Updated: Wed Aug. 12 2009 6:33:26 PM

The Canadian Press

TORONTO — Polar bear populations in Ontario's north are on the decline, turning cautious concern for the animal's survival into planned action.

The Ontario government is changing the classification of the polar bear population from special concern to threatened species to ensure a greater protection of the bears.

"Once this (classification) happens, we need to create habitat regulation for the polar bear and a recovery strategy will need to be prepared by 2011," said Ivan Langrish, a communication's director for the Minister of Natural Resources.

The Minister of Natural Resources Donna Cansfield said melting ice and low survival rates are some of the reasons why the population has been waning over the past several years.

Cansfield acknowledged the polar bear decline is a global issue caused, in part, by climate change. But she said there were measures the province could take to protect the bears.

"Because it is a climate change adaptation issue we can look at what our behaviour does here in Southern Ontario that is impacting what occurs in other parts of the world," said Cansfield.

"If we don't do something to protect them, we have a lot of work ahead of us in the next few years."

International organizations cautiously applauded the provincial government's decision, but said more work needs to be done on a national and global level to protect the species.

"It sends a message that this is Canada's heritage and it's being lost and it's being lost rather rapidly with the incredible melting of ice," said Robert Buchanan, the president of Polar Bears International.

Canada's polar bears make up more than 60 per cent of the species in the world.

According to Buchanan, changing the classification would help stop any subsistence hunting of the animal, but more importantly would send a larger message to the world.

"People are killing polar bears from the comfort of their armchairs," said Buchanan, adding people need to be conscientious before they crank up the heat in their homes or use electronic devices.

"There are provinces that are very, very proud of their heritage and they want to send a messages to the world that Canada has the leadership for Arctic issues," said Buchanan.