Arctic Tracker: Data-Driven Insights into Arctic Species Trade

Arctic Tracker is a data platform and analytics environment designed to collect, integrate, and interpret information about protected Arctic species. The project draws on public datasets—including CITES trade records, IUCN extinction risk assessments, and illegal wildlife trade seizures—to support evidence-based conservation policy.

To date, the system includes over 490,000 trade records covering 42 Arctic species. Among them are polar bears, walruses, whales, and rare Arctic birds—species often assumed to be safe in the wild but that appear consistently in global trade flows.

Why This Matters

We cannot afford to deplete Arctic ecosystems blindly. Decisions about conservation, regulation, and licensing must be grounded in data—not assumptions, lobbying, or gut feeling. Arctic Tracker equips researchers, decision-makers, and environmental defenders with a platform that transforms data into insight—and insight into action.

Trade records alone are not the whole story. But by analyzing them over time, linking them to population trends and environmental pressures, and identifying patterns across countries, species, and trade mechanisms, we gain a perspective that was previously invisible.

The Tech Behind It

The project was developed using Claude Code, VS Code Copilot, and other AI-assisted tools. However, the core infrastructure is a conventional database architecture:

• Supabase serves as the SQL backend.
• The MCP server connects directly to Supabase, providing key insights into data structure and running advanced calculations for deeper analysis.
• React and Vite support a fast, responsive frontend.
• TypeScript ensures safe and maintainable code.

There is no automated data scraping involved—every record is added with deliberate action and careful quality control.

Future Outlook—and Responsibility

We continue to expand the database, refine the analytical tools, and increase species-level insights across time and space. Recently, 881 illegal trade seizures were added. We are also working on integrating map data and making the admin interface more accessible for smaller institutions and NGOs.

At its core, Arctic Tracker is not about software—it’s about making sure that decisions affecting Arctic ecosystems are grounded in facts. Not assumptions. Not interest groups. Just evidence.

Arctic Tracker is a web platform that combines real-time data, analysis, and management tools for Arctic species conservation and research.

PS – From Claude using Sanity
This section demonstrates the double MCP setup. I am using the Sanity MCP to write this project document, while simultaneously using the Arctic Tracker MCP to fetch real polar bear data.

Polar Bear Data Example

• Species: Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)
• Total Trade Records: 24,501 (1975–2023)
• IUCN Status: LC (Least Concern) since 2015
• CITES Appendix: II since 1992

Interesting Trade Statistics

The integration of these data sources showcases the power of the MCP system, enabling AI tools to pull from multiple sources in real time.