Recommendations

Project	Type	#	Outcome	Report	Year
Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP)		3	The CBMP is sustainable and its organizational structure facilitates achievement of its goals. Objective 3.1: Program coordination and organization is sustainable. Activity 1: Improve capacity related to CBMP core functions and implementation through cost sharing methods. Activity 2: Ensure that each Steering Group continues to have a designated Coordinator to help with coordination and key deliverables. Activity 3: Sustain Steering Group structure including coordination or other needed support for each group, and ensure clear and timely scheduling of meetings, agendas, notes, etc. Activity 4: Align future production of Steering Group workplans in a similar format to facilitate integration efforts. Activity 5: Each CBMP Steering Group will continue to produce annual progress reports and workplans to help track progress and define future tasks. Activity 6: Facilitate that CBMP Steering Groups and Expert networks have the necessary participation as needed to implement CAFF Board-approved workplans. Activity 7: Evaluation of the CBMP Strategic Plan is a standing item on the CAFF Board meeting agendas. Objective 3.2: CBMP is sustainable through relevancy. Activity 1: Conduct an evaluation, including a qualitative and where possible a quantitative evaluation on CBMP after further input from the CAFF Board.	Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program Strategic Plan: 2021-2025	2021
Arctic TEEB	Key finding	4.1	Valuing Arctic ecosystem services: Key Finding 4.1. The ecosystem services link is crucial when striving for sustainable management of complex social-ecological systems, and valuation in this context can provide powerful information for evaluating alternative management strategies. Cohesive, integrated and commonly accepted frameworks for assessment of the values of Arctic ecosystems are needed.	The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) for the Arctic: A Scoping Study Executive Summary	2015
CBMP Terrestrial Biodiversity Monitoring	Key finding		In North America, population estimates are good; trends are generally of the best quality and most populations are increasing or stable.	A Global Audit of the Status and Trends of Arctic And Northern Hemisphere Goose Populations	2018
CBMP Freshwater Biodiversity Monitoring	Key finding		The vast expanse of the Arctic region in some countries (e.g., Canada, Russia) and the high monetary cost and logistical constraints associated with sampling in some regions (e.g., northern Canada and Russia, Greenland, Svalbard, Faroe Islands) limits the possibility of routine monitoring. This leads to sparse sample coverage in space and time, particularly where funds are not secure.	State of the Arctic Freshwater Biodiversity: Key Findings and Advice for Monitoring	2016
CBMP Marine Biodiversity Monitoring	Key finding		Arctic marine species and ecosystems are undergoing pressure from cumulative changes in their physical, chemical and biological environment.	State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity: Key Findings and Advice for Monitoring	2017
CBMP Terrestrial Biodiversity Monitoring	Key finding		Species from southern ecosystems are moving into the Arctic and are expected to push Arctic species northwards, create an “Arctic squeeze,” and change species’ interactions.	State of the Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity: Key Findings and Advice for Monitoring	2021
Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (ABA)	Recommendation	4	Target resource managers when communicating research, monitoring and assessment findings. Increase efforts to communicate results of research and monitoring relevant to conservation of sea-ice associated biodiversity. Focus particularly on meeting the information needs of those making on-the-ground wildlife conservation decisions on, for example, conditions of development permits or fish and wildlife harvest regulations. Available information, including from recent Arctic Council assessments, may be hard for managers to sift through or to know what is most relevant to them. Work in this area should engage users of the information in designing content and delivery and should consider methods beyond print media. It should take into account time and resource constraints of the users and considerations such as keeping information up to date. Communication may best be delivered at a national or regional level, but benefits and efficiencies of collaboration through Arctic Council could be explored.	Life Linked to Ice: A guide to sea-ice-associated biodiversity in this time of rapid change	2013
Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI)	Advice	6	Monitoring point sources of plastic pollution: Glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus), great skua (Stercorarius skua) and other gull species that feed at landfills and other urban or rural sites, pellets/regurgitations should be monitored for plastic pollution near point sources to track local trends in plastic pollution.	Plastic Pollution in Seabirds: Developing a program to monitor plastic pollution in seabirds in the pan-Arctic region	2021
CBird: Seabird Expert Group		1.6	Increase understanding of impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs), either through kittiwake food or direct contact with toxins associated with HABs. 1.6.1. Establish monitoring practices to track presence of HABs in marine environments and prey used by kittiwake. Conduct tests to determine dose levels of HABs toxins that affect kittiwake behavior or health, using proxy species where applicable. Work to reduce sources of HABs, such as nearshore development or discharge.	International Black-legged Kittiwake - Conservation Strategy and Action Plan	2021
CBird: Seabird Expert Group		4.3	Increase knowledge about the effects of climate change and, if possible, reduce the impact. 4.3.1. Increase research efforts considering climate change and its effect on survival and reproduction rates (seawater acidification, increased water temperatures, increased frequency of storms etc.) 4.3.2. Increase research into the effect of diseases and parasites. 4.3.3. Compensate climate change impact by reducing the effect of other negative drivers	International Black-legged Kittiwake - Conservation Strategy and Action Plan	2021