Protecting Ecosystems at the Frontline of Climate Change

• April 16, 2025

The Arctic region stands at a critical crossroads, experiencing warming at a rate nearly four times faster than the global average. This unprecedented rate of change is dramatically reshaping landscapes, altering ecological balances, and threatening biodiversity in one of Earth’s most unique environments.

Every species of animal and plant that lives or breeds in the Arctic is experiencing dramatic change, enduring extreme weather, shrinking habitats, decreased food availability, and competition from invading southern species.

As the polar region transforms rapidly, innovative conservation strategies and collaborative approaches become increasingly vital to protect these fragile ecosystems for future generations.

The Accelerating Crisis in Arctic Ecosystems

The Arctic is experiencing environmental changes at an alarming pace, with impacts cascading throughout marine and terrestrial ecosystems alike. Over the past 40 years, the Arctic Ocean has lost approximately 75% of its sea ice volume during the summer melt season, resulting in sea ice extent and thickness reductions by half on average.

The Arctic Ocean is projected to experience its first ice-free events in the near future, most likely before 2050, potentially as early as the late 2020s or early 2030s. This would represent an unprecedented change with no parallel in the last 700,000 years, threatening species like polar bears that depend on sea ice for survival.These dramatic alterations are affecting wildlife across the region in profound ways.

Walruses, which have traversed the Arctic for millennia resting on drifting pack ice, now huddle on overcrowded shorelines as sea ice disappears. This shift has deadly consequences, particularly for young calves, which are regularly trampled during panicked stampedes by adults weighing over one tonne. On the Arctic tundra, lemmings struggle to eat, nest, and move during winter months as they endure increasing “weather whiplash”, severe fluctuations in temperature, snow, and rain patterns.

As the tundra warms, its soil becomes more hospitable to earthworms and larger plants, with boreal forests gradually extending northward. This vegetation shift increases vulnerability to wildfires, which take longer to recover from than in other regions. Beavers are also expanding their range into Arctic rivers, with their dams contributing to increased methane emissions due to the creation of stagnant waters.

Biodiversity Adaptations and Vulnerabilities

Arctic species have evolved remarkable adaptations to survive in extreme conditions, but these adaptations may now limit their ability to respond to rapid warming. Many plant species possess characteristics that enable them to endure short snow-free growing seasons, low solar angles, permafrost, low soil temperatures, limited nutrient availability, and physical disturbance.

Similarly, terrestrial Arctic animals have developed adaptations to persist under a wide range of temperatures, with many escaping unfavourable weather and resource shortages through winter dormancy or migration. Even microorganisms display extraordinary resilience, with some capable of metabolising at temperatures as low as -39°C. Cyanobacteria and algae have developed wide-ranging adaptive strategies to minimise UV injury.

However, despite these remarkable adaptations, the rate of environmental change is now exceeding the capacity of many species to adapt. Researchers note that while species can evolve over time, Arctic ecosystem alterations are occurring too rapidly for many animals to adjust, making it difficult to predict which species will prevail, which will perish, and where.

Terrestrial Arctic animals appear most vulnerable to:Warmer and drier summersClimatic changes interfering with migration routes and staging areasAltered snow conditions and freeze-thaw cycles in winterClimate-induced disruption of seasonal timing for reproduction and developmentInflux of new competitors, predators, parasites, and diseases

Indigenous Leadership in Arctic Conservation

Indigenous communities across the Arctic are increasingly taking leadership roles in conservation efforts, bringing invaluable traditional knowledge that spans generations. These communities are challenging colonial conceptions of how lands, waters, and species should be used, managed, and protected. Indigenous approaches often differ significantly from conventional conservation methods, focusing instead on local priorities, traditional practices, sovereignty, and self-determination.

Successful examples of Indigenous-led conservation include the 2019 designation of Tallurutiup Imanga National Marine Conservation Area in Canada and the emergence of other Indigenous-led protected areas such as Pikialasorsuaq.

These initiatives set important precedents for conservation approaches where Indigenous communities are direct beneficiaries of protected area establishment and management.In the Arctic, motivations around Indigenous food sovereignty and security have uniquely shaped conservation efforts.

Indigenous communities are leading wildlife protection through innovative management strategies, protected area establishment, and the development of biodiversity observing and monitoring programmes. For example, in Sanikiluaq (Nunavut), Inuit hunters and community members documented a mass winter die-off of common eider ducks in 1992 before inviting scientists to collaborate on studying eider winter ecology and population recovery.

Another notable example is the community-based monitoring of goose nesting density in Coral Harbour (Salliq), Nunavut. This initiative arose from a key recommendation from the 2018 Light Goose Management Workshop that brought together Inuit leaders alongside scientists and decision-makers to co-develop management strategies.

Such collaborative approaches place Indigenous knowledge at the forefront of adaptation efforts while providing real-time information reflective of conditions on the ground that might otherwise be unavailable at actionable spatial or temporal scales.

Innovative Strategies for Ecosystem Restoration

Facing unprecedented challenges requires innovative solutions. Several initiatives are deploying cutting-edge approaches to restore and protect Arctic biodiversity:
PHAROS’s Arctic-Focused Restoration and Conservation Efforts The PHAROS project, led by the Canary Islands Ocean Platform (PLOCAN) and funded with nearly €9.5 million by the European Union, addresses critical challenges in Arctic and Atlantic marine ecosystems, including ice loss and invasive species (PHAROS Project, 2024).

As part of the EU’s Ocean Mission, PHAROS aims to restore biodiversity through nature-based solutions (NbS) that mitigate climate change impacts and human activities. The Arctic’s rapid ice loss, driven by warming at quadruple the global average, threatens species dependent on sea ice, such as polar bears, while destabilising marine food webs (CMCC Foundation, 2024; EFFECTIVE Synergies, 2025). PHAROS tackles these issues by integrating NbS—such as habitat restoration and sustainable aquaculture—into conservation strategies designed to enhance ecosystem resilience across the Arctic basin (PHAROS Project, 2024).

A cornerstone of PHAROS’s approach is its multi-layered demonstration in Gran Canaria, which combines NbS with Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) to replicate natural ecosystems (Bantry Marine Research Station, 2024). IMTA synergistically cultivates species like macroalgae, fish, and shellfish, creating symbiotic relationships that boost biodiversity while supporting local economies through high-value aquaculture products (PHAROS Project, 2024; CMCC Foundation, 2024). This method not only restores degraded marine habitats but also reduces overfishing pressures and enhances carbon sequestration, indirectly mitigating Arctic ice loss by addressing broader climate drivers (PHAROS Project, 2024).

By 2029, PHAROS aims to scale these demonstrations across the Arctic, aligning with the EU’s goal of a carbon-neutral blue economy by 2030 (EFFECTIVE Synergies, 2025).Invasive species, exacerbated by warming Arctic waters, are another priority. PHAROS collaborates with the H2020 ECOTIP project in Iceland to deploy environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring, a tool that identifies and tracks invasive species non-invasively (CMCC Foundation, 2024; Bantry Marine Research Station, 2024).

This initiative, part of PHAROS’s four Arctic-Atlantic demonstrations, empowers local communities to manage biodiversity threats while integrating Indigenous knowledge with cutting-edge science (PHAROS Project, 2024). By bridging the EU Mission’s piloting (2025) and deployment (2026–2030) phases, PHAROS ensures that solutions like eDNA monitoring and IMTA are scaled effectively, safeguarding Arctic ecosystems against irreversible ecological shifts (EFFECTIVE Synergies, 2025).

ArcNet: A Network Approach to Marine Conservation

ArcNet (Arctic Ocean Network of Priority Areas for Conservation) represents the world’s first effort to conduct marine conservation planning at the scale of an entire ocean. Initiated by WWF in 2017, this innovative approach recognises that isolated protected areas do not account for the dynamic, interconnected nature of ocean life.

The network has two primary goals: identifying an ecologically representative, well-connected network of Priority Areas for Conservation that supports resilience and long-term biodiversity conservation across the entire Arctic marine environment; and ensuring these analyses help define, implement, and manage a conservation network in the Arctic Ocean.

By taking this comprehensive, ecosystem-based approach, ArcNet aims to preserve the Arctic Ocean’s critical role in moderating global climate while supporting the cultural identity, food security, and livelihoods of the region’s 4 million residents.

BioProtect Initiative

Launched in 2024, the EU-funded BioProtect initiative brings together 18 partners from 8 countries to develop adaptive, scalable ecosystem-centred solutions for safeguarding and restoring biodiversity from the Arctic to the Atlantic Ocean. The project will consolidate these solutions into an Area-Based Management Decision Support Framework (ABM-DSF), which will be demonstrated at five study sites across Europe, including Norway and Iceland.Through collaborative research, innovation, and strategic partnerships, BioProtect aims to address the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to mitigate human-induced pressures and climate change impacts on marine ecosystems. The project actively engages stakeholders and citizens in the decision-making process, empowering them to participate directly in marine ecosystem protection and restoration efforts.

Technology Integration in Conservation

Innovation extends to technological solutions as well. New approaches include using drones to study whales through their “snot” and deploying sailing robots to capture climate data in the Arctic Ocean. Another example is SmartICE, a technology developed in Canada that helps monitor ice conditions, supporting safe travel in increasingly unpredictable Arctic environments.

These technological innovations complement traditional knowledge systems. For instance, initiatives blending Indigenous Knowledge with artificial intelligence are enabling better adaptation to changing conditions in the Arctic. Similarly, partnerships with Alaskan Native villages are helping design climate-resilient homes suited to the unique challenges of the changing Arctic environment.

The Path Forward: Challenges and Promising Directions

Despite these innovative efforts, formidable challenges remain in protecting Arctic ecosystems. Researchers emphasise that ultimately, the only action that could truly limit future extinctions is to rapidly reduce fossil fuel consumption—the primary driver of climate change.

Without such decisive action, the Arctic is expected to become “profoundly different” by 2050, with transformations that could be irreversible for centuries or even millennia. Several promising directions are emerging to strengthen Arctic conservation

Enhanced Protected Area Networks

Expanding protected area coverage across Arctic marine and terrestrial environments is crucial. The Arctic Council, through its Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) working group, has pursued initiatives to designate both terrestrial and marine protected areas. Efforts like the Circumpolar Ecological Corridors Network (CP-ECONET) aim to develop interconnected protected areas that facilitate species movement and adaptation.

Ecosystem-Based Management

Implementing ecosystem-based management approaches that consider the full range of interactions within ecosystems, including human activities, is increasingly important. Such approaches require:Preservation and use of traditional knowledge and cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples; Analysis of global change impacts on Arctic ecosystems and species; Assessment of restoration ecology techniques for ecosystems affected by anthropogenic activities such as oil and gas exploration, mining, and transport.

International Cooperation

The transboundary nature of Arctic challenges necessitates strong international cooperation. Organisations like the Arctic Council provide crucial forums for collaborative action. With eight Arctic nations and six Indigenous Permanent Participant organisations, the Council facilitates research, monitoring, and policy development across national boundaries.

Indigenous-Centred Approaches

Centering Indigenous communities in conservation efforts requires recognising their sovereignty and supporting community-level initiatives. Direction on overcoming conservation challenges is best given by Indigenous communities, scholars, organisations, and governments themselves.

Valuing Indigenous knowledge and supporting community-level strategies brings the benefits of understanding and implementing community priorities, needs, and values through attention to funding, Indigenous-led research and management, and mutual mentorship.

What Happens in the Arctic Influences the Entire Planet

The Arctic stands at a critical juncture, with decisions made today determining the fate of its ecosystems for generations to come. While the challenges are daunting, innovative conservation strategies, particularly those that centre Indigenous leadership and knowledge, offer hope for preserving biodiversity in this vital region.

As guardians of the Arctic, scientists, Indigenous communities, policymakers, and conservation organisations must work together to implement solutions at the necessary scale and speed.

From nature-based solutions to advanced technologies; from marine protected networks to community-based monitoring; diverse approaches will be needed to address the complex challenges of Arctic conservation in a rapidly warming world.The stakes could not be higher.

What happens in the Arctic influences the entire planet. Without urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and implement effective conservation measures, the world will continue to feel the effects of a warming Arctic through rising sea levels, changing temperature and precipitation patterns, and more severe weather events.

By protecting Arctic ecosystems, we protect not just a unique region of extraordinary beauty and cultural significance but our shared global future.

Sources:

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