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Sea-Ice Changes
  • There has been a dramatic decrease in sea-ice extent in the Arctic; further reduction is expected in the future. Species such as the Polar Bear, Narwhal and Ringed Seals depend on sea ice for foraging, birthing and predator evasion
  • Loss of sea-ice extent in Western Hudson Bay is correlated to weakened body condition of Polar Bears and the decline in their populations

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The Arctic Species Trend Index (ASTI) was commissioned and coordinated by the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP). The CBMP is working with over 60 organiations to expand, integrate and enhance existing arctic biodiversity research and monitoring efforts to facilitate more rapid detection, communication and response to significant trends and pressures. The CBMP is the cornerstone program of the Arctic Council’s Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna [CAFF] Working Group.) For more information, go to the CBMP website.

The ASTI partners include:

Why Do We Need the ASTI?

atlantic_salmonArctic residents in particular, but also the world at large, have been increasingly demanding timely and accurate information on how the Arctic is responding to such pressures as climate change. Until now, this has largely been met with silence. Read More


 

Key Findings

  • The average population of Arctic species rose by 16% between 1970 and 2004, however, this is not consistent across biomes, regions, and taxa.
  • High Arctic species populations have decreased by an average of 26% between 1970 and 2004.
  • Sub Arctic species populations, mostly terrestrial and freshwater species, show a recent decline since peaking in the mid-1980s, but no overall change (-3%).Read More

What Needs To Be Done

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While the data found in the ASTI are impressive, more are needed to understand how the Arctic’s ecosystems and the living resources they support are responding and will respond to growing and cumulative pressures. A growing awareness that change is occurring faster than modeled predictions reminds us that models with minimal data are of limited value. An enhanced effort from all Arctic countries to further invest in research and monitoring and effectively deliver this information to Arctic residents, governments and the world is urgently required in order to help us conserve the Arctic’s living resources and adapt to changes to these resources in a changing world.