(Press release April 18, 2002)

At a meeting on Tuesday 16 April 2002 the Home Rule Cabinet agreed  to initiate a major information campaign in Greenland on sustainable use of wildlife. furthermore, the Cabinet decided to prepare a specific action plan so as to resolve the problems identified in relation to sustainable use of wildlife.

Background

Through focused international work, the Greenland Home Rule administration has achieved recognition of the right of people in Greenland to harvest the country' s wildlife. However, we are now facing fierce opposition in the international press because of problems  related o our wildlife management. This criticism may have disastrous implications  for our society. We therefore have to take very concrete steps to ensure truly sustainable use of our wildlife.

Greenlands management of its wildlife became the subject of massive criticism in the Danish press upon the publication in Danish of Kjeld Hansen's book "Farvel til Grønlands natur" (A Farewell to Greenland's Wildlife) . The book has now been published in English as well, which has prompted the daily Danish newspapers Jyllandsposten and Information to take up the issue again.  Almost on a daily basis the two  newspapers contain new, extremely critical articles about this issue. Newsweek has publicised an article entitled " Killer Inuit?".

The April issue of BBC Wildlife Magazine (circulation: 116,537) includes an article about Kjeld Hansen¿s book, the headline being "Grimland. How government subsidies and 'sustainable' hunting are causing a wildlife holocaust". At the end of the article readers are asked to express their opinion on the subject to the Danish prime minister, Mr Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and the Greenland premier, Mr Jonathan Motzfeldt. The magazine gives the postal and e-mail addresses of the two heads of government.

In February, the Greenland Home Rule administration received several hundred e-mails from bird lovers protesting against bird hunting in Greenland. In March we received more than 1,000 e-mails in which animal rights activists protested against "the slaughter of killer whales" in the Disko Bay in early February 2002.

The e-mails come from all over the world, mainly the United States, Britain, Canada and the Netherlands but more recently also from Germany. One of the protesters represents more than 1,300 members of the organisation North American Travel and Tour Operators. Many people write that Greenland has been high on their list of interesting holiday destinations but is no longer so because of the slaughter f killer whales. Cathy Robertson, a researcher for a CBC television programme  titled "The Nature of Things" , has  informed the management of CBC about the killer whales. An animal rights activist has written that numerous people are very upset, and he adds: "Easy way or hard way?". Recently the protest mail has begun to focus on seal hunting and on the way in which small nations exploit wildlife.

Although some of the e-mails and articles are based on incorrect assumptions and lack of knowledge about conditions in Greenland, there is no doubt that we have some real problems as regards the management of our wildlife and natural environment. This is extremely problematic and may have far-reaching implications.

Below are brief descriptions of some of the issues that must be  addressed  immediately:

• The management of several large marine mammals including beluga and walrus must be improved.
• Extensive hunting of several bird species including guillemot and eider.
• Several cases of overexploitation of trout rivers, for example by means of trout nets suspended across the mouths of the rivers.
• Problems relating to the exploitation of musk ox and caribou populations in Kangerlussuaq.
• General problems  related to hunting ethics and the limited number of restrictions applying to hunting in Greenland, which  make it possible to go hunting without previous training and instruction.
• Problems rooted in the lack of control of compliance with current rules and regulations concerning hunting.
• Completely inadequate waste  management in a number of settlements.

One precondition for solving these problems is the creation of an appropriate alternative source of income for the many people who are now dependent on very direct use of our wildlife. Furthermore, subsidies for the fishing and hunting trades must be organised in such a way that they do not contribute to continuing current patterns and behaviour.

APK and Greenland Tourism A/S are concerned about the present situation and very much in favour of action being taken now.

Necessary initiatives in Greenland

In order to counter negative developments, two specific initiatives are required: (1) an information campaign accompanied by open, honest dialogue about the problems faced by Greenland, and (2) the formulation of an overall policy for the solution of the problems, leading to a specific action and strategy plan.

Both initiatives are necessary now if we are to solve current problems while at the same time ensuring  our credibility in the eyes of the world. At present we are jeopardising our credibility as regards our management of our wildlife and natural environment. The alternative is such that it would be politically irresponsible to remain passive.

Consequently, the Greenland Home Rule cabinet has decided to give the implementation of the initiatives mentioned top priority. This includes initiation of dialogue about these matters with relevant stakeholders in our society. Such dialogue is essential.

Further information: Please contact Premier Jonathan Motzfeldt on +299 34 50 00 or Chief Information Officer Ivalo Egede on +299 34 50 00 or on +299 55 33 25 (mobile). Please also see annex 1.

Tusagassiivik, Tuesday 16 April 2002