DANIDA Danish International Development Assistance (DANIDA).
Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA) – an agency that belongs under the Danish Ministry of the Environment. DEPA spheres of activity are concentrated on preventing and combating water, soil and air pollution. Further Denmark’s environmental assistance for the Arctic is administered by DEPA. The work covers mainly implementing projects in the Arctic and is supported by other divisions of the DEPA and the National Forest and Nature Agency. DEPA also undertakes and coordinates work in the relevant international environmental fora in the Nordic Region and the Arctic. The overall objective of Danish environmental assistance for the Arctic is to help restore the global environment in accordance with the recommendations of the UNCED Conference held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 (Agenda 21).
Danish International Development Assistance (DANIDA) – the Danish development assistance is focused on a selected number of developing countries, the so-called programme countries, working with efficient, long term national strategies for poverty reduction, and on a selected number of multilateral organisations. Africa south of Sahara remains the main recipient of Danish aid.
Danish Polar Center (DPC) – a Danish governmental institution, that co-ordinates scientific work within the Arctic. Further DPC is a knowledge, service and facilitation centre for researchers, public agencies and institutions, who are engaged in polar research and Arctic conditions. A main purpose is to strengthen Danish Arctic and Antarctic research both nationally and internationally, and to support Danish participation in international polar research and give advice on logistics in deserted areas of Greenland. DPC disseminates information about polar and Arctic research to researchers and others, and contributes to the strengthening of public interest in polar research and the polar areas.
Danish-Greenlandic Environmental Cooperation– in 1989 the responsibility for environmental protection was turned over from Denmark to the Home Rule, and in 1992, jurisdiction over the marine environment around Greenland within the three-mile inshore limit was given to the Home Rule. Since then, the Home Rule has made a big effort to increase expertise in the environment and nature protection field. In connection with taking over protection of the environment and nature, Home Rule has established offices for both environmental protection and the protection of nature, as well as passing a number of laws, executive orders and so on in the field of nature and environmental protection. On the formal level, the Danish Minister for Environment and the Greenlandic Landsstyremedlem (Minister) have signed joint declarations on cooperation and the launching of a number of initiatives for the benefit of nature and environmental protection in Greenland. Besides this, the directors and other officials from Denmark and Greenland have created both formal and informal contacts in order to discuss environmental problems and share experiences. Then Minister for Environment and Energy, Svend Auken appointed an Advisory Committee for the Arctic in 1994, which advises the Department of the Environment on the administration of the assistance funding, later known as Dancea. The same year, the Minister presented the “Strategy for Activities to Protect the Environment in the Arctic”. An Indigenous Peoples’ Programme was established in order to involve the indigenous peoples of the Arctic in protecting their environment. Funds are used for operating the Indigenous Peoples’ Secretariat in Copenhagen, and for other initiatives for the indigenous peoples of Arctic Russia. Assistance has also been granted to other NGO’s connected with the Arctic.
Data Deficient (DD) – IUCN category (Red Data Book). A taxon (species or genus) is Data Deficient when there is inadequate information to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of extinction based on its distribution and/or population status. A taxon in this category may be well studied, and its biology well known, but appropriate data on abundance and/or distribution are lacking. Data Deficient is therefore not a category of threat. Listing of taxa in this category indicates that more information is required and acknowledges the possibility that future research will show that threatened classification is appropriate. It is important to make positive use of whatever data are available. In many cases great care should be exercised in choosing between DD and a threatened status. If the range of a taxon is suspected to be relatively circumscribed and a considerable period of time has elapsed since the last record of the taxon, threatened status may well be justified. IUCN Red Data Book.
Davis Strait – an extension of the North Atlantic Ocean, and a strait between Canada and Greenland. The strait connects Baffin Bay in the north with the Atlantic Ocean in the south. Named after the British explorer John Davis (c. 1550-1605).
DC – Developed Country.
DDT – Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane.
Declaration – a formal statement or proclamation.
Declaration on the Protection of the Arctic Environment – the Declaration is a statement from June 14, 1991 of formal adoption of the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS) by Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United States of America, and of commitment by the governments of these countries to take steps toward its implementation and further development. Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS). Arctic Council.
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
Declination – the angle between the magnetic North Pole and the geographic North Pole.
Decolonization – a process begun after World War II to eliminate European colonialism in Africa, Asia and America.
Decomposers – consists of primarily fungi and bacteria.
Decree – an official order, edict or decision, as of a government, court, church, etc.
Deculturation – the social condition that occurs when a people lose its traditions and cultures through contact with another people. This loss can lead to social and economic problems, leaving the group dependant on others.
Deep Ecology – the ideology of several militant environmentalist organisations. According to this ideology, trees, animals, landscapes etc. are entitled to similar rights as those expressed in the Human Rights declarations.
Degraded ecosystem – the diversity and productivity in an ecosystem have been so reduced that it is unlikely to recover without rehabilitation or restoration measures.
Deletion – the act of deleting or removing something by striking it out, or an editorial change that shortens a written passage in an agreement, etc.
Demilitarisation – the withdrawal of military power from an area, region, etc.
Demilitarized zone – in military terms, a demilitarized zone (DMZ) is an area, usually the frontier or boundary between two or more military powers or alliances, where military activities are not permitted, usually by a peace treaty or other bilateral or multilateral agreement. Article 1 of the Antarctic Treaty forbids military activity in Antarctica, though military personnel and equipment may be used for peaceful purposes.
Democracy – rule by a government where the people as a whole hold the power. It may be exercised by them (direct democracy), or through representatives chosen by them (representative democracy). Government.
Demography – the statistical study of human populations with regard to their size and structure, and their compositions by sex, age, marital status etc., and to the changes over a certain period.
Density – mass per unit of volume, measured in kg pr. m3.
Denunciation – a public act of denouncing. To give a formal announcement of the ending of a treaty, an agreement, etc.
Descendant – a person who is deriving from a specific person or ancestor.
Descent group – a group where all members have a common ancestor.
Designate – to point out, specify, indicate, etc.
Desiring to stem – the wish for stopping or restraining.
Despotism – rule by a single leader, all his or her subjects are considered his or her slaves. Government.
Détente – a lessening of tension or hostility between nations by making treaties, trade agreements, etc.
Deterrence – the capacity to protect oneself from an attack by threatening an adversary with what is perceived to be unacceptable retaliation. Nuclear deterrence was used between the U.S.A. and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. ABM-Treaty. Nuclear deterrence.
Development – increasing the capacity to meet human needs and improve the quality of human life.
DEW Distant Early Warning Line.
DG – Directorate General of the EU Commission.
DIAND – Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. Renamed as Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC).
Dictatorship – rule by an individual who has full power over the country. Government.
Diomede Islands – two islands in the Bering Strait. The boundary between the U.S.A. and Russia as well as the International Date Line passes between the two main islands, Big Diomede Island (Russia) and Little Diomede Island (U.S.A.).
Dioxin – a highly toxic chlorinated hydrocarbon.
Disko – a big island in West Greenland. Qeqertarsuaq.
Distant Early Warning Line – also known as the DEW Line was a system of radar sites in the Arctic region of Canada, Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, Greenland, Iceland, and the Faeroe Islands. The DEW Line was set up to detect an airborne invasion from the Soviet Union “over the Pole” during the Cold War. The building up of the system started in 1954, and in 1957 58 sites were constructed across North America. Shortly hereafter four DEW Line sites were constructed in Greenland, and in 1959 the DEW Line was extended westward along the Aleutian Islands. With the signing of North American Air Defence Modernization agreement between Canada and the U.S.A in 1985 the DEW Line began its eventual upgrading and transition becoming the North Warning System (NWS) of today. At the same time many of the old sites were closed, among those, the four in Greenland. A controversy developed between the U.S.A. and Canada over the cleanup of deactivated Canadian DEW Line sites. The stations had produced large amounts of hazardous waste that had been abandoned in the high Arctic. Especially damaging were the large quantities of PCBs. While the United States insisted that it was Canada's responsibility to clean up the sites they had managed, the Canadian government disagreed. In 1996, an agreement was reached that saw the United States contribute $100 million to the estimated $600 million cleanup effort. North Warning System (NWS).
Distinct – is not being identical to anything else. Jose Kusugak, president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami: “In Canada and America we are trying to make people understand that we are a distinct people and not Indians... We want them to understand that Inuit work real hard to get children educated and make sure they hold on to their culture.”
Diurnal – awake during the daytime. An animal that is diurnal hunts during the daytime.
Diversity – the variety or the richness of species. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
DMI – Dansk Meteorologisk Institut (Danish Meteorological Institute).
DNA – Deoxyribonucleic acid, the long chains of molecules in most cells that carry the genetic hereditary message and control all cellular functions in most forms of life. DNA marker A short length of DNA at a known location on a chromosome that can be used by scientists as a 'landmark" to locate genes close to it, helping scientists build up a map of the organism’s genome.
Doctrine – an official statement of a nation’s policy towards other nations.
DOD – Department of Defence (U.S.A.).
Domestic animals – any animal that is kept as a pet or as breeding animals to accommodate human needs.
Domestic production – the kind of economic production located in the immediate producer’s own home.
Domesticated or cultivated species – are the species in which the evolutionary process has been influenced by humans to meet their needs.
Domestication – the selective breeding by humans of plants and animals in order to accommodate human needs.
Dominance – the leading or controlling influence in a group. Relates to animals, human beings, states, etc.
Done – something completed, finished, stopped or to quit relations with someone.
Dorsal fin – is the fin that is located on the centre back of a whale.
DPC Danish Polar Center (DPC).
Dreaming – in some indigenous cultures, dreaming often refers to the time before time, time outside of time or time of the creation of all things, as though it were the past. Dreaming is also often used to refer to an individual's or group’s set of beliefs or spirituality.
Drift stations – research stations on the ice in the Arctic Ocean, which are constantly moving with the drifting ice.
Drum – many indigenous cultures twist drumming, singing and dancing together in their societies’ political and social structure. There is a great diversity of indigenous peoples’ traditions, because differences in geography and landscapes have produced a variety of cultures. Each culture has been using local materials to construct drums, and also clearly understood the “soundscape” of the environment. Replicating the natural sounds from the environment was an important consideration when making a drum. The most common drum today is the frame drum, a single-person, and hand-held drum. There are many occasions when the drum was used. Traditionally in some Inuit regions, two men would resolve a dispute between them through a drum dance challenge. They would also sing and each man would try to ridicule the other and last as long as possible. The will of the better man would prevail, supposedly proving him right in the dispute. The drum was also the necessary instrument of the shaman, who used it getting in contact with the spiritual world. To day the drum is used in artistic performances all over the Arctic. In Greenland the drum is the symbol of justice. At the General Assembly of Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) in 2006, a new logo was approved for the circumpolar indigenous organisation. The logo represents a stylized Inuit drum with a drumstick below. “The circular form of the drumsymbolizes the circumpolar nature of our land stretching from Russia around to Greenland”, said Aqqaluk Lynge, President of ICC-Greenland. The Inuit drum dance was also used to resolve conflicts. “In this way, the drum means harmony, and of course the circle is a universal symbol of unity”. Nina Spore Kreutzmann, Greenland, designed the ICC drum logo.
Dual economy – the co-existence of two different types of economies within one country. Barter economy and Market economy is an example of dual economy.
Dump – a site used to dispose of solid waste without environmental controls.
Dundas – until 1953 called Thule. Knud Rasmussen, a Greenlandic-Danish polar explorer, established Thule as a trading post in 1910. The nearby Inughuit village Uummannaq was closed in 1953, when the Danish authorities forced the inhabitants to move 130 km north to the new town of Qaanaaq, commonly known at the time as “Ny Thule”. Inughuit.
E
Earth Charter – in 1987 the Brundtland Commission or the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development issued a call for creation of a new charter that would set forth the fundamental principles for sustainable development. The drafting of an Earth Charter was part of the unfinished business of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. In 1994 Maurice Strong, the secretary general of the Earth Summit and chairman of the Earth Council, and Mikhail Gorbachev, former President of the Soviet Union and President of Green Cross International, launched a new Earth Charter initiative with support from the Dutch government. An Earth Charter Commission was formed in 1997 to oversee the project and an Earth Charter Secretariat was established at the Earth Council in Costa Rica. Five persons represented Europe, Mikhail Gorbachev, Ruud Lubbers, Piere Calame, Federico Mayor and Henriette Rasmussen from Greenland in the twenty persons Commission. Rasmussen especially took care of indigenous peoples’ interests. At a meeting at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris in March 2000, the Commission approved the final version of the Earth Charter. The Earth Charter Initiative is a global movement based on the participation and involvement of thousands of organisations, groups and individuals worldwide. The International Secretariat, its partner organisations, the volunteer National Committees, and the governing bodies of the Secretariat are collectively referred to as the Earth Charter Initiative. The mission of the Earth Charter Initiative is: “To establish a sound ethical foundation for the emerging global society and to help build a sustainable world based on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice and a culture of peace.” And the Goals are: “To promote the dissemination, endorsement, and implementation of the Earth Charter by civil society, business, and government. To encourage and support the educational use of the Earth Charter. To seek endorsement of the Earth Charter by the UN.”
Earth Summit – the UN Conference on Environment and Development that took place in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in June 1992. United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).
East Siberian Sea – a sea north of Respublika Sakha (Yakutia) and Chukotskiy Avt. Okrug, bordered to the east by Ostrova Vrangelya, and to the west by Novosibirskiye Ostrova. The maximum depth of the sea is 50 m. The eastern part of the sea can be navigated from the middle of June until the middle of October, and the western part only from the beginning of August until the middle of October. The river Kolyma flows into the East Siberian Sea.
EBRD – European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
EC – European Commission (EC).
EC – European Community. Now the European Union (EU).
ECE – Economic Commission for Europe (ECE).
ECHR – Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) is the European Convention on Human Rights of 1950 with several amendments.
Ecological entity – in ecological risk assessment, a general term referring to a species, a group of species, an ecosystem function or characteristic, or a specific habitat or biome.
Ecological niches – a term describing the relational position of a species or population in its ecosystem.
Ecological process – a continuous action or series of action that is governed or strongly influenced by one or more ecosystems.
Ecological Pyramids – energy flow from one level to the next can be graphically depicted using an ecological pyramid. Three types of ecological pyramids can usually be distinguished. Number pyramid. Biomass pyramid. Energy pyramid.
Ecological year – ecologists divide the year into six seasons, especially in relation to the study of terrestrial and freshwater communities. The ecological year has the following seasons: prevernal – in early spring, vernal – in late spring, aesteal – in early summer, serotinal – in late summer, autumnal – in the autumn, and hebernal – in the winter.
Ecology – the branch of biology that deals with the relations between living organisms and their environment. In sociology, anthropology, etc. it means the study of the relation and adjustment of human groups to their geographical (biological) environment.
ECOPS European Committee on Ocean and Polar Sciences (ECOPS)
Ecoregion – is a restricted geographic area with particular weather patterns, ocean currents and depths, drainage, and communities of plants and animals.
ECOSOC United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
Ecosystem – the system made up of a community of animals, plants, and bacteria and its interrelated physical and chemical environment as well as all of the physical factors of the environment that have an effect upon those organisms. Successful conservation and management of the ecosystem depend on the recognition that changing one part of it may affect the other parts.
Ecosystem diversity – the variety and frequency of different ecosystems.
Ecotourism – sustainable tourism or ecological tourism, is the form of tourism that appeals to individuals with ecologically consciousness. Ecotourism typically involves travelling to destinations where flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. Responsible ecotourism includes programs that minimize the negative aspects of conventional tourism on the environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of indigenous peoples. An Arctic Network for sustainable tourism is working on defining a program that will bring a variety of benefits to the local tourism industry, communities and the environment in the circumpolar north.
Ecozone – a broad geographic area in which there are distinctive climate patterns, ocean conditions, types of landscapes and species of plants and animals.
EDP – Electronic Data Processing.
EEA European Economic Area.
EEB – European Environmental Bureau (EEB).
EEC – European Economic Community (EEC) or the European Common Market. Now the European Union (EU).
EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
EFTA European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
Egedesminde – Danish colonial name for Aasiaat. Aasiaat.
EIA – Environmental Impact Assessment.
EIB – European Investment Bank.
Elders – in most indigenous societies, the elders are respected and consulted due to their experience, wisdom, knowledge, background and insight. Elders do not necessarily be “old” people. Ancestors.
Election – a choosing or being chosen for office by vote.
Ellesmere Island – a large Canadian island in the Arctic Ocean, West of Northwest Greenland. Formerly Ellesmere Island belonged to the hunting grounds of the Inughuit in Northwest Greenland.