Indigenous organizations and conservation groups working together to harmonise and integrate efforts to monitor the Arctic’s living resources. The CMBP is a cornerstone programme of the Arctic Council’s Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) Working Group.

Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) A working group of the Arctic Council, CAFF’s mandate is “to address the conservation of Arctic biodiversity, and communicate the findings to the governments and residents of the Arctic, helping to promote practices which ensure sustainability of the Arctic’s living resources”.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Adopted in 1992, entered into force in 1993. The objectives of the Convention are “the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over those resources and to technologies, and by appropriate funding”.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Adopted in 1973, entered into force in 1975. It aims “to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival”. The species covered by CITES are listed in Appendices, according to the degree of protection they need.

Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Also called the “Bonn Convention”. Adopted in 1979, entered into force in 1983. The Convention aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their range. Appendix 1 lists migratory species threatened with extinction; Appendix II lists migratory species that need or significantly benefit from international co-operation.

Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR) The 1998 OSPAR Convention is the current legal instrument guiding international cooperation on the protection of the marine environment of the northeast Atlantic. The objective is to “conserve marine ecosystems and safeguard human health in the northeast Atlantic by preventing and eliminating pollution; by protecting the marine environment

from the adverse effects of human activities; and by contributing to the sustainable use of the sea”. The OSPAR commission has developed a strategy for its biological diversity and ecosystems-related work, including a list of species and habitats that are threatened or in decline.

E Ecosystem

A dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit.

Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response (EPPR) Established in 1991 to implement components of the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS) and currently a working group of the Arctic. Its goal is to provide “a framework for future cooperation in responding to the threat of environmental emergencies”.

F Fennoscandia

A geographic and (geological) terms used to describe the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Kola Peninsula, Karelia and Finland.

G

G8 Group of Eight (G8) member countries are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. The eight members meet once a year at Heads of State and Government levels.

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

An independent financial organization established in 1991 that provides grants to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants.

H

Habitats Directive Shorthand for the European Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. The main aim of the EC Habitats Directive is to promote the maintenance of biodiversity by requiring Member States to take measures to maintain or restore natural habitats and wild species

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