Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2020
Authors
Stine Samsonstuen Bente Aspeholen Åby Paul Crosson Karen A. Beauchemin Marit Smith Wetlesen Helge Bonesmo Laila AassAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Hainie Zha Yuxin Miao Tiantian Wang Yue Li Jing Zhang Weichao Sun Zhengqi Feng Krzysztof KusnierekAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Kaare Magne Nielsen Yngvild Wasteson Siamak Pour Yazdankhah Øivind Bergh Ole Martin Eklo Erik J. Joner Elisabeth Henie Madslien Pål Trosvik Bjørnar YtrehusAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Eli Knispel Rueness Maria Gulbrandsen Asmyhr Hugo de Boer Katrine Eldegard Lars Robert Hole Kjetil Hindar Johanna Järnegren Kyrre Linné Kausrud Lawrence Richard Kirkendall Inger Elisabeth Måren Erlend Birkeland Nilsen Anders Nielsen Eva Bonsak Thorstad Gaute VelleAbstract
Key words: Ursus maritimus, CITES, polar bear, Non-Detriment Finding, Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment, Norwegian Environment Agency, VKM Background: Canada is the only nation in the world that allows commercial export of polar bear products harvested from its own wild populations. Norway is among the destinations for exported material. Polar bears are listed on CITES appendix II and on list B of the Norwegian CITES Regulation. Import of harvested polar bears to Norway requires both export permits from the Canadian CITES authorities and import permits from the Norwegian Environment Agency. Consequently, a Non-Detriment Finding (NDF) is mandated and was commissioned by the Norwegian Environment Agency (Norwegian Management Authority for CITES) to the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) (Norway’s CITES Scientific Authority). The NDF is a scientific risk assessment evaluating whether or not international trade can be detrimental to the survival of polar bears. The risk assessment may also be used by the Norwegian Environment Agency to assess whether the polar bears should be placed on Norwegian CITES list A. Currently, the IUCN/SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group (PBSG) recognizes 19 subpopulations of polar bears in the circumpolar Arctic, of which 13 reside wholly (9) or partly (4) in Canada. Together, these 13 populations account for about two thirds of the world’s total polar bear population. This risk assessment considers the populations that are within the hunting areas. Methods: VKM has reviewed current knowledge about polar bear biological characteristics, population status and trends in subpopulations. Scenarios for the future development of the Arctic environment, to which the species is inextricably adapted, are presented. Habitat loss due to declining sea ice is widely recognized as the main threat to polar bears, and this, as well as other obstacles to the species survival, has been evaluated. The various legislations, regulations and monitoring regimes of the range countries are briefly summarised. Moreover, international trade in polar bear products has been analysed. VKM has further undertaken an assessment of data quality and uncertainties. In order to gain access to the most recent information on polar bear biology and management, four scientists from the PBSG were interviewed and the transcripts of the interviews (with consent from the hearing experts) are attached to this report. Results: The best scientific knowledge available for polar bears in Canada suggests that four subpopulations are in decline, two are stable, and one is increasing, while the population trends for the remaining subpopulations are unknown. Noteworthy, all the estimates of population size are highly uncertain. Survey methods also changed between the 2008 and 2018 population estimates used for quota setting. Moreover, data are in most areas collected too infrequently to detect rapid changes in population size. Particularly, under changing environmental conditions. The prognosis for the Arctic marine environment points towards continuing habitat loss and inevitably further decline for the polar bear population. Analyses of data from the CITES trade database reveal a dynamic international market for polar bear products with significant changes in destination countries and the purpose for transactions. The United States was the main importer of polar bear products, mainly hunting trophies, until listing the polar bear as a threatened species in 2008. In more recent years, China has become the major importer, with hides being the preferred product. Simultaneously with these changes, there has been a significant increase in the price of polar bear hides. Conclusion: Several polar bear subpopulations are in decline. Predictions of continuing habitat loss points to further decline. While not the main threat to polar bear survival, international trade .......
Authors
Johan A. Stenberg Anders Nielsen Per Hans Micael Wendell Beatrix Alsanius Paal Krokene Christer Magnusson Mogens Nicolaisen Iben M. Thomsen Sandra A. I. Wright Trond RafossAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Elena Albertsen Øystein H. Opedal Geir Hysing Bolstad Rocio Perez-Barrales Thomas F Hansen Christophe Pelabon William Scott ArmbrusterAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Kjetil Hindar Lars Robert Hole Kyrre Linné Kausrud Martin Malmstrøm Espen Rimstad Lucy Robertson Odd Terje Sandlund Eva Bonsak Thorstad Knut Vollset Hugo de Boer Katrine Eldegard Johanna Järnegren Lawrence Richard Kirkendall Inger Elisabeth Måren Erlend Birkeland Nilsen Eli Knispel Rueness Anders Nielsen Gaute VelleAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
François Lefèvre Ricardo Alía Kjersti Bakkebø Fjellstad Lars Graudal Silvio Daniele Oggioni Mari Rusanen Giovanni Giuseppe Vendramin Michele BozzanoAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Kjersti Bakkebø FjellstadAbstract
No abstract has been registered