CAFF

CAFF Secretariat is located in Akureyri, Iceland. CAFF Chairmanship is currently held by Greenland.

CAFF's mandate is to address the conservation of Arctic biodiversity, and communicate the findings to the governments and residents of the Arctic, helping to promote practices which ensure sustainability of the Arctic's living resources.

The conservation of biodiversity is a necessary condition for sustainable development. Arctic biodiversity is experiencing stress from a number of factors such as climate change and rapid economic growth in the Arctic region, as well as the loss of wintering habitats for those species migrating outside the Arctic region.

With the CAFF 2006-2008 Work Plan, CAFF is responding to the recommendations in the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment calling for long-term data series on status and trends of Arctic biodiversity and the need for further research, observations monitoring and modeling. It is possible to successfully conserve the natural environment and allow for economic development, but this requires solid baseline data on long-term status and trends of Arctic biodiversity, habitats and ecosystem health. CAFF's projects for the upcoming inter-ministerial period will provide data for informed decision making in resolving conflicts which are now arising in trying to both conserve the natural environment and permit regional growth.

In addition to research and monitoring, CAFF is also focusing efforts on education and outreach. While recognizing the need to acquire the data, the CAFF Working Group is also putting emphasis on getting the data out to the stakeholders, policymakers, researchers and the general public. Brochures, development of a new CAFF website and assistance on design and implementation of the Arctic Portal are all projects directly addressing outreach and education.

The CAFF Strategic Plan 1998-2002 sets forth four Guiding Principles for the CAFF Program as follows:

• the involvement of indigenous and local people and use of traditional ecological knowledge;
• the use of broad, ecosystem-based approach to conservation and management;
• cooperation with other conservation initiatives to minimize duplication and increase effectiveness;
• communication of CAFF program activities.

The main programs and expert groups of the CAFF Working Group are:

• Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP)
• CAFF Flora Expert Group (CFG), now also serves as the IUCN Arctic Plant Specialist Group
• CAFF Seabird Expert Group (CBird) is involved in a number of projects, focused on research and monitoring population effects from climate change, fisheries interactions, and harvest as well as education and outreach.
• Circumpolar Protected Area Network (CPAN) - (currently dormant)

CAFF's Work Plan for the period 2006-2008 emphasizes cooperation and collaboration with other Arctic Council Working Groups, and organizations outside of the Arctic Council, and makes efforts to actively contribute to the global conservation agenda.  This Work Plan responds to the findings and recommendations of the ACIA report, the Oil and Gas Assessment, the Arctic Council's Arctic Marine Strategic Plan and ECORA.