of the Alaska-Chukotka Polar Bear Population with regard to monitoring, taking, use and handling of Polar bears of the Chukotka-Alaska population 2. Fulfillment of the obligations of the RF according to the 1973 Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears with regard to monitoring of Polar bears of the Kara-Barents and Laptev populations 3. Conduct joint scientific studies of the Polar bear across the entire range of the species with the involvement of Russian and foreign specialists Implementation dates According to the established dates of joint scientific expeditions 4. Develop cooperation with the interested states bordering Russia (Norway etc.) in the field of conservation, study, and monitoring of Polar bear populations 17

18 DEVELOPMENT of INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION. THE MOST IMPORTANT OUTPUTS U.S.-Russia Polar Bear Commission works for conservation and management of the Alaska-Chukotka Polar bear population Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation and the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment on Cooperation on Monitoring of Polar bears in the Barents Sea Region is signed in February,

19 DEVELOPMENT of INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION. THE MOST IMPORTANT OUTPUTS U.S.-Russia Polar Bear Commission The Commission is responsible for implementation of the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation on the Conservation and Management of the Alaska-Chukotka Polar Bear Population Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment if the Russian Federation and the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment on Cooperation on Monitoring of Polar Bears in the Barents Sea Region THANK YOU! 15 Photo: M.Gavrilo, NP Russian Arctic