Russia hosts meeting on polar bears

Canada’s minister of the environment will represent Canada this week at the Polar Bear Range States meeting in Russia.
The Polar Bear Range States (Canada, the United States, Denmark, Norway and Russia) meet every two years to discuss polar bear management and conservation.
“Our Government is committed to proper conservation of the polar bear, while ensuring that the rights of Aboriginal peoples who continue to rely on the polar bear for food, clothing and livelihood are maintained and respected,” said Leona Aglukkaq, Canada’s minister of the environment and minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, in a press release on Monday.
Aglukkaq is also minister for the Arctic Council, an organization which Canada currently chairs.
The Polar Bear Range States signed an agreement on the conservation of polar bears in 1973.
The Russia meeting runs from December 4-6.
Related Link:
How many polar bears live in the Arctic?, Alaska Dispatch
Medvedev establishes environmental buffer zone around Wrangel Island, Blog by Mia Bennett