An historic meeting ended late last week in South Korea with the formation of an Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

Led by the scientific community this independent platform will mimic a similar panel studying climate change. Those involved in climate change have had considerable success in catalyzing world-wide understanding and governmental action on global warming and it is hoped the configuration of the new body on biodiversity and ecosystems will have similar effects in its own field.

IPBES will facilitate decisive actions across governments worldwide based on ever increasing scientific documentation of accelerating declines and degradation of the natural world.

Let’s hope that this leads to a much greater understanding and appreciation of the real need for preservation of biodiversity and the protection of our wildlife and wilderness areas.

Svalbard is a truly stunning wildlife holiday destination. The wilderness feels immense and I suppose as you sit among the pack ice that stretches 800km to the north pole and beyond, it is immense. In this awe inspiring group of islands there is a wealth of Arctic wildlife. On a 10 day reconnaissance cruise we saw polar bears, including a mother with two cubs curled up on an ice floe, walrus which were just incredible to be among. Weighing in at around 600kg they are huge members of the seal family and are rather inquisitive. Reindeer and Arctic fox made up the other mammals whilst bird watching was also splendid with the rare ivory gull, Brunnich’s guillemots by the thousands, puffins, little auks and Arctic terns among others. However, it is the small flowers such as saxifrages among highly dramatic mountain scenery and lonesome polar bears out on the ice that give a scale to the islands and their fragility. Besides the charters that we are running next year with wildlife photographer Andy Rouse, we shall be bringing a selection of the highest quality polar trips to you shortly so that you to can experience the a Spitsbergen wildlife holiday from a small ship.