Policy

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Policy

CAFF's Mandate

In order to encourage the conservation of Arctic flora and fauna, their diversity and their habitats the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) working group was established in 1992 under the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS), Which turned into the Arctic Council in 1996.

CAFF is the Biodiversity working group of the Arctic Council and its mandate is to address the conservation of Arctic biodiversity, and to communicate its findings to the governments and residents of the Arctic, helping to promote practices which ensure the sustainability of the Arctic's living resources.

CAFF serves as a vehicle to cooperate on species and habitat management and utilization, to share information on management techniques and regulatory regimes, and to facilitate more knowledgeable decision-making. It provides a mechanism to develop common responses on issues of importance for the Arctic ecosystem such as development and economic pressures, conservation opportunities and political commitments.

Main goals of CAFF

To conserve Arctic flora and fauna, their diversity and their habitats;
To protect Artic ecosystem from threats;
To improve conservation management laws, regulations and practices for the Arctic;
To intergrate Arctic interests into global conservation fora.

Four Key Principles of CAFF

The involvement of indigenous and local people, and the importance of traditional ecological knowledge
The application of the ecosystem-based approach to conservation and management
Cooperation with other conservation initiatives to minimize duplication and to increase effectiveness
Effective communication

Key Policy Documents

CAFF Framework Document (1991)
Cooperative Strategy for the Conservation of Biological Diversity in Arctic Regions (1997)
Strategic Plan for the Conservation of Arctic Biological Diversity (1998)
Arctic Flaura and Fauna Recommendations for Conservation (2002)
The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (2005)