An article about the BPAN project was published in the WWF magazine The Circle. The newest issue carries a theme Protected areas and beyond, focusing on conservation of the unique northern nature. The Barents Protected Area Network (BPAN) project promotes the establishment of a representative cross-border protected area network with a special focus on forests and mires in the region, say coordinators Anna Kuhmonen and Oleg Sutkaitis.
Pristine Khibiny mountains with rare species are currently under threat to be damaged by human activities. (Photo: Anna Kuhmonen)
The vulnerable boreal and arctic nature of the Barents Region is threatened by climate change and loss of biodiversity. Use of natural resources such as forests, peatlands and oil, is increasing. Protected areas have a great potential to conserve biodiversity and slow down the climate change. BPAN promotes the establishment of a representative, diverse and well-connected network of protected areas, with 17 % land and inland areas and 10 % of coastal and marine areas, as agreed under UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
Magazine The Circle is produced by the WWF Global Arctic Programme. It is published four times a year, and is distributed to arctic stakeholders worldwide, including government officials, indigenous organizations, conservationists, scientists, NGOs, libraries, and business executives. The goal is to inform decision-makers, scientists and the interested public about arctic environmental and development issues.
Read more here (WWF web page).