CAFF Flora Expert Group
During the next few decades the Arctic will be strongly affected by forces within and from outside the region, including the impacts of global climate change, resource development, changes in numbers of wildlife species, increases in permanent residents, and burgeoning tourism. The relatively simple and often fragile arctic ecosystems are dramatically altered through changes to the species composition of the vegetation, destruction of wetlands, and thawing of ice-rich permafrost, as well as through feedbacks of these effects to global hydrologic and atmospheric systems. To preserve plant diversity, conservation programs must be guided by the biological requirements of species and ecosystem components as biological diversity ensures a healthy biosphere. Traditionally, conservation and research activities for arctic plants have not been well coordinated in
terms of common direction, concerns, reporting, and information exchange. Except for two CAFF action items, Panarctic Flora Project (PAF) and Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Mapping Project (CAVM), governmental and non-governmental groups are often organized bilaterally. Therefore, plant conservation and research activities have not had a fully circumpolar perspective.
terms of common direction, concerns, reporting, and information exchange. Except for two CAFF action items, Panarctic Flora Project (PAF) and Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Mapping Project (CAVM), governmental and non-governmental groups are often organized bilaterally. Therefore, plant conservation and research activities have not had a fully circumpolar perspective. Creating the CAFF Flora Group (CFG) within the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) of the Arctic Council, has ensured that scientists, conservationists, and managers interested in arctic flora and vegetation have a forum to promote, facilitate, and coordinate conservation, management, and research activities of mutual concern. Major accomplishments in the 2004-2006 period include:
- The draft checklist of Panarctic Lichens has now been placed on the CAFF website. Bryophytes are soon to follow and this database will also be placed on the upgraded website. Mosses will be completed by March 2007.
- The Aleut International Association’s project on “Traditional Use and Conservation of Plants from the Aleutian, Pribilof and Commander Islands” has been published in printed form, and is available on the CAFF website in searchable format.
- The proceedings of the Second International Workshop on Circumpolar Vegetation Classification and Mapping has been published.
- The CAFF Flora Expert Group is now designated as the Arctic Plant Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission. One of the first duties was to develop a list of species whose threat was “Vulnerable” or higher. A list of 15 species has been developed, published, and posted on the CAFF website.
- CAFF Map No. 1 – Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map, and CAFF Map No. 2 - Vegetation of Arctic Alaska have now been published and can be ordered from the CAFF International Secretariat. The circumpolar boreal forest mapping project endorsed by the AC Ministers in 2004 is proceeding with applications for funding, and a workshop is being planned for Spring 2007 in Helsinki.