Memorandum to Senior Arctic Officials 30/09/2013. DEVELOPMENT FOR PEOPLE OF THE NORTH: SUSTAINABLE CIRCUMPOLAR COMMUNITIES. Project status.

Abstract

" Project Goal: To improve the status and secure the long-term sustainability of ‘at risk’ Arctic breeding bird populations. Project Summary: The project will have three stages, or steps (as depicted in Figure 1). During the first step, species or groups of species will be prioritized. The species most at risk will be the focus of conservation efforts from 2013 to 2015, while over the longer term conservation efforts will focus on species lower on the priority list. During the second step the state of knowledge for priority species in three main areas will be assessed: i) Population status and trends ii) Identification of the most important life stage areas or hotspots iii) Main threats or stressors which are leading to a high extinction risk During the third step direct actions to improve the conservation status of priority species will be developed. Where the state of knowledge in all three areas is high, the project will identify the most effective combination of actions, such as protected areas, hunting regulations or reduced development and broker agreements to implement actions. Where the state of knowledge is poorer, the project will first fill important knowledge gaps and then develop appropriate, evidence based management actions and agreements for implementation of those actions. All stages of this project will require enhanced cooperation among Arctic countries, as well as cooperation between Arctic countries and countries outside the Arctic, along migration routes." /.../