NATURE

NATURE

The arctic climate significantly determines the flora and fauna of Greenland.

Plants
In Greenland there are few species of trees because tree growth is normally only possible where the mean temperature in the summer reaches more than 10 °C. Tall trees are therefore only to be found in a few protected areas in the country.

The vegetation consists mainly of low mountain and tundra plants, heather, crowberry, bog bully, and dwarf birch. In addition to these, there are mosses and lichens.

In the north the plant growth decreases because of the lower temperatures and lack of rainfall.

The climate restricts which crops can be grown. In South Greenland farmers grow turnips, potatoes, rhubarb, and flowers. There are also imported trees such as larch, spruce, and pine. Furthermore grass and grain for winter feed for sheep are grown.

Wildlife
Animal life in Greenland is mostly marine. There are several species of fish and marine mammals, the latter including five species of seals.

In areas with ice, the ringed seal is the most common seal while the harp seal is most common in the ice-free areas.

The walrus lives in the central and northern parts of West Greenland and in East Greenland.

There are 15 species of whales in the waters surrounding Greenland. Some of the whales come from the Atlantic and can be seen around Greenland during the summer. The main species are the beluga whale and the narwhal as well as minke and fin whales.

Polar bears are both marine and terrestrial animals as they find their food on the sea ice. Polar bears breed in North and Northeast Greenland but are seen in many parts of the country as they float on sea ice towards Cape Farewell in South Greenland.

There are nine species of land mammals of which only the arctic fox is widespread across the country. The mountain hare lives in most of Greenland, except in South Greenland.

In West Greenland there are reindeer from north of Arsuk in the south to the south of the Nuussuaq peninsula in the north. There are also stocks of tame reindeer on the island of Tuttutooq and at Isortoq in South Greenland. These stocks have spread to the districts of Narsaq, Paamiut, and Ivittuut.

Musk oxen live in Northeast Greenland from Illoqqortoormiut and to the north. In the 1960's a small number of musk oxen was transferred to West Greenland to the area around Kangerlussuaq where a significant stock is now established. Since then musk oxen have been released in several places in Western and Northern Greenland.

Northern collared lemming and ermine live in Northeast Greenland and arctic wolves, for a time considered extinct in Greenland, now seem to exist in the country once again.

The bird life of Greenland includes around 60 breeding species. Half of these are migratory birds, staying in Greenland for the breeding season only. Sea birds such as seagulls, ducks, eiders, and guillemots (alc) are the most dominant.

The only fowl bird is the ptarmigan.

More than 200 species of fish are represented in the waters around Greenland. Shrimp, halibut, cod, crab, lumpfish, scallops, capelin, catfish, redfish, and Greenland cod are among the fish species of the country.

There are a few species of livestock in Greenland. The stock of sheep was imported from Icelandic and Faroese sheep stocks and tame reindeer were imported from Norway.

The husky is descended from dogs following the human migration from northern Canada.

Read more about geography, flora, and fauna, and the like at www.napa.gl.

Nature and Environmental Management
The Ministry of Domestic Affairs, Nature, and Environment is responsible for environmental protection and nature conservation. The field of responsibility also includes Pinngortitaleriffik (Greenland Institute of Natural Resources). The institute also carries out tasks for the Greenlandic Licence Control for the Fishing Industry.

Read more at www.naalakkersuisut.gl and at www.natur.gl.

Nature Conservation
The management of land and marine mammals and birds is handled by the Ministry of Fisheries, Hunting, and Agriculture.