Unique Arctic ecosystems, sea ice, tundra, thermokarst ponds, and permafrost peatlands have been disappearing over the recent decades. Consequently, the species for whom they serve as habitats have declined.  Indeed, ultimately, it is the Arctic as such that is at stake. The changes in Arctic Biodiversity, notwithstanding their global repercussions, are hugely challenging to indigenous and other Arctic residents, to their livelihood, and to their sense of identity.

Such, by and large, is the overall message of the “Arctic Biodiversity Trends 2010: Selected Indicators of Change” that was presented at a press conference held in conjunction with the recent Arctic Council Deputy Ministers’ meeting at the premises of the Danish Foreign Ministry.

The report is being published by the Arctic Council Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) working group. It intends to present a snapshot of the Arctic as well as the main trends with regard to the biological diversity of the region.

The report takes off from 7 key findings regarding present and anticipated impacts on Arctic biodiversity that pervade all of the 22 indicators – ranging from polar bears to indigenous linguistic diversity!  The report, among other things, will serve as CAFF and Arctic Council input to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity CoP10 to be held in Japan later this year.

The report also serves as a sort of layman forerunner of a complete scientific assessment of Arctic biodiversity that will emerge from the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (ABA), currently in preparation under the auspices of the CAFF working group.

According to CAFF, the report has started to receive good press coverage and has so far been accessed and downloaded by people in 36 countries. The ABA people are now in the process of arranging for the side event to launch the report at the upcoming IPY conference in Oslo on June 10th.  At this event they also plan to have a panel discussion on Arctic biodiversity.