Project Report
Increasing beaver populations in the Arctic have been an interest and concern for many communities across arctic North America. Beavers cause cascading impacts across the environments in which they occur, but we lack data on the impacts that they create within the Arctic which can cascade through ecosystems and create transformations which cause concerns to local communities. The interaction between beavers and arctic environments including cryosphere may create new impacts which warrants new research. The Arctic Beaver Observation Network seeks to bring together researchers who are trying to understand impacts of beavers in the Arctic.
The Arctic Beaver Observation Network’s second in person meeting in Fairbanks, Alaska brought together Indigenous experts from Canada and Alaska and researchers engaged in natural and social scientific research in these regions (from Canada, Alaska, Norway and the UK). The meeting provided multiple opportunities for dialogue and this was strongly supported by the high proportion of Indigenous experts who participated in the meeting.
One opportunity for dialogue was between Indigenous experts from different regions, who reflected on a range of different perspectives regarding beavers and their impacts. While some reflected on a history of hunting and trapping beavers others were concerned about the impacts beavers were having in their region, having observed stark increases in recent years. There was also an opportunity for people to share between different communities. Discussion included the manner in which people locally were involved in science projects, giving opportunities for both Indigenous experts and academic researchers to reflect on best practice and ways to keep improving research coproduction.
The roughly equal balance of Indigenous experts and academic researcher also set up an atmosphere of open sharing and sought to reduce the power imbalances sometimes observed in academic meetings. There were long question and discussion periods for each panel, reflecting the openness of dialogue.
Other important connections made and discussed at the meeting were between the three core research programmes occurring in Alaska, the Northwest Territories and Nunavik respectively. Presentations and informal discussions allowed projects to update on progress since the first in person meeting in Yellowknife in November 2022 with a view to future collaboration.
Presentations were both led by academic researchers and Indigenous experts and a series of panels were set up on key topics such as changing beaver populations, impacts on fish, where expertise was shared. As academic beaver research in the Arctic is in its infancy, the meeting also benefitted from beaver research experts from lower latitudes who gave overviews on key topics such as beaver ecology, impacts of fish and biodiversity.
In addition to presentations, there were several interactive activities aimed to bring together expertise, understand priorities for future research and foster new collaborations. There was also a presentation by a local artist, aimed to bring another perspective of the species. The meeting was also attended by a film producer and was fundamental in the development of a documentary on beaver research in the Arctic, which will be filmed across Alaska and the Northwest Territories this summer. Overall, the meeting will be effective in strengthening community and research partnerships and will help foster ongoing research in the region.
Scientific highlights
- Research coproduction on beavers in the arctic with the meeting comprising a roughly equal number of Indigenous and scientific experts (with some people have both roles).
- Discussion of priorities for future work and interest and concerns around beavers in the Arctic
- Coalescing of experts across multiple worldviews and disciplines working and living across the North American Arctic, in addition to experts with long-term research on beavers in lower latitudes in North America and Europe.
Link to agenda and further information on the meeting:
https://sites.google.com/alaska.edu/a-bon/meetings/feb-2024-fairbanks-ak
Date and Location:
26th-28th February I Fairbanks, Alaska, USA
IASC Working Groups funding the project:
- Atmosphere WG
- Cryosphere WG
- Social & Human WG
- Terrestrial WG
Project Lead
Helen Wheeler (Anglia Ruskin University, UK)
Year funded by IASC
2023