The Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program, Coastal: monitoring and understanding change in Arctic coastal zones

Date/time: December 4, 15:00-16:30

Room: San Siro 2

Session organizer: Carl Markon, USGS and Donald McLennan, Canadian High Arctic Research Station (CHARS) on behalf of the CBMP Coastal Expert Monitoring Group

Arctic coastal ecosystems are under increasing pressures from a number of stressors and drivers of change, including coastal erosion, changes in sea ice, increased recreation opportunities, resource development, and pollution. Determining what effects these pressures - alone and in combination - have on biodiversity is difficult because the Arctic is so large and complex, but also because long-term, circumpolar monitoring data is uncoordinated, leading to information gaps and inefficient reporting. CAFF's Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP) will be working with partners across the Arctic to harmonize and enhance long-term coastal monitoring efforts. This session will showcase some existing work being done in Arctic coastal areas and introduce work on the recently initiated CBMP Arctic Coastal Biodiversity Monitoring Plan.

• Carl Markon, U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Region: Development of a circumpolar biodiversity monitoring plan for Arctic coastal biodiversity
• Liudmla Sergienko, Petrozavodsk State University:  Structure and dynamics of Arctic coastal ecosystems of the Russian Arctic
• Tatiana Minayeva, Wetlands International:  The methodology for the assessment of ecosystem sensitivity in Arctic coastal habitats
• Vassily Spiridonov, P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology:  Newly established commission on marine stations and protected areas: a network for long-term monitoring of Arctic marine and coastal biodiversity in Russia
• Donald McLennan, Canadian High Arctic Research Station:  Opportunities and challenges for implementing long-term coastal monitoring in Canada’s Arctic

Session theme: Understanding cumulative effects and managing impacts