Mediating Polar Bears - Wapusk National Park

Wapusk National Park is home to the world’s largest concentration of polar bears. Climate change and increased numbers of tour groups are factors impacting polar bears and highlight a need to develop park and resource management approaches. The Park, community and industry asked us to lead them through a consensus based conflict resolution process to address detailed issues such as:

• The management of guns with tour operators and use of guns in the Park sites
• The allocation of polar bear viewing opportunities with tour operators
• The role of the Park and tour operators in providing services
• Safety Management
• Strategies for the parties to effectively work together.

We facilitated the design of a multi-stakeholder process which is now used to guide resource management in the area, resulting in mediated resolutions and collaborative solutions for all.