Building platforms to save polar bears
WWF appreciates your concern for the polar bears and recognition that creative measures are needed. At this point the most important thing to be done is to reduce the human CO2 “footprint” which is contributing to the loss of the sea ice.
Many people have suggested the construction of floating artificial platforms and we've conferred with some of the leading polar bear biologists on this. Unfortunately, we don't think building platforms is a viable solution. The ice is an entire ecosystem inhabited by plankton and micro-organisms, which support a rich food chain that nourishes seals, that in turn, become prey for polar bears. Additionally, the Arctic Ocean is a vast, enormous space and it would be difficult to replace the equally vast summer ice ecosystem.
There are certainly other things people can do: support the use of more clean energy and less coal and oil; oppose the proposal to drill in America’s offshore areas, especially in the Arctic Ocean; and support WWF’s efforts to take these steps as well. WWF has helped to introduce federal legislation called the “Polar Bear Seas Protection Act” which would slow offshore oil development in the Arctic until strong evidence was available showing that an oil spill could be contained and that cumulative impacts of the development would not harm wildlife. WWF is also working on the ground with communities in advance of what will be increasing human-bear conflict. With less time on ice, some bears may spend more time on land, and we need to help both bears and people find a way to live together.
We appreciate your thought and desire to help polar bears. Please consider making a donation to WWF at www.worldwildlife.org/donate to help us further pursue this cause together. Please visit our website for more information on WWF and our work with polar bears.
Many people have suggested the construction of floating artificial platforms and we've conferred with some of the leading polar bear biologists on this. Unfortunately, we don't think building platforms is a viable solution. The ice is an entire ecosystem inhabited by plankton and micro-organisms, which support a rich food chain that nourishes seals, that in turn, become prey for polar bears. Additionally, the Arctic Ocean is a vast, enormous space and it would be difficult to replace the equally vast summer ice ecosystem.
There are certainly other things people can do: support the use of more clean energy and less coal and oil; oppose the proposal to drill in America’s offshore areas, especially in the Arctic Ocean; and support WWF’s efforts to take these steps as well. WWF has helped to introduce federal legislation called the “Polar Bear Seas Protection Act” which would slow offshore oil development in the Arctic until strong evidence was available showing that an oil spill could be contained and that cumulative impacts of the development would not harm wildlife. WWF is also working on the ground with communities in advance of what will be increasing human-bear conflict. With less time on ice, some bears may spend more time on land, and we need to help both bears and people find a way to live together.
We appreciate your thought and desire to help polar bears. Please consider making a donation to WWF at www.worldwildlife.org/donate to help us further pursue this cause together. Please visit our website for more information on WWF and our work with polar bears.
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