WASHINGTON As climate change opens up previously inaccessible areas of the Arctic, a leading conservation group is stressing the urgent need to safeguard this fragile region from threats including oil development and shipping.

In a lengthy report presented Tuesday in Monaco , the International Union for the Conservation of Nature identifies seven exception areas in the Arctic Ocean that deserve protection and could qualify for UNESCOs World Heritage list.

The Arctic Ocean plays a crucial role in shaping global climate and hosts a diverse range of species, many of them threatened, said Carl Gustaf Lundin , director of IUCNs Global Marine and Polar Programme, in a statement.

Spanning nearly 5.5 million square miles, the Arctic Ocean is home to some of the planets most magnificent creatures, including grey whales , narwhals , polar bears and walruses . But climate change has led to soaring temperatures and rapidly melting sea ice , opening once-inaccessible areas up to fishing, shipping, energy development and even luxury cruise liners.

These activities have the potential to inflict further stress on Arctic marine ecosystems already straining under the effects of climate change, Prince Albert II of Monaco writes in the reports preface. I believe we have a historic opportunity, and a profound obligation, to do what we can to educate people around the world about the need to protect ecologically important and sensitive ocean habitats in the Arctic for future generations. The need to act is urgent.