Access all administrative documents from CAFF.
In November 2021, the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) and Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) Working Groups, in collaboration with Gwich’in Council International (GCI) organized the Arctic Wildland Fire Sharing Circle. Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held online over two-days, 17-18 November 2021, with invited talks from across the Arctic and breakout sessions for discussion. Miami University hosted and facilitated the Sharing Circle, specifically Professor Jessica McCarty, a member of the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme’s (AMAP) Expert Group on Short-Lived Climate Forcers (EG SLCF). The event brought together multiple Working Groups, diverse participants, and a range of projects active and planned for the Arctic in an innovative way to learn, share, and discuss. It fostered a spirit of inclusiveness, and was unique in looking across borders and Working Groups to bring a truly circumpolar lens to wildland fire in the Arctic. This report summarizes the event.
Arctic Biodiversity DashboardUser Requirements GuideDecember 2021
This User Requirements Guide summarizes the key recommendations from the User Panel and CAFF Board and Secretariat and, in many cases, proposed solutions to these recommendations. This will guide further sequenced development of the Arctic Biodiversity Dashboard over the next two years.
Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program: Marine Implementation Plan 2021-2024September 2021
CBMP-Marine is one of four CBMP working groups under CAFF and is led by a rotating co-chairship. The CBMPMarineCBMP-Marine is one of four CBMP working groups under CAFF and is led by a rotating co-chairship. The CBMP Mariners are organized with six Expert Networks and work is also independently undertaken by these groups. This enhances cooperation and generates valuable products. Participants in the CBMP-Marine Steering Group and CBMPMarineExpert Networks (ENs) are included in Appendix A.
CAFF and PAME are leading an initiatice to provide an overview of the current range and understanding of international and national criteria used for identification of OECMs in the Arctic. This will also facilitate an exchange of information among the Arctic Council members on the range of information and application of OECMs.
Progress ReporttMay 2021
At the 2015 Arctic Ministerial in Iqaluit, the Arctic Council Working Group, the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) presented the Actions for Arctic Biodiversity 2013-2021: implementing the recommendations of the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (Actions for Biodiversity). This Actions for Biodiversity guides how the Arctic Council addresses biodiversity issues and describes actions to be undertaken in response to the findings of the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (ABA).
Workplan 2021-2023The following work plan outlines the projects and activities CAFF plans to undertake for the 2021-2023 Russian Federation’s Arctic Council Chairmanship. It may be amended by the CAFF Board according to new opportunities and priorities. CAFF’s mandate and associated activities are integral to the success of Russia’s Chairmanship priorities.
This mid term evaluation provides a summary of 2019-2020 activities and advice for implementation for the Arctic Migratory Birds Intiative (AMBI).
MAY 2021
Comprehensive biodiversity data can inform decision- and policy-making. While many such data already exist, the challenge lies in finding, accessing, and making sense of existing, but dispersed pieces of data. Data are not always encoded in accordance with international data standards and best practices and often lack the necessary contextual metadata required to correctly apply and interpret it. Accessing Arctic biodiversity data from a range of sources and in variable formats can require a lot of effort from users to gather and assemble information.
CAFF addresses the conservation of Arctic biodiversity and communicates its findings to the governments and residents of the Arctic, helping to promote practices which ensure the sustainability of the Arctic’s living resources.
The Arctic SDI is the collaborative initiative of the National Mapping Agencies of the eight Arctic nations (Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Russia and the USA) with a goal to promote partner-based development of an Arctic spatial data infrastructure. The Arctic SDI has been endorsed by the Arctic Council Senior Arctic Officials since November 2009 and is part of the general scientific and technical collaboration among the Arctic nations.
Arctic FIRE led by the Gwich'in Council International aims to improve the understanding of fire ecology, the impacts in Arctic States and to communities represented by the Permanent Participants, and to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildland fire. The project seeks to promote the conservation and sustainable use of Arctic flora and fauna by mapping annual acreage burned, and developing an annual digital Arctic Fire Monitoring Journal that includes relevant Arctic fire ecology and fire-related Indigenous Knowledge research, and to evaluate the impacts of wildland fires on Arctic ecosystems, air quality, and climate change.
The Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme (CBMP) plays a key role in supporting CAFFs mandate to address the conservation of Arctic biodiversity, communicate findings to the governments and residents of the Arctic, and help to promote practices that ensure the sustainability of the Arctics living resources.
The Actions for Arctic Biodiversity, 2013-2021 (Action Plan) comprises the implementation plan for the ABA recommendations. It is a living document that is reviewed and updated every two years. The plan is not meant to be exhaustive or to replace working group work plans; rather it is complimentary, emphasizing specific actions that address ABA recommendations.
This crosswalk analysis compares AMBI programme objectives and actions with those identified in complementary migratory bird agreements, conservation plans, environmental cooperation frameworks, and development agreements in the East Asian-Australasian flyway region.
This crosswalk analysis compares AMBIprogramme objectives and actions with those identified in complementary migratory bird agreements, conservation plans, environmental cooperation frameworks, and development agreements in the African-Eurasian flyway region.
The Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative African-Eurasian Flyway Workplan 2019-2023 available in English, French (Français), Portuguese (Português), and Spanish (Español).
This document provides an update on activities pertaining to the Arctic Spatial Data Infrastructure, May 2019.
A progress on CAFF's activities to implement the Actions for Arctic Biodiversity during 2017-2019.
Progress report on CAFF's activities on the Arctic Biodiversity Data Service (ABDS) 2017-2019.
The Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program's (CBMP) Strategic Plan is intended to explain the overarching goals of the CBMP for the period 2018-2021, and to outline actions to deliver on those goals. It will guide the management of the program and help ensure the programs continued relevance to the needs of the Arctic States, Permanent Participants, scientific and Arctic communities, and other partners.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Maine, USA, October 2016 meeting.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Oulu, Finland, October 2017 meeting.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Juneau, USA, March 2017 meeting.
Regular progress reports are prepared to guide adjustments in the suite of implementation actions over the lifetime of the plan to achieve greater impact, meet new challenges, and take advantage of opportunities that arise. See here report evaluatimg progress from 2013-17
The U.S. Chairmanship of the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Working Group is proud to support the diverse communities, wildlife, lands, and marine areas of the Arctic. Find out more here.
This report provides an implementation evaluation of the first half of the Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI).
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Fairbanks, USA, March 2016 meeting.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Anchorage, USA October 2015 meeting.
This project plan outlines the goals and actions to be undertaken in an Arctic Invasive Alien Species project.
This document, Actions for Biodiversity 2013- 2021: implementing the recommendations of the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment, comprises the implementation plan for the 17 recommendations of the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (ABA).
It is a living document that will be reviewed and updated every two years. The plan is not meant to be exhaustive or to replace working group work plans; rather it is complimentary, emphasizing specific actions that address the ABA recommendations.
(in Korean)
The Resolution of Cooperation between the CAFF Secretariat and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility Secretariat.
Resolution of Cooperation between CAFF and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
Resolution of Cooperation between CAFF and the African Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA).
The Resolution of Cooperation between CAFF and the East Asian-Australasian Flyways Partnership (EAAFP).
The Resolution of Cooperation between CAFF and teh Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).
The Resolution of Cooperation between CAFF and the UN Convention of Biological Diversity.
REVISED
The Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI) is designed to improve the conservation status and secure the long-term sustainability of declining Arctic breeding migratory bird populations. This work plan identifies key actions over four years.
AMBI will have a positive impact on societies for whom migratory birds are a source of livelihood and spiritual inspiration. AMBI also provides an early implementation of Recommendation #8 of the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment to reduce stressors on migratory species range-wide.
This document outlines CAFF's key deliverables since the 2013 Arctic Council Ministerial and identifies key projects and activities to be delivered in 2015-2017.
An update on the activities and actions surrounding the implementation of the Arctic Biodiversity Data Service (ABDS).
Memorandum of Cooperation of the Arctic Spatial Data Infrastructure (ASDI).
A progress report to the Arctic Council Ministerial meeting, Iqaluit, Canada, April 2015 on CAFF's traditional knowledge and community-based monitoring work.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Yellowknife, Canada October 2014 meeting.
Also available in Russian / на русском языке
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Yellowknife, Canada March 2014 meeting.
This next generation CBMP strategic plan will focus on continuing to implement those strategies while allowing for greater emphasis on interpretation, integration and communication of biodiversity information resulting from the CBMP Monitoring Plans. This plan outlines ongoing efforts to establish and maintain steering groups to implement the monitoring plans and manage and provide that information for ongoing and future assessments of Arctic biodiversity.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Whitehorse, Canada October 2013 meeting (2 page Fall format).
This document details the CAFF Communications Strategy including goals, audiences and potential techniques to employ to reach audiences. This document is considered a "living" document, subject to frequent changes.
This document outlines the projects and activities CAFF plans to undertake for the 2013 – 2015 ministerial period.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Stockholm, Sweden March 2013 meeting.
Available in Russian / на русском языке
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Washington, U.S.A. meeting, November 1999.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Reykjavik, Iceland, September 2003 meeting.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Tromso, Norway April 2007 meeting.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Oulu, Finland meeting, May 2002.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Nuuk, Greenland September 1997 meeting.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Espoo, Finland meeting, November 2001.
An update from the CAFF Working Group after the 9th Annual Meeting, Abisko, Sweden, August 28-30, 2002.
An update from the CAFF Workign Group after the 8th Annual Meeting, Trondheim, Norway, September 6-9, 2000.
An update from the CAFF Working Group after the 7th Annual Meeting, Yellowknife, Canada, April 28-30, 1999.
An update from the CAFF Working Group after the 6th Annual Meeting, Nuuk, Greenland, September 27-30, 1997.
An update from the CAFF Working Group after the 5th Annual Meeting, Rovaniemi, Finland, September 9-11, 1996.
An update from the CAFF Working Group after the 4th Annual Meeting, in Moscow, Russia, September 18-22, 1996.
An update from the CAFF Working Group after the 3rd Annual Meeting, in Reykjavik, Iceland, September 26-28, 1994.
CAFF Board Meeting update from Helsinki, Finland, February 13-15, 2003.
CAFF Board Meeting update from Helsinki, Finland, February 1-3, 2005.
CAFF Board Meeting update from Girdwood, Alaska, March 11-13, 2003.
CAFF Board Meeting update from Akureyri, Iceland, April 9-10, 2002.
CAFF Board Meeting update from the Copenhagen, Denmark meeting, May 8-10, 2000.
CAFF Board Meeting update from the Homer, Alaska meeting, November 18-20, 2003.
CAFF Board Meeting update from the Stockholm, Sweden meeting, April 2-4, 2001.
CAFF Board Meeting update from the Trondheim, Norway meeting, December 13-15, 1999.
CAFF Board Meeting update from the Uppsala, Sweden meeting, August 29-30, 2001.
A document that discusses cooperation and collaboration between AMAP and CAFF on various activities including monitoring and the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment.
CAFF's 2006-2008 workplan.
A summary of major CAFF activities, projects and programs as discussed at the CAFF Board meeting held in Salekhard, Russia, February 28-March 1, 2012.
CAFF Workplan for 2011-2013.
CAFF Workplan 2009-2011.
CAFF Workplan for 2004-2006.
CAFF's Workplan for 2002-2004.
CAFF workplan for 2000-2002.
CAFF Workplan for 1999-2000.
CAFF workplan 1997-1998.
CAFF's workplan for 1996-1997.
CAFF's workplan for 1995-1996.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Yakutsk, Russia, April 6-7, 2005 meeting.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Tórshavn, Faroe Islands October 2010 meeting.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Syktyvkar, Russia, April 26-27, 2006 meeting.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Svolvær, Norway, April 2008 meeting.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Stockholm, Sweden March 2012 meeting.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Narvik, Norway, November 2007.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Lulea, Sweden, November 8-9, 2011 meeting.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, October 2005 meeting.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Copenhagen, Denmark November 2009 meeting.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Illulisaat, Greenland, April 2010 meeting.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Kautokeino, Norway November 2008 meeting.
A CAFF progress report to the Senior Arctic Officials at their Alta, Norway June 1997 meeting.
A summary of CAFF programs, projects and activities from 2004-2006 to the Senior Arctic Officials and Arctic Council Ministers.
The operating guidelines of the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) including the management, role of the international secretariat, role and managemnet of CAFF meetings, subgroups, activities and projects, proposal review and approval, meeting document management, and reporting.
A framework document for the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) that outlines CAFF goals, mandate, functions, operating principles, managemnet and implementation, reporting, and resources.
This report presents an overview of CAFF work since the previous Senior Arctic Officials meeting, and a summary of the key issues facing Arctic biodiversity as discussed at the CAFF Biennial meeting.
Provides a summary report to Arctic Council Ministers on major CAFF programs, projects and activities, 2007-2009.
Provides a summary report to Arctic Council Ministers on major CAFF programs, projects and activities, 2009-2011.