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Preserving endangered ecosystems: The Natural System of Wrangel Island Reserve.

The Wrangel Island Reserve lies well above the Arctic circle and consists of Wrangel Island, Herald Island and surrounding waters. The islands are surrounded by the East Siberian Sea to the north and west and by the Chukchi sea to the south and east. The reserve enjoys the highest level of biodiversity north of the Arctic circle and has been on the UNESCO world heritage list since 2004. Wrangel Island is mountainous. A variety of metamorphic, sedimentary and magmatic rocks are found, indicating volcanic activity. The soil is covered with several types of tundra. The Island has the highest population of walruses in the Pacific with some 100,000 animals, and the highest density of used polar bear dens. The marine environment is an increasingly important feeding ground for the grey whale which migrates from Mexico (including some from the El Vizcaino whale sanctuary) Lastly the Reserve harbours the largest sea bird colonies of the Chukchi Sea and the most northerly nesting sites for over 100 migratory bird species. Jaeger-LeCoultre invites you to view the photo reports and videos about the natural system in place at The Wrangel by clicking here. You can also learn about the marine sites supported under the “Tides of Time” partnership, re-read the articles from the IHT by clicking here. 2010 marks the third year of the partnership between Jaeger-LeCoultre, The International Herald Tribune and UNESCO. This partnership has already seen the creation of several ambitious projects : - The promotion of protected sites to raise public awareness; - The recruitment of a coordinator for the marine programme implemented by the World Heritage Centre; - The development of a watch in celebration of this partnership, the Master Compressor Extreme W-Alarm Tides of Time; - Auctions with the proceeds going to threatened sites; etc. Jaeger-LeCoultre has already held two auctions on its Internet site. All the proceeds (GBP 13,540 and GBP 12,600) have been donated to sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, such as the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park or the Sundarbans Natural Park. This donation has enabled Tubbataha to purchase a radar system to control traffic in the Park’s waters. Extended coverage of the event is now on-line in LeClub. Registration is free. Click here to join.