Arctic Biodiversity Assessment - the first account of species-, ecosystem- and genetic diversity of the circumpolar North
Hans Meltofte, Chief Scientist, Arctic Biodiversity Congress
Plenary Address
December 2, 2014, Trondheim, Norway
The Arctic Biodiversity Assessment is the concerted effort during five years of 252 scientists from 14 countries including 35 lead authors from both N America and Eurasia. More than 4500 scientific papers have been referred to, and about 100 scientists have contributed as referees including that the report has been through at least 20 critical reviews. About 65 TEK contributions have been cited, and more than 2 million US$ have been invested. The team of authors have done their outmost to produce a comprehensive and correct account of Arctic biodiversity and its living conditions both in relation to the natural environment and in relation to man – historically, at present and in relation to expected future pressures. The overarching conclusion is that climate change is by far the most serious threat to biodiversity in the Arctic, and there is an immediate need to implement actions to reduce this stressor.
Round table discussions
Three round table discussions are scheduled in the plenary. These round table discussions offer a broad, multi-disciplinary and participatory space for all attendees to discuss pertinent issues arising from the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment and implementation of its recommendations.
Professional facilitators will pose a series of questions to the audience, who will be organized in small groups of 10-12 around round tables. The audience will then discuss the issues amongst themselves, based on their own perspectives and expertise. Responses will be shared with all participants.
Round table questions will focus on:
- a. Focus on key findings of the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (December 3, morning)
- b. Focus on mainstreaming (December 3, afternoon)
- c. Moving from knowledge to action (December 4, morning)
The round table discussions will allow participants to reflect on the implications of the ABA and its policy recommendations. They will encourage dialogue among those with different perspectives to inform the Action for Biodiversity: Implementing the Recommendations of the ABA 2013-2021, and encourage participants to consider how they can contribute, as individuals or as representatives of organizations and sectors, to implementing the ABA recommendations.
Natasia Walker and Associates: pdf Facilitated round table discussions at the Arctic Biodiversity Congress (701 KB)
Several side meetings will be occurring on the outskirts of the Arctic Biodiversity Congress. Several are closed and invite only meetings. Please use the contact information below to inquire about individual side meetings.
Remote Sensing Workshop
December 1, 2014: Norwegian Environment Agency
Contact: Tom Barry
Ecosystem Based Management workshop
November 30- December 1, 2014: Scandic Hotel Lerkendal
Contact: Sarah Abdelrahim
APECS Executive Committee meeting
November 29 - December 1, 2014: The Norwegian Environment Agency
Contact: Gerlis Fugmann
The Herbivory Network
December 1, 2014: Norwegian Environment Agency
Contact: Virve Ravolainen
Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program, Terrestrial Steering Group
December 4, 2014: Scandic Hotel Lerkendal
Contact: Malene Doyle and Morten Ingebrigsten
The Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI)
December 5, 2014: Norwegian Environment Agency
Contact: Vicky Johnston and Marthe Haugan
Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program Co-Chairs Meeting (closed)
December 3, 2014: Scandic Hotel Lerkendal
Contact: Tom Christensen and John Payne
Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) Board Meeting (closed)
December 5, 2014: Norwegian Environment Agency
Contact: Tom Barry
CAFF Flora Group meeting
December 5-6, 2014: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)
Contact: Kari Larusson and Kristine Westergaard
Program
December 2 | |||||
09:00 - 09:10 | Welcome: Risa Smith, CAFF Chair (Room: San Siro 1) | ||||
09:10 - 09:25 | Tine Sundtoft, Minister of Climate and Environment, Norway | ||||
09:25 - 09:40 | Vincent Rigby, Chair of the Senior Arctic Officials of the Arctic Council | ||||
09:40 - 09:55 | Áile Jávo, President, Saami Council | ||||
09:55 - 10:40 | "Arctic ecosystems in a global perspective" Panel discussion with representatives from the Arctic Council States, Permanent Participants, and Observers | ||||
10:40 - 11:00 | Coffee | ||||
11:00 - 11:20 | Hans Meltofte, Chief Scientist, Arctic Biodiversity Assessment: "The Arctic Biodiversity Assessment" | ||||
11:20 - 11:35 | Mette Wilkie, Director, Division of Environmental Policy Implementation, United Nations Environment Programme | ||||
11:35 - 11:50 | Braulio F. De Souza Dias, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity | ||||
11:50 - 12:00 | Setting the Stage: Risa Smith, Congress Co-Chair | ||||
12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch | ||||
13:00 - 14:30 | How to preserve the tundra in a changing climate Johan Olofsson, Umeå University
Room: Gofoten | Traditional knowledge and the co-production of knowledge Carolina Behe, Inuit Circumpolar Council and Henry Huntington, Huntington Consultancy
Room: San Siro 2 | Willem Goedkoop, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Joseph Culp, University of New Brunswick/Environment Canada on behalf of the CBMP Freshwater Steering Group Room: Mesanin 1 | Circumpolar marine biodiversity in the Arctic Knut Eirik Jørstad, Institute of Marine Research, Jørgen Schou Christiansen, University of Tromsø and Hein Rune Skjodal
Room: San Siro 1 | How an ecoregional model of the Barents Sea lends support to science-informed decision making JoLynn Carroll, Akvaplan-niva
Room: Mesanin 2 |
14:30 - 15:00 | Coffee | ||||
15:00 - 16:30 | How to approach collaborative research on herbivory: an ecological interaction of key importance Virve Ravolainen, Norwegian Polar Institute on behalf of The Herbivory Network
Room: Gofoten | Traditional knowledge and the co-production of knowledge (continued) Carolina Behe, Inuit Circumpolar Council and Henry Huntington, Huntington Consulting
Room: San Siro 2 | Haakon Hop, Norwegian Polar Institute, Bodil Bluhm, University of Tromsø, Michel Poulin, Canadian Museum Nature and Cecile von Quillfeldt, University of Tromsø on behalf of the CBMP Sea Ice Biota Expert Network Room: Mesanin 1 | Invasive species in the Arctic: prevention, detection and response priorities Brooks Kaiser, University of South Denmark/University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization and Denny Lassuy, North Slope Science Initiative
Room: Mesanin 2 | Partnerships in the Arctic: examples of mutual engagement for biodiversity conservation Robert Blaauw, Shell International
Room: San Siro 1 |
16:30 - 17:00 | Coffee | ||||
17:00 - 18:30 | Eric Hoberg, USDA and Susan Kutz, University of Calgary Room: Gofoten | Sustainable management of polar bear in a changing world Anne Kendrick and John Cheechoo, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
Room: Mesanin 2 | Dan Slavik, WWF Canada Room: San Siro 2 | Adaptive ecosystem based approaches to monitoring in the Arctic Rolf Anker Ims, University of Tromsø
Room: San Siro 1 | Beyond Arctic biodiversity conservation: ecosystem stewardship and resilience Martin Sommerkorn, WWF Global Arctic Programme, Henry Huntington, Pew Charitable Trust and Joel Clement, U.S. Department of the Interior Room: Mesanin 1 |
19:30 | Congress dinner at Congress venue courtesy of the Norwegian Environment Agency. Welcome: Ellen Hambro, Director General of the Norwegian Environment Agency | ||||
December 3 | |||||
08:30 - 09:00 | Arctic biodiversity begins at home: Janos Pasztor, Acting Executive Director, Conservation, WWF International and Former Executive Director, UN Secretary's High Level Panel on Global Sustainability (Room: San Siro 2 and 3) | ||||
09:00 - 10:00 | Facilitated roundtable discussions (Room: San Siro 2 and 3) | ||||
10:00 - 10:30 | Coffee | ||||
10:30 - 12:00 | Arctic arthropods: practical and profitable Toke Høye, Arctic Research Centre Aarhus University Room: Mesanin 2 | Louis Brzuzy, Shell Room: Mesanin 1 | Consequences of interacting climate and non-climate drivers on Arctic biodiversity Jon Fuglestad, AMAP, Robbie Andrew, CICERO and Marianne Kroglund, Norwegian Environment Agency Room: San Siro 1 | Measuring current and future impacts of a changing Arctic on biodiversity: a pan-Arctic perspective Louise McRae, Zoological Society of London Room: San Siro 2 | Arctic NBICs in 2035: the political economy of biodiversity in the high north Mikå Mered, French Polar Cluster, POLARISK Group Room: Gofoten |
12:00 - 13:00 | |||||
13:00 - 14:30 | A horizon scan of the management of Eurasian reindeer Jon Moen, Umeå University
Room: Mesanin 2 | The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for the Arctic Alexander Shestakov, WWF Global Arctic Programme
Room: Mesanin 1 | Reidar Hindrum, Norwegian Environment Agency and Thomas Juul Pedersen, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources on behalf of the CBMP Marine Steering Group Room: San Siro 1 | Promoting public education and outreach for improved Arctic conservation Margaret Beckel, Canadian Museum of Nature and Heather Mariash, McGill University
Room: San Siro 2 | Louis Brzuzy, Shell
Room: Gofoten |
14:30 - 15:00 | Coffee | ||||
15:00 - 16:30 | Identifying and safeguarding protected/sensitive areas Tom Christensen and Hans Meltofte, Aarhus University Room: San Siro 1 | What happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic: civil society views on Arctic protection Neil Hamilton, Greenpeace Room: Mesanin 1 | Cumulative effects in the Arctic: challenges and opportunities in a changing environment Jamie Trammell, University of Alaska and Scott Slocombe, Wilfrid Laurier University Room: Mesanin 2 | Biodiversity objectives: how do we make them integral to development operations in the Arctic? Trish Hayes, Environment Canada, Marthe Haugan, Norwegian Environment Agency and Kevin McKnight, Alcoa Room: San Siro 2 | Biodiversity of Beringia: past present and future David Payer, USFWS and Eric Hoberg, USDA
Room: Gofoten |
16:30 - 17:00 | Coffee | ||||
17:00 - 18:00 | Facilitated roundtable discussion (Room: San Siro 2 and 3) | ||||
19:30 | Organ concert in the Nidaros Cathedral hosted by City of Trondheim | ||||
December 4 | |||||
08:30 - 10:00 | Facilitated roundtable discussion (Room: San Siro 2 and 3) | ||||
10:00 - 10:30 | Coffee | ||||
10:30 - 12:00 | Value and endangered vegetation habitats in the Arctic: criteria and approaches to conservation Natalia Koroleva, Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden Institute of Kola Science Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Marc Roekaerts, Council of Europe and Kristine Westergaard, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA)
Room: Utsikten | Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI) Spike Millington, East Asian Australasian Flyways Partnership and Victoria Johnston, Environment Canada on behalf of the AMBI Steering Group
Room: San Siro 2 | Ecosystems and fisheries: Understanding cumulative effects and managing change Edda Johannesen, ICES Working Group, Bjarte Bogstad, ICES Arctic Fisheries Working Group and Denny Lassuy, North Slope Science Initiative
Room: San Siro 3 | DNA barcoding and meta barcoding of Arctic biodiversity: current insights and future prospects Torbjørn Ekrem and Elisabeth Stur, NTNU University Museum
Room: Gofoten | Using scenario planning for better decisions and reduced risk in the Arctic John Payne, North Slope Science Initiative and Jean Thie, IUCN
Room: Rema 1000 |
12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch | ||||
13:00 - 14:30 | Global consequences: changing climate conditions for water-related ecosystems in the Arctic Tobias Salathe, Ramsar Secretariat and Michael Becker, McGill University
Room: Rema 1000 | Arctic biodiversity data management and delivery Kári Fannar Lárusson, CAFF Secretariat
Room: San Siro 2 | Tom Christensen, Aarhus University and Mora Aronsson, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, on behalf of the Terrestrial Steering Group Room: San Siro 3 | Community conservation: human-polar bear conflict management Femke Koopmans and Gert Polet, WWF Netherlands
Room: Utsikten | How to set up a land use scenario and linking it with biodiversity Wilbert van Rooij, Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
Room: Gofoten |
14:30 - 15:00 | Coffee | ||||
15:00 - 16:30 | Tools for monitoring, assessing and managing Kari Fannar Lárusson, CAFF International Secretariat
Room: Rema 1000 | Mike Gill, Canadian High Arctic Research Station
Room: San Siro 3 | Carl Markon, USGS and Donald McLennan Canadian High Arctic Research Station on behalf of the CBMP Coastal Expert Monitoring Network Room: San Siro 2 | The role of wildlife harvest in Arctic biodiversity conservation Henry Huntington, Pew Charitable Trust
Room: Utsikten | Beth Kersey and Natasia Levi, Village of Lower Kalskag Room: Gofoten |
16:30 - 16:45 | Coffee | ||||
16:45 - 17:30 | "International cooperation and global conventions: addressing Arctic biodiversity" Panel discussion with representatives from Multilateral Environmental Agreements and indigenous organizations (Room: San Siro 2 and 3) | ||||
17:30 - 18:00 | Beyond Trondheim, Henry Huntington Closing plenary (Room: San Siro 2 and 3) |
Congress themes
with special sessions focussing on
Three main themes will guide the flow and organization of the Congress. These overarching themes will run concurrently throughout the Congress and will form the backbone for the Congress. These themes were identified in the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment recommendations for policy.
The form and content of the Congress program is under development, with guidance from the Program Advisory Committee, but is expected to include the following elements. In order to allow for some adjustments, including further input from the Program Advisory Committee, Congress organizers reserve the right to make changes to the preliminary program. Such changes will be posted on this Congress website.