Convention on Biological Diversity: COP 14 Side-event
Arctic biodiversity: challenges and global connections
28 November, at 18:15: Aswan - JUSCANZ Room, Building 2
Hosts: Finland | CAFF |
Participants: UNEP | Saami council | WWF | GEO Bon | FIMinEnV
The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet with manifold impacts on the ecosystems. Climate change is by far the most serious threat to Arctic biodiversity and exacerbates all other threats (Arctic Biodiversity Assessment 2013). The Arctic Council has recognized the importance of safeguarding Arctic biodiversity under changing conditions. Success in addressing this challenge relies on the ability of our institutions to innovate and adapt to decision-making under rapidly changing conditions often without complete information.
The Arctic Council’s Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Working Group (CAFF) through partnerships between Arctic states, Indigenous organisations, international biodiversity-related organizations, the private sector and civil society addresses the conservation of Arctic biodiversity, helping to promote practices resulting in the sustainable use of the Arctic’s living resources. CAFF, through its Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP) provides the ability to evaluate the state of the Arctic’s biodiversity, thereby providing a measure against which progress towards State implementation of the SDGs across the circumpolar world can be evaluated.
This side-event will:
- Focus on recent information on changes in Arctic biodiversity
- Address the challenges facing Arctic biodiversity
- Consider the state of the Arctic ecosystems including how they have global impacts; and
- Address how the challenges facing Arctic biodiversity are interconnected, requiring
- comprehensive solutions and international cooperation
Structure:
- Opening, Mr Ilkka Heikkinen, Nature Conservation Adviser, Ministry of the Environment, Finland
- CAFF: Arctic Biodiversity challenges and solutions, Ms Carolina Caceres, Manager, Environment and Climate Change Canada
- UN Environment: Arctic Strategy, Mr Neville Ash, Director, UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre
- CBD reporting dashboard – model for the Arctic? Ms Healy Hamilton, Chief Scientist, NatureServe
- Saami Council: Salmon Rivers Peoples’ project, Mr Aslak Holmberg, Vice President
- Singapore: Arctic-South linkages (tbc)
Some findings from the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment:
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Further information:
Topics: Aichi Biodiversity Targets, Sustainable Development / Millennium Development Goals, Indigenous people and local communities, Polar Biodiversity