162 



of greatest concern; and 3) requiring management based on 

 "sound conservation practices." 



The habitat and ecosystem protection goal of Article II 

 received special consideration at the 1981 Consultative 

 Meeting of the Parties. 143 The contracting parties agreed at 

 the 1981 meeting that more had to be done to protect the 

 specified habitat areas. They determined, for example, that 

 national efforts should be directed towards identification of 

 important denning and feeding areas. They also agreed that 

 more needed to be done to protect such areas "from disturbance 

 and destruction." 144 The parties singled out "the desirability 

 of providing adequate protected zones around identified 

 denning areas, where disturbances due to human activities 

 otherwise may occur." 145 This goal was stated clearly by the 

 head of the United States delegation to the 1973 meeting of 

 the parties, Mr. Curtis Bohlen, who stated the desire of the 

 United States to achieve the "designation of a large portion 

 of the Arctic region as an area where the polar bear would 

 enjoy total protection." He also cited the need for "the 

 protection of the polar bear's ecosystem including his habitat 



143 IUCM, Consultative Meeting of the Contracting Parti.ee to the 

 Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Beare (1981). 



144 1£L «t 3. 

 145 ld,. 



(0WOI-970O/DAV3OJ20 0I61 -43- 



