Ecological dimensions
Environmental constraints
Threatened animal species - Polar Bear range
The success of this tourism operation is reliant on access to polar bears. If sightings are too few, visitors will become dissatisfied.
Western and Southern Hudson Bay, along with other locations such as Baffin Bay, Davis Strait, and Foxe Basin experience seasonal ice coverage. At the southern edge of a polar bear's range, polar bears access seasonal ice areas for hunting. When ice melts entirely in summer, bears have to wait for ice to freeze to be able to hunt again.
Polar bears are attracted to Churchill in the ice free season, in search of food. They are attracted by seasonal berries and often food scraps in rubbish. As sea ice is melting faster each year, polar bears are spending more time on land, thus increasing human and bear interactions.
Click to examine the polar bear tracker in Hudson Bay.
Click to read Life in the "Polar Bear Capital of the World"
Click to view Infographic: Polar bears in peril.
The creation of the Wapusk National Park was created in an effort to protect the natural environment and ensure tourist businesses abide by local treaties related to hunting rights of local aboriginal peoples.
The success of this tourism operation is reliant on access to polar bears. If sightings are too few, visitors will become dissatisfied.
Western and Southern Hudson Bay, along with other locations such as Baffin Bay, Davis Strait, and Foxe Basin experience seasonal ice coverage. At the southern edge of a polar bear's range, polar bears access seasonal ice areas for hunting. When ice melts entirely in summer, bears have to wait for ice to freeze to be able to hunt again.
Polar bears are attracted to Churchill in the ice free season, in search of food. They are attracted by seasonal berries and often food scraps in rubbish. As sea ice is melting faster each year, polar bears are spending more time on land, thus increasing human and bear interactions.
Click to examine the polar bear tracker in Hudson Bay.
Click to read Life in the "Polar Bear Capital of the World"
Click to view Infographic: Polar bears in peril.
The creation of the Wapusk National Park was created in an effort to protect the natural environment and ensure tourist businesses abide by local treaties related to hunting rights of local aboriginal peoples.
Climate
Climate change
Climate change is resulting in a milder, shorter winter season and longer, warmer summers. Average yearly arctic temperatures are increasing. The shrubs are growing taller on the tundra and the surface temperature of water in Hudson Bay has increased by 3 degrees in the past 20 years. Climate change is likely to change migratory patterns, population numbers and physical characteristics of species.
Click to examine the Climate Atlas of Canada.
The reduction in the thickness of sea ice, is making it difficult for polar bears to hunt for their primary dietary staple seals. In turn, this is changing polar bear feeding patterns, migration paths and many are experiencing a reduction in body weight. Bears are staying on shore longer to wait for the ice to form.
Migratory birds are changing their movement patterns.
If tourist attractions such as polar bears and beluga whale disappear, the tourist operations in the area will not be economically viable.
Tourism is also partly reliant on affordable, regular transport into Churchill. As permafrost melts as a result of climate change the ground becomes less stable, making maintenance of the railway between Winnipeg and Churchill less viable (assuming that it actually reopens).
Click to read As polar bears wait, let's talk about ice.
Thawing permafrost
Increased temperatures are resulting in sea ice melts and reduced ice cover on Hudson Bay. As a result the length of shipping seasons could increase providing opportunities for increased access by water. However, permafrost melts are likely to result in less stable lands impacting on land links such as railway and road developments and maintenance.
Questions:
How can GWBT, a tourism industry located in a low-lying coastal area, prepare for higher sea levels and floods that are expected as a result of climate change?
How will Arctic warming affect animal populations and migration patterns?
What are the consequences of thawing permafrost?
Climate change is resulting in a milder, shorter winter season and longer, warmer summers. Average yearly arctic temperatures are increasing. The shrubs are growing taller on the tundra and the surface temperature of water in Hudson Bay has increased by 3 degrees in the past 20 years. Climate change is likely to change migratory patterns, population numbers and physical characteristics of species.
Click to examine the Climate Atlas of Canada.
The reduction in the thickness of sea ice, is making it difficult for polar bears to hunt for their primary dietary staple seals. In turn, this is changing polar bear feeding patterns, migration paths and many are experiencing a reduction in body weight. Bears are staying on shore longer to wait for the ice to form.
Migratory birds are changing their movement patterns.
If tourist attractions such as polar bears and beluga whale disappear, the tourist operations in the area will not be economically viable.
Tourism is also partly reliant on affordable, regular transport into Churchill. As permafrost melts as a result of climate change the ground becomes less stable, making maintenance of the railway between Winnipeg and Churchill less viable (assuming that it actually reopens).
Click to read As polar bears wait, let's talk about ice.
Thawing permafrost
Increased temperatures are resulting in sea ice melts and reduced ice cover on Hudson Bay. As a result the length of shipping seasons could increase providing opportunities for increased access by water. However, permafrost melts are likely to result in less stable lands impacting on land links such as railway and road developments and maintenance.
Questions:
How can GWBT, a tourism industry located in a low-lying coastal area, prepare for higher sea levels and floods that are expected as a result of climate change?
How will Arctic warming affect animal populations and migration patterns?
What are the consequences of thawing permafrost?
Human impacts
The polar bear tourist industry has developed from a one tundra vehicle operation to a large-scale mega-fauna industry.
Human-Wildlife interactions
While activities are intended to minimise human impacts on wildlife, the actions of individuals are difficult to predict and control. Some passengers, in trying to attract the attention of bears for better photographs may bang on the side of the tundra buggy, hiss or whistle to encourage the bear to move. Bears are exposed to the tundra vehicles from around 9am to 3pm each day. In periods where there are low polar bear numbers, multiple vehicles will crowd around the one bear or family of bears.
Damage to vegetation
In attempts to ensure polar bear viewing tundra buggies may use any tracks or trails that are available rather than using the roads designed for the purpose. This could result in erosion of tracks or destruction of vegetation.
Questions:
What kinds of tourist activities take place and what impacts do they have on this environmentally sensitive destination?
What kinds of activities may be possible in the future, what impacts could they have, and how could they be controlled?
The polar bear tourist industry has developed from a one tundra vehicle operation to a large-scale mega-fauna industry.
Human-Wildlife interactions
While activities are intended to minimise human impacts on wildlife, the actions of individuals are difficult to predict and control. Some passengers, in trying to attract the attention of bears for better photographs may bang on the side of the tundra buggy, hiss or whistle to encourage the bear to move. Bears are exposed to the tundra vehicles from around 9am to 3pm each day. In periods where there are low polar bear numbers, multiple vehicles will crowd around the one bear or family of bears.
Damage to vegetation
In attempts to ensure polar bear viewing tundra buggies may use any tracks or trails that are available rather than using the roads designed for the purpose. This could result in erosion of tracks or destruction of vegetation.
Questions:
What kinds of tourist activities take place and what impacts do they have on this environmentally sensitive destination?
What kinds of activities may be possible in the future, what impacts could they have, and how could they be controlled?
Ecological sustainability
Carrying capacity: In the case of tourism, carrying capacity refers to the number of visitors or activities that can take place in an area without environmental degradation occurring.
Strategies used by White Bear tours to reduce their environmental impact:
- fuel-efficient vehicles (burn an average 12-15 gallons (45 - 57 litres) of fuel per day - diesel engines, low gear rations
- vehicles that minimse compaction the ground - 4lbs per square inch (approx 2.5.cm) in ground pressure.
- waste minimisation through using reusable and biodegradable products.
- supporting environmental advocacy programs - in association with Natural Habitation Adventures who partner with WWF.
As the industry attempts to accommodate more visitors, it is possible that the environmental quality of the location will decline over time. This can impact the attractiveness of the area. A decline in tundra vegetation could impact the perceptions of tourists and residents about the sustainability of the activity.
Questions:
Can tourism contribute to the protection of the natural environment?
What restrictions are and should be put in place in this environmentally sensitive area?
Given the environmentally sensitive nature of the environments around Churchill, do you think the region effectively balances access to and protection of the sites?
Carrying capacity: In the case of tourism, carrying capacity refers to the number of visitors or activities that can take place in an area without environmental degradation occurring.
Strategies used by White Bear tours to reduce their environmental impact:
- fuel-efficient vehicles (burn an average 12-15 gallons (45 - 57 litres) of fuel per day - diesel engines, low gear rations
- vehicles that minimse compaction the ground - 4lbs per square inch (approx 2.5.cm) in ground pressure.
- waste minimisation through using reusable and biodegradable products.
- supporting environmental advocacy programs - in association with Natural Habitation Adventures who partner with WWF.
As the industry attempts to accommodate more visitors, it is possible that the environmental quality of the location will decline over time. This can impact the attractiveness of the area. A decline in tundra vegetation could impact the perceptions of tourists and residents about the sustainability of the activity.
Questions:
Can tourism contribute to the protection of the natural environment?
What restrictions are and should be put in place in this environmentally sensitive area?
Given the environmentally sensitive nature of the environments around Churchill, do you think the region effectively balances access to and protection of the sites?