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The Arctic
Protecting Arctic Environments
A vast area of fjords and tundra, jagged peaks and frozen seas, glaciers and icebergs, and ice and snow, the Arctic is the largest and least fragmented of the inhabited regions on Earth. This immense landscape covers eight countries – the United States, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden – and is one of the most important places on the planet.
The Arctic region of the United States alone makes up one of the world’s most biologically productive and diverse environments. The remarkable waters of the Bering Sea attract marine mammals, such as humpback whales and gray whales, which travel great distances to forage and raise their young. Its fisheries are vital to local communities whose livelihoods depend on fishing and to millions worldwide: More than half of the fish caught in the United States each year come from the Bering Sea.
And nearby, in Russia, the Kamchatka Peninsula’s river systems host the greatest diversity and concentration of salmonoid fish on Earth and produce up to one-quarter of all wild Pacific salmon. The salmon are a biological cornerstone of the ecosystems in which they live and a vital component to the vibrant coastal economies. They provide nourishment to many local communities and species such as the Kamchatka brown bear.
But all parts of the Arctic now face an uncertain future due to threats from overfishing, climate change, toxic pollution, oil and gas exploration and production, and more. Since 1992, we have been working to combat these threats and preserve the Arctic's rich biodiversity so that this special place continues to benefit wildlife and people for generations to come.
Learn more about the Global WWF Arctic Team
WWF vision: Work with governments, business and communities to secure global commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ban potentially catastrophic energy-related operations from the region, eliminate all significant threats to vulnerable and valuable areas of the region, and establish new management regimes of land and sea to cope with climate change.
- The Place. Remote, visually stunning, wild and intact, the Arctic is rich in environmental, economic and cultural values. Its bounty supports great concentrations of wildlife, and vibrant indigenous communities have thrived here for centuries.
The Species. The interdependent relationships among land, sea and species support vast populations of migratory and resident wildlife. From the tiniest plankton to the great Arctic icons, the polar bear and walrus, this region is teeming with wildlife. Fish, foxes, birds, whales, brown bears, reindeer and seals abound.
- The People. For thousands of years, indigenous peoples have been closely tied to the wildlife and habitats around the Arctic. Their rich traditions continue to be part of the human fabric of the ecoregion.
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Climate Change | Forests | Fishing | Aquaculture | Wildlife Trade