Arctic BON

The Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP) is an international network of scientists, government agencies, Indigenous organizations and conservation groups working together to harmonize and integrate efforts to monitor the Arctic’s living resources. The CBMP facilitates Arctic biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of the region’s natural resources. Its goal is to facilitate more rapid detection, communication, and response to significant biodiversity-related trends and pressures. It does this by (1) Harmonizing and enhancing Arctic monitoring efforts, thereby improving the ability to detect and understand significant trends; and (2) Reporting
to, and communicating with, key decision makers and stakeholders, thereby enabling effective conservation and adaptation responses to changes in Arctic biodiversity.

The CBMP is the monitoring programme of Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) which is the biodiversity working group of the Arctic Council. 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.
CAFF 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.

CAFF is governed by a Chair and Management Board, with support and coordination provided by the International CAFF Secretariat. The CBMP is co-lead by the Kingdom of Denmark and the U.S. with Steering Groups for each ecosystem (see here for members of each steering group: coastal, freshwater, marine, terrestrial.

About Arctic BON Activities Data Products Documents & Publications Partners Resources