Polar bears : proceedings of the twelfth Working meeting of the IUCN/SSC Polar Bear Specialist Group, 3-7 February 1997, Oslo, Norway

These 12th proceedings provide an overview of the ongoing research and management activities on polar bears on the circumpolar Arctic. Together with the previous proceedings, they provide an historic record of the international effort in protecting polar bears from over-harvest, and document more recent concerns of threats arising as a consequence of increased human activities in both the Arctic and in regions far beyond the realm of polar bears. Research and management issues pertaining to polar bears are becoming increasingly more complex. Two of the most important current concerns are the impacts of toxic chemicals and the potential impacts of global climate change. Extensive discussions during the meeting provided new opportunities for international cooperation on these issues