Arctic coastal ecosystems are under increasing pressures from: Climate change, Erosion, Resource development and Pollution. Determining what effects these pressures - alone and in combination - have on biodiversity is difficult because the Arctic is so large and complex, but also because long-term, circumpolar monitoring data is uncoordinated, leading to information gaps and inefficient reporting.  

The CBMP is working with partners across the Arctic to harmonize and enhance long-term coastal monitoring efforts, and to facilitate more powerful and cost-effective assessments through the generation of, and access to, improved circumpolar datasets. 

These efforts are led by a Coastal Steering Group who are working to implement  the Arctic Coastal Biodiversity Monitoring Plan. This is an agreement across Arctic nations to compile, harmonize and compare results from existing Arctic coastal biodiversity and ecosystem monitoring efforts, across nations and oceans.

Implementation of the Coastal Monitoring Plan, is the first approved Arctic Council platform for a co-production of knowledge approach. The CBMP Coastal group has identified key elements, called Focal Ecosystem Components (FECs), of the Arctic coastal ecosystem, where changes in FEC status likely indicate changes in the overall coastal environment.