CAFF Progress Report, Presented to the Senior Arctic Officials in Syktyvkar, Russian Federation on 26-27 April 2006 CAFF continues making excellent progress on its 2004-2006 Work Plan within available resources, while maintaining its strong focus in developing international partnerships and working with the other Working Groups within the Arctic Council. There are also new initiatives to report. CAFF is hopeful that the financial situation of the International Secretariat will improve in 2007, with the significant dialog from the SAO meeting in Khanty-Mansiysk, and the subsequent cooperative dialog at the CAFF Management Board meeting held in February

Arctic Council , Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Working Group

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CONSERVATION OF ARCTIC FLORA AND FAUNACAFFProgress ReportPresented to the Senior Arctic OfficialsSyktyvkar, Russian Federation26-27 April 2006CAFF Progress Report October 2005-March 20067 April 2006 - page 2 of 6 pages -CAFF continues making excellent progress on its 2004-2006 Work Plan within availableresources, while maintaining its strong focus in developing international partnerships andworking with the other Working Groups within the Arctic Council. There are also new initiativesto report. CAFF is hopeful that the financial situation of the International Secretariat will improvein 2007, with the significant dialog from the SAO meeting in Khanty-Mansiysk, and thesubsequent cooperative dialog at the CAFF Management Board meeting held in February.FOLLOW-UP OF CAFF WORK PLAN 2004-2006, CBMP AND EXPERT GROUPSCircumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP)Canada has committed to lead the CBMP and has established an international secretariat. It iscurrently providing two full time staff to the program. Other Arctic Nations have also pledgedsupport. An international steering committee with members from 6 task teams (data management,indicators, funding, community-based monitoring, remote sensing, and outreach and assessment)is providing guidance. A workshop in November 2005 in Whitehorse, Canada brought togethermonitoring experts and selected a suite of pilot indicators to report on the status and trends ofArctic biodiversity. The pilot indicators are largely adapted from the Convention on BiologicalDiversity indicators, with additional indicators reflecting the capacity of the existing ArcticSpecies Networks (i.e. ITEX, CARMA, etc.). The Species Networks and other partners arecurrently being consulted for further feedback and refinement of the indicators. Whereapplicable, indicators are being coordinated with indicators used by AMAP. Once completed, adraft discussion paper will be circulated for peer review. A data management strategy is also inprogress and is due to be released for review this spring. Pilot projects on several of the indicatorshave been identified, and a detailed implementation plan is being prepared for review at theCAFF XI Biennial meeting in Finland and the next AMAP HOD meeting.The CBMP has been fully endorsed by the International Polar Year, and funding applications arebeing prepared by several Arctic Council countries. Other funding resources are also beingpursued by the funding task team. A stakeholders workshop is planned for September 06 inWashington DC. The intention of the CBMP is to seek new funding sources for monitoringefforts and use funds for new field work, in addition to increasing support to existing monitoringactivities and networks. Current country based monitoring efforts would also be incorporated.Dr. Martin Raillard, CBMP chair, will start a one year sabbatical, concentrating full time on theCBMP, in June 2006, based at IUCN Headquarters near Geneva, Switzerland. Results from theCBMP will be presented in a form tailored to address needs of indigenous people and assistdecision makers in the Arctic. Products envisioned include an interactive web-based data portal,regular newsletters and annual reports, coordinated data bases, and a 2010 Arctic BiodiversityAssessment.ECORA- an integrated ecosystem approach to conserve biodiversity and minimizehabitat fragmentation in the Russian ArcticThe ECORA Expert Task Team (ETT) met in Moscow 5-7 October 2005 and the SteeringCommittee met on 7-8 October. A joint session was held on 7 October. The main purpose of themeetings was to conduct a critical review and assessment of project implementation, and begin2006 work planning and budgeting. Important progress was made in 2005 with regard tothematic program of work, including field work in the three model areas, but also delayscompared to planned schedule and work plan. There is a need to address complex issues withmany stakeholders related to the model areas, and need for focus on an integrated ecosystemapproach. The project also entails a complex management structure, and need for improvedcommunications and administrative procedures.CAFF Progress Report October 2005-March 20067 April 2006 - page 3 of 6 pages -ECORA continues to receive important contributions from the CAFF community, including fromRussia as a member of the Steering Committee and in project implementation, RAIPON, USAand Sweden as Western advisers, and from Norway (Finland as alternate) as CAFF members inthe Steering Committee.A “mid-term project review” is planned by GEF in early 2007, and this will be important inrelation to continued support and possible changes in project design. Co-funding from CAFFmembers has been confirmed, but there are some outstanding issues regarding financial and inkind contributions from Russian partners.ACIA Follow-up, Focal Point, and ASSWCAFF’s response to ACIA follow-up is primarily through the Circumpolar BiodiversityMonitoring Program (CBMP), and community-based monitoring as part of that in cooperationwith the Permanent Participants. CAFF will also work on additional aspects of ACIA follow-upthrough IPY-endorsed projects. CAFF expects further clarification through the Focal Pointprocess that is ongoing. The CAFF ES made a presentation on behalf of CAFF at ASSW inPotsdam, Germany 26 March. This was an opportunity to build stronger links with IASC projects,and other international research organizations, especially as related to ACIA follow-up and theCBMP. The CAFF Chair and ES continue to participate in Focal Point meetings.IPY – Status of projectsThe CBMP received full IPY endorsement and applications for funding are being prepared forsubmission in several Arctic countries. CARMA and ITEX – two of the networks under theCBMP have also received IPY endorsement and are proceeding with funding.AIA’s project titled: Bering Sea Sub-network of Community-based Environmental Monitoring,Observation and Information Stations received a full IPY endorsement. CAFF is second proposeron this project.COMAAR received IPY endorsement. CAFF is second proposer on the COMAAR IPY.The Netherlands (as observer to CAFF) IPY project titled: Health of Arctic Bird Populations.received IPY endorsement as well as CAFF endorsement. This project is especially significant asit relates to the transmission of Avian flu to Europe and the Arctic. They are proceeding now withfunding applications in the Netherlands, Norway and Canada.Greening of the Arctic, an IPY-endorsed project submitted by University of Alaska, Fairbanks,and which also received CAFF endorsement, has been funded. This project is in cooperation withthe CAFF Flora Group.The CAFF-endorsed IPY titled: Arctic Reindeer Herders’ Vulnerability Network Study (EALÁT),submitted by the International Center for Reindeer Husbandry, received full IPY endorsement andis now proceeding with funding.The CAFF-endorsed IPY project titled: Community Adaptation and Vulnerability In ArcticRegions, CAVIAR, submitted by the University of Guelph, Canada also received full IPYendorsement, and is now seeking funding.Sacred Sites Workshop as follow-up to Sacred Sites Report of 2004RAIPON has now proposed to hold this Sacred Sites Workshop before the Ministerial meeting inYamal. This initiative is supported by the Administration of Yamalo-Nenetskiy AutomonousCAFF Progress Report October 2005-March 20067 April 2006 - page 4 of 6 pages -Okrug and they are putting forth partial funding for this event. RAIPON is still seeking theremaining funds to hold this workshop.CAFF Expert GroupsCircumpolar Seabird Expert Group - CBirdCBird held its annual meeting 2-5 March 2005 in Scotland. A progress report from this CBirdmeeting is posted on the CAFF Website and is available upon request. The 2006 meeting washeld in St. Petersburg, Russia, 1-4 March. CBird has identified 12 products which they hope willbe ready as deliverables for the October Ministerial. The most recent meeting report will beavailable soon on the CAFF website.CAFF Flora Group - CFGCFG is now the official Arctic Plants Specialist Group within the Species Survival Commissionof the IUCN. As a first task, CFG has now identified 15 species that hold the threat status ofvulnerable or higher. A progress report from the Flora Group is posted on the CAFF Website andis available upon request. CAFF Map No. 2 – Vegetation of Arctic Alaska has been completedand printed. Copies are now available from the CAFF International Secretariat and will bedelivered to Ministers in October. A workshop is being planned to begin the work on the circum-Arctic boreal forest map. Funding still needs to be obtained for this workshop. The CFG willmeet again in 2007, and the location is still to be determined.Circumpolar Protected Areas Network - CPANCPAN can provide important input to the 2002 Johannesburg (WSSD) target tosignificantly reduce the loss of biodiversity by 2010 and to key international obligationson protected areas. However, the Management Board of CAFF concluded that CPAN iscurrently dormant until a CAFF country takes the position of lead country. During theinterim, the ES has been serving as Acting Chair of CPAN. However, this term of ActingChair ends at CAFF XI. The CAFF Management Board will meet on the 5th of June2006 in the context of the CAFF XI Biennial meeting to decide the future direction forCPAN, and to search for a country lead before moving ahead with CPAN projects.COOPERATION WITH OTHER WORKING GROUPSArctic Council Oil and Gas AssessmentCAFF continues to provide technical and policy review and overall cooperation with AMAP onthis assessment.CAFF-AMAP CooperationCAFF-AMAP cooperation continues to progress. The Chair of AMAP and the Deputy ExecutiveSecretary of AMAP attended the CAFF Management Board meeting in Helsinki in February todiscuss this formally with CAFF. CAFF and AMAP have agreed to exchange and review eachother’s documents pertaining to indicators. A proposed CAFF-AMAP monitoring workshop ofexperts has been agreed to, and is scheduled for 23-24 May in Washington DC. CAFF hasidentified three pilot projects as possible joint efforts: 1) CBird-STAMP – Seabird TissueArchival and Monitoring Project which is originally an Alaskan program begun in 1999 whichcollects seabird eggs and stores them for later analyses of environmental contaminants. Similarprojects have been done in Canada, Norway, Sweden and Russia. 2) Polar Bears for whichcontaminants data and population data have been collected for decades. 3) Arctic Char – one ofthe CBMP networks with good historical data.CAFF Progress Report October 2005-March 20067 April 2006 - page 5 of 6 pages -PAME Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment (AMSA)CAFF sent a representative (from Norway) to the PAME meeting held in Oslo 1-2 March tofurther the cooperation between CAFF and PAME on the AMSA. CAFF is prepared to continuecooperation with PAME on follow-up on the Arctic Marine Strategic Plan (AMSP), especiallyconcerning large marine ecosystems (LMEs), AMSA and marine sensitive areas.Arctic Portal InitiativeThe ICEPORT management team has been established in Iceland to execute the feasibility studyof the Arctic Portal. Three representatives from the Arctic Council are a part of the managementteam – the Iceland SAO and the executive secretaries for PAME and CAFF. The ExecutiveSecretary for SDWG and the Deputy Executive Secretary for AMAP are part of the broaderfeasibility study team. A workshop was convened in Akureyri, Iceland 8-9 December 2005 tobegin the feasibility study. An update will be given by the Icelandic SAO at the April SAOmeeting. Also, the Arctic Portal was submitted as an IPY project and received full IPYendorsement.COOPERATION WITH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONSCAFF cooperation with UNEP-WCMC and UNEP/GRID-ArendalCAFF has continued a close cooperation with UNEP-WCMC and UNEP/GRID-Arendal ondevelopment and data management of the CBMP and a web-based portal.CAFF cooperation with IUCNThe CAFF Flora Group is now the official Arctic Plants Specialist Group within the SpeciesSurvival Commission of the IUCN. In addition, the Chair of the CBMP will be at IUCN for oneyear beginning in June 2006.CAFF cooperation with the Convention on Biological DiversityCanada made a presentation on the CBMP at the Global Biodiversity Forum during the CBDCOP 8 in Brazil. The CAFF International Secretariat was not able to attend to give a side event,however, there were many members of the CAFF community present at the meeting, representinggovernments, indigenous peoples’ groups and non-governmental organizations. CAFF’scontributions have been welcome, and we will continue to follow developments andimplementation of the CBD work program on protected areas.Cooperation with oil and gas biodiversity conservation effortsThe joint biodiversity working group of IPIECA and OGP (the International Petroleum IndustryEnvironmental Conservation Association and Oil and Gas Producers), approached the CAFFManagement Board to ask about the possibility of holding an oil and gas biodiversityconservation workshop in the general vicinity of and within the timeframe of the CAFF XIBiennial Meeting. The CAFF Management Board welcomed this initiative and opportunity fordialogue, but underlined that the Oil and Gas workshop is not to be considered or advertised inany way as CAFF sponsored. The Oil and Gas workshop will therefore follow the CAFF XIBiennial at another location, 12-13 June in Tromsø, Norway. The purpose of the Oil and GasBiodiversity workshop is to bring together oil and gas industry environmental managers andspecialists, NGOs, and government authorities to share information and improve understanding ofcurrent biodiversity conservation issues and best management practices in the Arcticenvironment.MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS OF CAFFCAFF XI and CAFF Management Board MeetingsThe first meeting of 2006 was held in Helsinki 13-15 February 2006, and the CAFF XI Biennialmeeting is scheduled for 5-9 June 2006 in Ylläsjärvi, Finland. An official invitation has beenCAFF Progress Report October 2005-March 20067 April 2006 - page 6 of 6 pages -circulated. Another management board meeting will be convened in August - the date has notbeen set.CAFF Map Redraw to Include the Faroe IslandsArctic countries have defined and continue to define their own borders for the Arctic. It has nowbeen agreed that the CAFF map should now officially includes the Faroe Islands. All newpublications issued by CAFF will reflect this new map. Other possible redraws of the CAFF maphave also been identified, some of which are under further consideration.CAFF Financial SituationThe minutes from the Khanty-Mansiysk SAO meeting state: “The SAOs and PPs urged thecountries which support CAFF and PAME secretariats, to raise their contribution by 15-20%. Themeeting has also asked the countries which are not making their input, to consider the possibilityof voluntary contributions.”This recommendation from the SAOs was discussed at the CAFF Management Board meeting inFebruary 2006, where countries indicated their possibilities to improve CAFF’s financialsituation. Iceland, as host, continues to pay over 50% to the operations of the CAFF Secretariat,however, Iceland has agreed to raise their contribution by 15-20%, if other countries would alsoraise their contributions. Several countries stated that they would contribute to such an increase,while some countries expressed that this would not be possible for 2006.CAFF Website UpgradeA project to upgrade the CAFF website, which was supported by the CAFF Management Boardin February 2005, has proceeded. The CAFF Board wants CAFF to improve its image to thegeneral public, international organizations and professionals interested in CAFF work. PAME isconsidering a similar upgrade. Money would be saved if the two websites are done together. TheCAFF Website will now be more dynamic, interactive and functional – including an improvedcalendar of events, on-line registration for meetings, better document access and easier access forupdating the website to keep it current. Sections providing professional support for the expertgroups of CAFF are being created as well. Part of the upgrade will include an invisible counter totrack visits to the website, both by country and organization. This CAFF website upgrade willpossibly serve as a pilot for the Arctic Portal.NEW PROJECTS2010 Arctic Biodiversity AssessmentCAFF would like approval to complete a 2010 Arctic Biodiversity Assessment, as has beensuggested to CAFF by the AC Chair.The 2010 Arctic Biodiversity Assessment would be completed in cooperation with the PermanentParticipants, and would be one of the major deliverables from the Circumpolar BiodiversityMonitoring Program, endorsed by the Arctic Council Ministers as a cornerstone program ofCAFF in 2004.This 2010 Arctic Biodiversity Assessment would be part of CAFF’s follow-up to thebiodiversity-related recommendations as set forth in the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment. Theinterdisciplinary nature of this Assessment would also be useful in relation to other work in theArctic Council, including in relation to the AMSP and AMSA, and to the work of SDWG andAMAP.

CAFF Progress Report: April 2006

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CAFF Progress Report: April 2006

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