The polar bear is an iconic species and a vital indicator of the health of the natural world. Their future is threatened by climate change, habitat loss, and the pressures of living in closer contact with people.  

WWF is working to ensure that polar bears—and the people who live alongside them—can thrive together. As a science-based conservation organization, we work in partnership with Indigenous Peoples, scientists, governments, and local communities to secure a future for polar bears.  

Our goal is clear: the long-term survival of polar bears in the wild. This means protecting sea ice habitat, supporting coexistence between people and bears, and driving global action to address the causes of climate change.  

• WWF’s work on polar bear conservation is rooted in respect—for wildlife, for cultural traditions and rights, and for evidence-based conservation solutions 
• We recognize and support the legal rights of Indigenous Peoples and governments to sustainably manage their lands and wildlife 
• We support strong laws and policies to protect polar bears 
• We back local strategies for living safely alongside polar bears 
• We work to protect polar bear habitat from industrial threats 
• Our scientists study and track polar bears to deepen understanding and guide conservation 

What is WWF doing to protect polar bears? 

© Shutterstock / Ritesh Chaudhary / WWF

The focus of our conservation and campaigning work is on the long-term conservation of polar bears and their habitat.  

According to IUCN’s Polar Bear Specialist Group, “The greatest challenge to conservation of polar bears is ecological change in the Arctic resulting from climatic warming.” Tackling climate change is a key focus of our global advocacy and conservation work around the world.  We are also working directly on the issues related to sea ice loss in the Arctic and helping people and polar bears in a changing environment. 

Deepening knowledge through innovation 

Together with partners, our scientific experts develop innovative tools that can be used by researchers to understand polar bear populations and their responses to climate change. This research is necessary to identify the right conservation tools and strategies. 

We also work to develop innovations in researching and monitoring polar bears. Our hope is to make research easier and safer, both for people and bears. For example, eDNA (environmental DNA) enables scientists to identify an individual polar bear just from its pawprint in the snow. We are working with companies to develop new satellite tracking devices as alternatives to collars. These methods give experts the data they need to make informed and scalable conservation plans. 

Safeguarding polar bear habitats 

Polar bears depend on sea ice and healthy oceans. Today, both are under threat.  

Sea ice is a vital platform for polar bears to breed, rest, roam and hunt for their principal food source—seals. As sea ice declines due to climate change, polar bears are forced to spend more time on land fasting or searching for other less-nutritious sources of food. This can also increase the likelihood of dangerous encounters between people and bears. At the same time, rising ship traffic increases the chance of oil spills, which could hurt polar bears and their prey.   

WWF is working to protect essential polar bear habitats from harmful industrial activities, including oil and gas exploration, as well as the evolving impact of climate change. We are advocating for networks of protected and conserved areas that will connect essential habitats for both polar bears and their prey. 

We are also calling for the permanent protection of the Last Ice Area—the place in the Arctic where sea ice will endure the longest. This will be an essential refuge for polar bears.  

© James Morgan / WWF-UK

Working with people to make living alongside polar bears safer  

Arctic Indigenous Peoples have always lived alongside polar bears. WWF partners with local communities, exchanging knowledge and working together on safety and coexistence.  

Across the Arctic, the loss of sea ice due to warming temperatures is bringing more polar bears onto land in search of food. Conflict happens when polar bears enter villages. WWF works with communities to find methods that promote coexistence. For example, this includes supporting the installation of custom-built polar bear resistant containers for food storage – reducing some of the smells that attract polar bears close to communities.  

We also support community-led polar bear deterrence programmes. In some communities, polar bear monitors check for signs of polar bears in town. In others, community members carry out patrols and carry deterrent tools, such as flares, so they can keep themselves and other vulnerable community members safe. Keeping community members safe means fewer polar bears are killed in self-defence. 

© James Morgan / WWF-UK

We work with communities to explore and innovate on the ways we work in each place. This localised approach helps us design programs to meet the specific needs of the community. Each community chooses what works best for them. 

Polar bear conservation on the ground is led by the Indigenous Peoples and local communities who live side by side with polar bears and by the governments who have overall responsibility for their conservation. WWF’s role is to work with these partners to support the best conservation and community outcomes. 

Supporting laws and policies to protect polar bears 

In 1973, countries with polar bears (Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia, and the United States) agreed to stop large-scale commercial hunting by signing the Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears, laying the foundation for international cooperation that remains vital today. WWF continues to engage with these governments to strengthen and modernize these agreements in the face of new threats like climate change, industry expansion, and human-wildlife conflict. 

WWF supports the effective implementation of treaties and agreements and participates in regular meetings of the Polar Bear Range States, engaging in and monitoring progress toward implementation of the Range States’ Circumpolar Action Plan.  

WWF recognizes the importance of and supports CITES—the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna—which works to ensure any international trade of wildlife does not endanger a species’ survival. While WWF does not vote in CITES - only governments do – we contribute our perspectives to discussions with the aim of ensuring it acts as an effective safeguard for species’ survival. 

When it comes to polar bears, WWF supports very strict limits and regulations on international trade. We also back robust protections to ensure any legal hunting is sustainable and does not threaten species survival in the wild. 

Tackling the illegal wildlife trade 

Since we were founded, WWF has worked to tackle the global networks of criminal organizations that profit off the killing of species with high trade value. We have supported hundreds of strong enforcement initiatives globally to detect and deter illegal wildlife trade—from building the capacity of rangers, border officials, and wildlife authorities to reducing demand from consumers in black markets. 

Notably, WWF convened the Coalition to End Wildlife Trafficking Online with partners TRAFFIC and the International Fund for Animal Welfare, creating a global movement to remove illegal wildlife sales listings from the internet and social media. Over 25 million prohibited wildlife listings have been removed online in the past five years. While there is limited evidence today of significant illegal trade in polar bear products, we are committed to working closely with governments and other partners to prevent this behaviour wherever it exists.