ABSTRACT
There has always been variation in the biological and human systems of the Far North. Past climatic changes have altered the distribution and abundance of natural resources, and human cultures have responded with various behaviors and adaptations. The lines between research and management, and between biological science and social science, should become increasingly blurred to facilitate communication and cooperation at all levels. A basic understanding of the impacts of past climate change is critical to understanding potential effects in the future. Considerable effort has been devoted to reconstruction of paleoclimates and paleoecological conditions. Managers of protected areas and other lands in the Far North have a nearly impossible task, even without the challenge of a rapidly changing climate. The potential impacts of climate change might seem academic to resource management staffs who are already overburdened with responsibilities. Resource managers tend to respond cautiously to uncertain conditions in any case. The most likely action is often to maintain the status quo.
