The North Pacific and the Arctic are places renowned for their unique endemic biological diversity, productive fisheries and rich maritime-adapted cultures. Over the past decade, there has been growing concern in the global community about the rapid transformation occurring in these regions, particularly in the Arctic, due to impacts from climate change. Temperatures in the region are increasing at nearly twice the rate of the rest of the world resulting in a significant loss of sea ice, glaciers and permafrost, as well as weather and ecological changes that are affecting every aspect of life for the four million people who call the region home. Compounding these effects, many arctic communities are coping with pressures to develop their off shore resources and the rapid social and economic changes that continue to impact health and wellbeing of its residents. Setting a new standard for natural resource management, sustainable societies, and conservation in the Arctic during this time of rapid transformation is imperative.
We currently fund organisations in the Gulf of Alaska, the Bering Sea, the Beaufort Sea and the Chukchi Sea. Please see examples of our grants in the Grant Database.
By tapping into the wealth of knowledge, innovation and stewardship practices that have defined the long standing culture traditions in the region, we seek to invest in local and regional conservation efforts that promote healthy and resilient marine ecosystems for the benefit of future generations of Arctic residents. Our main goal is to use precautionary principles and ecosystem-based management tools:
1. To reduce over-fishing and foster community-based stewardship of ocean resources
2. To increase marine environmental and subsistence harvest protection from large-scale industrialisation
3. To improve ocean governance through integrated management approaches