Description

Abstract on Country Management and Harvest Report - Greenland

The report is an outline for the framework, legislation, and management practices for polar bear (Ursus Maritimus) Conservation and sustainable use in Greenland for the period of 2023-2025.
The polar bear has a deeply rooted socioeconomic, cultural and ecological importance in Greenland, particularly for communities in the Northwestern and East Greenland. The document details the co-management system between local users, municipalities, and the Government of Greenland, emphasizing the integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) with scientific advice in quota setting and policy decisions.

The legal foundation is based on the 2023 Hunting and Game Act. No 34 and the updated Executive order on the Protection and hunting of polar bears og March 2023. Updates include the recognition of a new Southeast Greenland polar bear subpopulation, provisions for limited tourism, revised rules on problem bears and self-defense, and continually strengthened reporting and monitoring systems.

Greenland manages six polar bear subpopulations, wherein three are shared with Canada/Nunavut. Quota-based harvest regulation and comprehensive catch reporting, though both licensing and annual systems through the booklet “Piniarneq”, are the cornerstone of the Greenlandic sustainability management. Additionally, cooperating with the Greenlandic Institute of Natural Resources (GINR) ensures providing biological monitoring, as well as genetic sampling of harvested bears.

Internationally, Greenland engages in co-management through the Canada -Greenland Joint Commission (JCPB), participates in the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group, and upholds obligations under the 1973 Oslo Agreements on conservation of polar bears and CITES. While climate change remains, the major challenge affecting their habitat and the sea-ice conditions, Greenland continues to focus on adaptive management, community engagement and balanced use of scientific as well as local knowledge to ensure long-team conservation of polar bear populations.