Chapter 11 in Geoinformatics for Applied Marine and Coastal Management. Bartlett, D.J. and Celliers, L. (Editors). Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press, 2016
The Arctic is experiencing a period of intense and accelerating change
and in the past century av... more The Arctic is experiencing a period of intense and accelerating change
and in the past century average temperatures have increased at almost twice the average global rate. The scale and pace of these changes is exerting major influences on Arctic ecosystems and it has become increasingly important to find a way in which these ecosystems can be sustainably managed. Worldwide there is an increasing paradigm shift in ocean management that comes from an increasing awareness of the cumulative effects of human activities and the need to take a holistic and integrated approach to management to ensure the sustainability of marine ecosystems. However while little is yet known on patterns of cumulative effects and the changes these effects may cause, spatial data on the distribution and intensity of human activities in marine areas is essential in establishing a more adaptive and ecosystem-based approach to marine environmental management. This chapter looks at spatial information and Ecosystem-Based Management in the Arctic.
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and in the past century average temperatures have increased at almost twice the average global rate. The scale and pace of these changes is exerting major influences on Arctic ecosystems and it has become increasingly important to find a way in which these ecosystems can be sustainably managed. Worldwide there is an increasing paradigm shift in ocean management that comes from an increasing awareness of the cumulative effects of human activities and the need to take a holistic and integrated approach to management to ensure the sustainability of marine ecosystems. However while little is yet known on patterns of cumulative effects and the changes these effects may cause, spatial data on the distribution and intensity of human activities in marine areas is essential in establishing a more adaptive and ecosystem-based approach to marine environmental management. This chapter looks at spatial information and Ecosystem-Based Management in the Arctic.
their environment. They are a valuable source of information and a wealth of knowledge on human interactions with nature is encoded in these languages. If a language is lost, a world
is lost. This deep knowledge and inter-connectedness is expressed in Arctic song, subsistence practices, and other cultural expressions but especially in place names across the Arctic. Place names of the indigenous peoples reflect subsistence practices, stories, dwelling sites, spawning sites, migratory routes of animals, and links to the sacred realms of the indigenous peoples of the north.
Twenty-eight languages classified as critically endangered are in dire need of attention before they, too, are lost forever. Over 70% of the Arctic’s indigenous languages are spoken only in single countries, and so are particularly exposed to the policies of a single government bringing with it the potential perhaps, for more effective conservation of these languages, as no cross border efforts are required. The remaining languages are spread across a number of jurisdictions and are therefore subject to differing approaches when it comes to addressing their revitalization
The ABA provides a much-needed description of the state of biodiversity in the Arctic. It:
creates a baseline for use in global and regional assessments of Arctic biodiversity which will inform and guide future Arctic Council work;
provides up-to-date knowledge gathered from scientific publications supplemented with insights from traditional knowledge holders;
identifies gaps in the data record;
describes key mechanisms driving change; and
presents science-based suggestions for action on addressing major pressures on Arctic biodiversity.
The ABA consists of four components: (1) Arctic Biodiversity Trends 2010 – Selected Indicators of Change, which provided a preliminary snapshot of status and trends of Arctic biodiversity; (2) Arctic Biodiversity Assessment: status and trends in Arctic biodiversity, a comprehensive, peer-reviewed scientific assessment of Arctic biodiversity, and synthesis document (3) a Traditional Ecological Knowledge Compendium and (4) a Summary for Policy Makers aimed at making the science accessible for decision-makers and identifying actions to address key findings.
The unprecedented changes being experienced in the Arctic emphasize the importance and urgency of getting information to decision-makers in a timely manner. To do so requires easily accessible, comprehensive data, coordinated and consistent monitoring, up-to-date assessments of trends and informed responses. The synthesis of status and trends of Arctic biodiversity in the ABA will serve as a baseline against which further change can be measured. The Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP) is the Conservation of Arctic Fauna and Flora’s (CAFF’s) primary effort to monitor biodiversity on an ongoing basis to provide relevant information to decision makers about the changes that are occurring, and their underlying causes. Specifically, the CBMP is developing and implementing ecosystem monitoring programs for freshwater, marine and terrestrial environments and is planning one for coastal environments. Resulting information is being made accessible by publishing indicators on the CBMP (and other) websites, via the Arctic Biodiversity Data Service, and through other publications such as the annual Arctic Report Card. These efforts are intended to help shorten the time between detection of changes, reporting and effective policy responses.