Russian ecologists and scientists have left for Island Vaigach to study the impact of climate change on the fauna of the extraordinary natural reserve established in 2007.
Vaigach Island together with Novaya Zemlya is one of the largest archipelagos in the Russian Arctic. It is on the border between Europe and Asia since it is the continuation of the Ural Ridge. The island is between the Pechora Sea and the Kara Sea. A summer shipping route passes near the island, but one can reach the island only by a helicopter, which flies once in three months. Although there are various plants and animals on the island no research has been conducted yet.
The island has the largest bird colony in the western sector of the Russian Arctic. The island's surrounding seas are home to many marine mammals such as walruses, seals and whales. The number of these animals is very small and many species are on the brink of extinction. Polar bears also come to the island from the north.
The nature in the Arctic is fragile and very sensitive even to a slight climate change and all this affects the behaviour of animals, says an official of the WWF Russia’s the Barents Sea division, Tatyana Baeva.
“Polar bears have often come to the settlements in search for food even in the past,” says Tatyana Baeva. “Migration season of animals has changed as ice started to melt fast. Local people also feel this misbalance. Monitoring maps were drawn ten years ago and the scientists plan to gather information about the present situation and compare with them. Although the time period is short, the analysis will show the rate of change,” Tatyana Baeva said.
The 12-member expedition includes the experts of the World Wildlife Fund and ecologists from Russian institutes. They will divide into two groups. One will study flora and bird colony staying in a field camp in the north-west of the island. The other will stay at the only settlement Varnek. The ecologists will study polar bear and walrus and will work with the local people. Tatyana Baeva hopes that local people will help the expedition to register these rare animals.
The outcome of the expedition will be a management plan of the reserve on Vaigach Island. This will include nature protection measures and the development of the ecological tourism on the island.
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