Work on environmental toxins in the Arctic Council
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The Norwegian Environment Agency stated that CAFF also works to ensure national implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Ramsar Conven-
tion. A decision has also been made to cooperate with the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement AEWA to protect aquatic birds migrating between Africa, Europe and
Asia.
207
For a description of the conventions and agreements, see Fact box 6. CAFF also noted that an important follow-up study on biological diversity ABA,
2013 is to consider the international fora to which the various recommendations can be addressed.
208
CAFF presents its work at various international meetings,
209
and is in the process of establishing an open online data system, the Arctic Biodiversity Data Service, with
updated information on biodiversity in the Arctic.
Fact box 6 Conventions and agreements on biodiversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity CBD is the most important global agreement for protecting biodiversity, ensuring sustainable use of biological resources and ensuring that the beneits from
utilisation of genetic resources are shared equally among the countries. All Arctic states, with the exception of the United States, have signed the treaty, but the United States is considering ratifying it.
In CAFF’s view, however, the United States is very active in the Convention. The Ministry of the Environ- ment is the management authority and national liaison for the Convention in Norway.
The Ramsar Convention is a global treaty whose purpose is to protect wetlands through conservation and sustainable use. Wetlands provide vital ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, water
supply, lood control, iltering and decomposition of pollutants and excess nutrients. Furthermore, wetlands are breeding and nursery grounds for a variety of waterfowl species and resting grounds for
migratory birds. The Norwegian Environment Agency is the management authority and scientiic
authority for the Convention. The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals the Bonn Convention is
a global agreement whose purpose is to protect populations of migratory wild animals that regularly cross national borders. The Convention does not distinguish between terrestrial and marine animals,
and it also includes the protection of animal habitats. Of the members of the Arctic Council, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland have signed the agreement, while Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Russia
and the United States have not. The Convention is a framework agreement that for many species only becomes binding through special agreements. The African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement AEWA on
the protection of migratory waterbirds in the Western Palaearctic and throughout Africa is a special agreement under the Bonn Convention. The Norwegian Environment Agency is the Norwegian
management authority for both the Bonn Convention and agreements under this Convention. The Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears for the protection of polar bears and their habitats
is an international agreement that obligates Norway and the other four polar bear countries, Canada, the United States, Greenland and Russia, to protect the ecosystems of which polar bears are a part.
United Nations Association. Convention on Biological Diversity. www.globalis.no. Norwegian Environment Agency. Convention on Biological Diversity CBD. www.miljodirektoratet.no.
Ministry of the Environment. Miljøkonvensjonene. The environmental conventions. www.regjeringen.no.
207 Focus group meeting with the Norwegian Environment Agency et al on 9 March 2012 and interview with the Agency on 13 June 2013.
208 Interview with the Norwegian Environment Agency on 13 June 2013. 209 Focus group meeting on 9 March 2012.
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The Arctic Council’s work on biodiversity and Norwegian environmental protection management in the Arctic
The Ministry of the Environment noted that the Arctic Council has little inluence on Norwegian management of biodiversity. The Ministry stated that the strategies, poli-
cies, action plans etc. prepared by the Arctic Council may have some signiicance for Norwegian management, but in the same manner as with the Arctic Council’s recom-
mendations, Norway is usually ahead of the Arctic Council. However, there have been examples of where an action plan from the Arctic Council has been used by environ-
mental protection authorities, as in conjunction with the conservation plan in Svalbard in the 1990s. The Arctic Council’s action plans concerning, for example, an individual
species, are often very speciic and thus easier to apply in an administration’s own work, while it is more diicult to incorporate action plans on a more general level in
practical work.
210
The Norwegian Environment Agency believes that national implementation of the Arctic Council’s recommendations and speciic measures are essential for addressing
transboundary challenges in the Arctic countries, including the conservation of migra- tory species. It should be noted, however, that Arctic Council recommendations are
sometimes weaker than the regulations that Norway already has.
211
The beneits can go both ways. On the one hand, through CAFF, Norway has, accord- ing to the Norwegian Environment Agency, made a positive contribution to raising
awareness of the importance of protecting forests and wetlands in the Arctic. On the other hand, by increasing the knowledge base for seabirds, CAFF has helped bolster
Norwegian management through the national action plans for various bird species. Thanks to CAFF, breeding areas and movement patterns of several species that move
across the Arctic states have been mapped. This work has also been important in regard to drafting and implementing national measures. Under the auspices of CAFF,
the Arctic Council has also helped to obtain sound information about several species, including polar bears and seabirds. According to the Norwegian Environment Agency,
the information has been used in both national management and multipartite coopera- tion on polar bears.
212
Mapping and monitoring of biodiversity in the Norwegian Arctic
The Arctic Council has emphasised the importance of monitoring biodiversity. The Ministry of the Environment states that the mapping of biodiversity on the
Norwegian mainland follows the national programmes. For Svalbard, Jan Mayen and the surrounding ocean areas, the environmental monitoring system – Environmental
Monitoring of Svalbard and Jan Mayen MOSJ – is followed. According to the Ministry of the Environment, the monitoring forms the basis for advice to manage-
ment about the need for action, research or improved monitoring of Svalbard and Jan Mayen. MOSJ includes both mapping of a number of indicators for biodiversity and
pollution. In addition, several programmes are aimed at biodiversity for both ocean and land areas in the Arctic, including seabirds SEAPOP and the seabed
MAREANO.
213
See Fact box 7.
210 Interview with the Ministry of the Environment on 26 August 2013. 211 Focus group meeting on 9 March 2012.
212 Interview with the Norwegian Environment Agency on 13 June 2013. 213 Interview with the Ministry of the Environment on 31 May 2012.
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Fact box 7 National environmental monitoring programmes
Environmental Monitoring of Svalbard and Jan Mayen MOSJ is part of the state monitoring of the environment in Norway and the Norwegian Polar Institute has primary responsibility for the develop-
ment and operation of MOSJ. The programme monitors the environment in the atmosphere, on land and in the sea areas around Svalbard and Jan Mayen. The largest suppliers of data to the monitoring
system are the Governor of Svalbard, Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Meteorological Institute, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research and Norwegian Polar Institute.
According to MOSJ, this is the most comprehensive environmental monitoring programme in the Arctic. Its duties are to collect,
process and interpret environmental data and advise management on the need for action, research or improved monitoring of Svalbard and Jan Mayen.
SEAPOP is a comprehensive and long-term monitoring and mapping programme for Norwegian sea- birds. The programme represents a new initiative for these activities along the Norwegian coast, in
Svalbard and adjacent sea areas, and will provide and maintain base-line knowledge of seabirds to improve the management of these marine environments. Collecting data that will make it possible to
model the effects of human intervention and distinguish these from those primarily caused by natural variation, is emphasised. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Norwegian Polar Institute and
Tromsø Museum – The University Museum is responsible for carrying out the programme. MAREANO maps depth and topography, sediment composition, biodiversity, habitats and biotopes as
well as pollution in the seabed in Norwegian coastal and marine areas. The Institute of Marine Research, the Geological Survey of Norway and the Norwegian Mapping Authority Hydrographic
Service comprise the Executive Group which is responsible for carrying out MAREANO ield sampling and other scientiic activities. Executive responsibility for implementing MAREANO’s activities lies with
the programme group, which is led by the Directorate of Fisheries.
Norwegian Polar Institute. Environmental Monitoring of Svalbard and Jan Mayen – MOSJ, http:mosj.npolar.no. Norwegian Polar Institute. Environmental Monitoring of Svalbard and Jan Mayen – MOSJ, http:mosj.npolar.no.
SEAPOP, a milestone for mapping and monitoring seabirds in Norway, www.seapop.no. MAREANO, About MAREANO, www.mareano.noom_mareano.
The Norwegian Polar Institute’s research and expedition vessel RV Lance is used mostly in the Arctic, but also in the Antarctic. In January 2015, the vessel will be frozen in the drift ice north of Svalbard and drift
with the ice for six months.
Photo: Sebastian Gerland, Norwegian Polar Institute