CAFF 2012: Arctic Species Trend Index: Tracking Trends in Arctic Vertebrate Populations Through Space and Time
ASTI
Geographical coverage
| Geographical scale of the assessment | Regional |
|---|---|
| Country or countries covered | Canada, Denmark, Greenland, Russia, Iceland, Norway, United States, Finland, Faroe Islands, Sweden |
| Any other necessary information or explanation for identifying the location of the assessment, including site or region name |
Geographical scale of the assessment
Regional
Country or countries covered
Canada, Denmark, Greenland, Russia, Iceland, Norway, United States, Finland, Faroe Islands, Sweden
Any other necessary information or explanation for identifying the location of the assessment, including site or region name
Conceptual framework, methodology and scope
Assessment objectives
Conducted by CAFFs Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme (CBMP- www.cbmp.is). This report builds on The Arctic Species Trend Index 2010: Tracking trends in Arctic wildlife (CAFF 2010), which provided our first broad measure of trends in vertebrate populations at a pan-Arctic scale. Follow-up work conducted in 2011 consisted of two types of investigations: 1. revision and updating of the Arctic Species Trend Index (ASTI) data set, an update of the ASTI, and a closer look at the marine data sets (McRae et al. 2012.); and, 2. an exploration of spatial biodiversity data analysis techniques using the ASTI data set (this report).
Utilizing the ASTI data (890 vertebrate populations from 323 species spanning a time period from 1951 to 2010), we expanded the original investigation to examine broad-scale spatial patterns of biodiversity change across the Arctic. These patterns were looked at in relation to climatic and other environmental data to investigate potential causal mechanisms of biodiversity change. As well, we evaluated the spatial distribution and quality of biodiversity monitoring across the Arctic for use in identifying critical gaps in monitoring coverage. This report builds on The Arctic Species Trend Index 2010: Tracking trends in Arctic wildlife, which provided our first broad measure of trends in vertebrate populations at a pan-Arctic scale.
Mandate for the assessment
Mandated by the Arctic Council via its Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) working group
Conceptual framework and/or methodology used for the assessment
URL or copy of conceptual framework developed or adapted
http://www.caff.is/asti/asti-publications/27-arctic-species-trend-index-tracking-trends-in-arctic-vertebrate-populations-thro
System(s) assessed
- Marine
- Coastal
- Island
- Inland water
- Forest and woodland
- Cultivated/Agricultural land
- Grassland
- Mountain
- Dryland
- Polar
Species groups assessed
Arctic vertebrates
Ecosystem services/functions assessed
Provisioning
Regulating
Supporting Services/Functions
Cultural Services
Scope of assessment includes
Drivers of change in systems and services
No
Impacts of change in services on human well-being
No
Options for responding/interventions to the trends observed
No
Explicit consideration of the role of biodiversity in the systems and services covered by the assessment
No
Timing of the assessment
Year assessment started
2011
Year assessment finished
2012
If ongoing, year assessment is anticipated to finish
Periodicity of assessment
Repeated
If repeated, how frequently
Assessment outputs
Website(s)
Report(s)
Communication materials (e.g. brochure, presentations, posters, audio-visual media)
Journal publications
Training materials
Other documents/outputs
Tools and processes
Tools and approaches used in the assessment
- Modelling
- Geospatial analysis
- Indicators
Process used for stakeholder engagement in the assessment process and which component
CAFF is the biodiversity working group of the Arctic Council and consists of National Representatives assigned by each of the eight Arctic Council Member States, representatives of Indigenous Peoples' organizations that are Permanent Participants to the Council, and Arctic Council observer countries and organizations. The CAFF Working Group operates by the Arctic Council Rules of Procedures. All Arctic states, PPs and a range of Arctic Council observers engaged in the ABA process via the CAFF working group
CAFF serves as a vehicle to cooperate on species and habitat management and utilization, to share information on management techniques and regulatory regimes, and to facilitate more knowledgeable decision-making. It provides a mechanism to develop common responses on issues of importance for the Arctic ecosystem such as development and economic pressures, conservation opportunities and political commitments.
Key stakeholder groups engaged
Policy-makers, government officials, indigenous peoples, students and industry and civil society representatives
The number of people directly involved in the assessment process
Incorporation of scientific and other types of knowledge
- Scientific information only
Supporting documentation for specific approaches, methodology or criteria developed and/or used to integrate knowledge systems into the assessment
Assessment reports peer reviewed
Yes
Data
Accessibility of data used in assessment
All the data from the report is being made available on the Arctic Biodiversity Data Service: www.abds.is
Policy impact
Impacts the assessment has had on policy and/or decision making, as evidenced through policy references and actions
Independent or other review on policy impact of the assessment
No
