Circumpolar biodiversity monitoring program cbmp

Canada is a member of the Arctic Council , a high-level intergovernmental forum established in to promote cooperation, coordination and interaction among the eight Arctic states on common Arctic issues. As recognized in Canada's Arctic Foreign Policy and the Northern Strategy , northern resource development and sound environmental stewardship depend on a credible knowledge base. Biodiversity monitoring contributes to this knowledge base by facilitating more rapid detection, communication, and response to the significant biodiversity-related trends and pressures affecting the circumpolar world.

The Arctic is fundamental to Canadian national identity. Many Aboriginal Canadians, other northerners, as well as a great diversity of Arctic-adapted plants and animals call this region home, which stretches across Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, Nunatsiavut, and surrounding marine waters. Healthy Arctic ecosystems are of fundamental economic, cultural and spiritual importance to Arctic residents, many of whom maintain close ties to the land and sea.

Diversity of marine biota throughout this region is significant, poorly known, and potentially at risk from the unprecedented changes affecting the area. Climate change, human population increase, resource exploration and development, and shipping, among other stressors, are contributing to these changes, which have implications for marine biodiversity and the value it holds for Canadian and circumpolar societies.

Biodiversity monitoring plans have also been developed for the terrestrial and freshwater biomes, and one is in preparation for the coastal biome. Through the CBMP-Marine Plan, participating countries and organizations are coordinating monitoring and reporting using an ecosystem approach and common indicators of marine biodiversity in selected Arctic Marine Areas.

Canadian Arctic Marine Areas with priority sub-regions. Priority sub-regions were chosen based on: characteristics of the marine ecosystems, biological hotspots, boundaries and gateways and suitability for community-based monitoring. Welcome to the CBMP. About the CBMP. Remember Me. Log in. State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report. State of the Arctic Freshwater Biodiversity Report.