Arctic LCC News

CAFF Arctic Biodiversity Assessment now available

2013-05-15 — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 -0800

The Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), the biodiversity working group of the Arctic Council has released the "Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (ABA)," a report containing the best available science informed by traditional ecological knowledge on the status and trends of Arctic biodiversity and accompanying policy recommendations for biodiversity conservation. The press release, report, key findings, and policy recommendations are available at www.arcticbiodiversity.is. The report can also be found on the Resources page.

President Signs National Strategy for the Arctic Region

2013-05-10 — Fri, 10 May 2013 00:00:00 -0800

On May 10, 2013, President Obama signed the National Strategy for the Arctic Region. The United States joins its Arctic Council colleagues Canada, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Russia, and Sweden in articulating strategic priorities for this critical region of the world. The strategy can be found on the Resources page.

Integrated Arctic Management Report Released

2013-04-08 — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0800

On April 4, 2013, an inter-agency working group chaired by Interior Deputy Secretary David Hayes released a report that calls for an integrated management strategy for the rapidly changing Arctic. The report (14 MB), Managing for the Future in a Rapidly Changing Arctic, highlights the need for a coordinated approach that uses the best available science to integrate cultural, environmental and economic factors in decision-making about development and conservation. The report is available on the Resources page.

Arctic LCC 2012 Annual Report Released

2013-03-22 — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0800

The Arctic LCC has released its 2012 annual report. Click here (3 MB) to download the report. The report may also be downloaded from the Annual Reports page.

Strategic Science Plan Now Available

2013-02-20 — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0900

The Arctic LCC Steering Committee has approved our Strategic Science Plan, which is intended to provide overall direction for our program of work over the next decade. The Plan includes appendices summarizing our proposed Terrestrial Environmental Observation Network (TEON), recommendations of our “Species and Habitat Work Group”, and our Data Sharing Policy. Please send comments to staff@articlcc.org with “‘Science Plan” in the subject line, by 20 April 2013.

IARPC Arctic Research Plan Released

2013-02-19 — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0900

On February 19th, 2013, the Whitehouse released the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee’s Arctic Research Plan: FY2013-2017. The 14 participating Federal agencies identified 7 research areas that will inform national policy and benefit significantly from close interagency coordination:

Sea ice and marine ecosystems
Terrestrial ice and ecosystems
Atmospheric studies of surface heat, energy, and mass balances
Observing systems
Regional climate models
Adaptation tools for sustaining communities
Human Health

Climate Change Vulnerability of Breeding Birds in Arctic AK Report

2013-01-10 — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0900

The Assessing Climate Change Vulnerability of Breeding Birds in Arctic AK report is now available for download. The specific goals of this assessment were to: provide a climate change vulnerability ranking for selected Arctic Alaskan breeding bird species; evaluate the relative contribution of specific sensitivity and exposure factors to individual species rankings; consider how this assessment may be integrated with other approaches; and appraise the effectiveness of the NatureServe Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) tool.

43rd International Arctic Workshop

2012-12-26 — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 00:00:00 -0900

Registration for the 43rd International Arctic Workshop is now open. The workshop will be held at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst from March 11 through March 13. Abstracts will be due by January 31, 2012. For more information, please visit the workshop website.

Alaska LCC Fall 2012 Newsletter

2012-10-11 — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0800

The Fall 2012 Landscape Conservation Cooperatives in Alaska newsletter is out. Click here (1.5 MB) to download.

Cultural impacts of arctic warming make national news

2012-08-09 — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 00:00:00 -0800

An article discussing the impacts of climate change on villages in the Arctic appeared on the front page of the August 5th edition of the Washington Post. The piece, titled "Alaskan Arctic villages hit hard by climate change", highlights how climate change is threatening northern communities and features quotes from residents of Point Hope, Barrow, Newtok, and Kotzebue, as well as researchers working in the Arctic.