Glossary of commonly cited definitions, agreements, conventions, and organizations

A

Agreement between the Governments of Canada and the United States on the Conservation of the Porcupine Caribou Herd Signed in 1987. The signatories of the agreement were the Government of Canada, the Government of Yukon, the Government of Northwest Territories, the Council of Yukon Indians, the Inuvialuit Game Council, and the Dene Nation and the Métis Association of the Northwest Territories.

Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA)

Entered into force in 1999 and ratified since then by 62 countries and the European Union. Among the Arctic countries Finland, Sweden and Norway have become a Contracting Party. Denmark joined with exception of Greenland.

Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears Signed in 1976 by Arctic Countries with polar bear populations (Canada, the US, Norway, Russia, and Denmark/Greenland) and re- affirmed for a definite period in 1981.

Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (ABA) Endorsed by the Arctic Council of Ministers in Salekhard 2006. Its purpose is to synthesize and assess the status and trends of biodiversity in the Arctic. The ABA is coordinated by the Arctic Council’s Conservation of Flora and Fauna (CAFF) Working Group, and is divided into two phases – the Arctic Biodiversity Trends 2010 report (recently completed), and a full scientific Arctic Biodiversity Assessment scheduled for completion in 2013.

Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) An international project of the Arctic Council and International Arctic Science Committee (IASC) to evaluate and synthesize knowledge on climate variability, climate change, and increased ultraviolet radiation and their consequence. Results were released in November 2004.

Arctic Council

A high-level intergovernmental forum to provide a means for promoting cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, with the involvement of the Arctic Indigenous communities and other Arctic inhabitants on common Arctic issues – focussing particularly on issues of sustainable development and environmental protection in the Arctic. Member states of the Council

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are Canada, Denmark (incl. Greenland and Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russian Federation, Sweden, and the United States of America. The Council also consists of six permanent participants, consisting of Arctic organizations of Indigenous Peoples.

Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) An international organization established in 1991 to implement components of the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS). It is now a working group of the Arctic Council, whose current objective is “providing reliable and sufficient information on the status of, and threats to, the Arctic environment, and providing scientific advice on actions to be taken in order to support Arctic governments in their efforts to take remedial and preventive actions relating to contaminants”.

B

Bern Convention Shorthand for the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. Adopted in 1979, entered into force in 1982. The Convention aims to “conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats, especially those species and habitats whose conservation requires the co-operation of several States, and to promote such co-operation. Particular emphasis is given to endangered and vulnerable species, including endangered and vulnerable migratory species”. The Convention’s four Appendices list protected species: I – strictly protected flora species; II – strictly protected fauna species; III – protected fauna species; and IV – prohibited means and methods of killing, capture and other forms of capture.

Biodiversity

The variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.

C Carta di Siracusa The “Siracuse Charter”, adopted by the Ministers of Environment of the G8 and other countries in 2009, and elevated biodiversity as a permanent theme of environmental dialogue of the G8 .

Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Programme (CBMP) An international network of scientists, government agencies,