CAFF Management Board holds online meeting to advance work, September 25-27, 2024

Under the leadership of CAFF Chair, Inge Thaulow, the Kingdom of Denmark Chairship hosted the CAFF Secretariat in Nuuk, Greenland and welcomed attendees from eight Arctic States, five Permanent Participant Organizations, 18 Observers, and colleagues from other Working Groups. The CAFF Management Board meeting was an important opportunity to discuss, advance, and further guide the suite of CAFF projects, initiatives, and activities identified in the CAFF Work Plan.

The CAFF Management Board was able to take firm steps forward on several significant initiatives and projects that are crucial for the conservation of Arctic biodiversity and the future work of CAFF and the Arctic Council. Notably, the CAFF Management Board made important decisions regarding the approach and methodology for developing the new Actions for Arctic Biodiversity 2025-2035, which will continue to guide the Arctic Council’s and CAFF’s strategic efforts and activities.

The Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP) Strategic Plan was extended until 2027, along with the individual workplans of three of its thematic ecosystem groups (Marine, Coastal and Freshwater), with a process identified and initiated to develop a Terrestrial work plan. Tahzay Jones (U.S.), has joined existing Co-Chair, Tom Christensen (KoD) to co-lead the cornerstone program of CAFF, and together with extensive expert collaboration, will continue implementation of the CBMP.

The Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI) workplan was extended also until 2027 under the leadership of the new Russian Chair, Dr. Elena Lappo. AMBI will continue its work to advance migratory bird conservation inside and outside of the Arctic, engaging Arctic States, Permanent Participants and Observers.

In addition, the CAFF Management Board discussed important updates and plans for advancement from CAFF projects such as the Salmon Peoples of the Arctic, Arctic Wildland Fire Ecology Mapping and Monitoring Project (ArcticFIRE), CAFF’s Circumpolar Seabird Expert Group (CBird), Community Observation Network for Adaptation and Security (CONAS), the joint AMAP/CAFF project Climate Change Impacts on Arctic Ecosystems and Associated Climate Feedbacks, and the joint CAFF/PAME projects Marine Invasive Alien Species in Arctic Waters, and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures in the Arctic Marine Environment, as well as others.

While in Greenland, the CAFF Chairship and Secretariat were kindly invited to visit ICC Greenland, and met with ICC International Chair Sara Olsvig, ICC’s Head of Delegation to CAFF Sophie Crump, and other ICC Greenland staff.

Russian translation was facilitated by the Indigenous Peoples Secretariat (IPS) to support all participants at the meeting.