Shrubification threatens Arctic’s nesting habitats, feeding sites

February 24, 2025 / 4:57 PM

Sharjah 24: Gerrit Vyn, a wildlife photographer, is taking part in the Xposure International Photography Festival, which is organized by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau and held in Aljada, Sharjah. At the festival, he is presenting his exhibition titled “America’s Arctic: The Last Frontier of American Wilderness,” and took part in the 2025 Conservation Summit via a presentation, “The Global Life of Shorebirds”, which explored shorebirds’ lives, ecology, and the critical importance of wetland stopover habitats where these birds rest and refuel during their arduous journeys.

Vyn’s focus is on coastal birds that inhabit the Earth’s hemispheres, migrating from their Arctic wintering grounds to destinations as far as New Zealand.

During his presentation, he addressed the pressing issues related to climate change that are impacting the Arctic region, specifically mentioning “shrubification.” This phenomenon refers to the significant expansion of shrub populations across the Arctic, which adversely affects the ecosystem by diminishing critical nesting areas as well as intertidal zones and estuaries that serve as essential feeding grounds for numerous avian species. These locations are fundamental to the migratory pathways of these birds, and habitat degradation is occurring in many of these vital areas.

In an interview with “Sharjah 24,” Vyn emphasized that the paramount concern for these avian populations is the preservation of their habitats, which necessitates a proactive approach to addressing climate change challenges.