Recommendations

Type	#	Outcome	Report	Year
Key finding		The relationship between biodiversity and climate change is complex. While climate change has been identified as the key stressor of Arctic biodiversity, the degree to which it has a negative impact depends on complex relationships between climate change, other stressors, geography, economics, politics and management regimes.	Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2014, Co-Chairs Report	2014
Advice		Implement Ecosystem Based Management in marine, terrestrial, freshwater and coastal ecosystems.	Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2014, Co-Chairs Report	2014
Key finding	4	Different environmental changes are occurring within different cultural contexts creating diverse impacts; as such adaptive actions need to be based on local realities and priorities	Project Summary: Bering Sea Sub-Network II	2015
Advice		Develop binding agreements related to the conservation and/or sustainable use of biodiversity.	Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2014, Co-Chairs Report	2014
Key finding		Credible knowledge of all kinds, and from all sources, is welcomed and needed in the Arctic. This includes science, traditional knowledge and co-produced knowledge as well as knowledge from academia, business, government, civil society and communities.	Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2014, Co-Chairs Report	2014
Advice		Include biodiversity in national accounting so that the true value of healthy Arctic ecosystems is understood, and the true costs of biodiversity loss are accounted for.	Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2014, Co-Chairs Report	2014
Key finding	6	Regulations that impact communities ought to be flexible to allow for adaptation to change and ought to include meaningful local voice through instruments such as co-management to support the food security and sovereignty of indigenous communities	Project Summary: Bering Sea Sub-Network II	2015
Advice		Develop targets to stimulate actions and against which progress can be measured.	Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2014, Co-Chairs Report	2014
Key finding	1	Partnerships that engage indigenous communities, scientists and other organizations in the co-production of knowledge are essential in understanding environmental change and effects on indigenous communities. This knowledge can contribute to more relevant decision-making.	Project Summary: Bering Sea Sub-Network II	2015
Key finding		Biodiversity policy in the Arctic has to reflect the needs of people living in the Arctic, many of whom are indigenous.	Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2014, Co-Chairs Report	2014
Key finding		Biodiversity underpins sustainable development in the Arctic, including economic, social, cultural, and environmental dimensions. Although there is widespread understanding of the importance of economic development for the well-being of Arctic peoples, there is less understanding of the importance of biodiversity for human well-being, including livelihoods, food security and ecosystem services. Economic development in the Arctic should proceed within the constraints of ensuring the long term sustainability of biodiversity and the ecosystem services it provides.	Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2014, Co-Chairs Report	2014
Advice		Map biodiversity hot spots and biologically and ecologically sensitive areas at a scale appropriate for industry to use in their planning.	Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2014, Co-Chairs Report	2014
Advice		Expand both the marine and terrestrial protected areas network and monitor its effectiveness at safeguarding biodiversity.	Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2014, Co-Chairs Report	2014
Key finding	3	Observations from those spending much time on the land and sea are necessary in not only understanding local environmental change but also in understanding the effects of environmental changes on human well-being and traditional practices	Project Summary: Bering Sea Sub-Network II	2015
Key finding		Biodiversity policy in the Arctic has to reflect the needs of people living in the Arctic, many of whom are indigenous.	Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2014, Co-Chairs Report	2014
Key finding		Conservation of Arctic biodiversity is a global issue, as so much that happens outside the Arctic affects what happens inside the Arctic and vice versa. Migratory species provide a good basis to develop the partnerships necessary to ensure the long term viability of shared species, and at the same time to increase awareness of the shared global heritage that Arctic biodiversity represents.	Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2014, Co-Chairs Report	2014
Advice		Include biodiversity as a fundamental component of Environmental Impact Assessment, StrategicEnvironmental Assessment and risk assessment in the Arctic.	Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2014, Co-Chairs Report	2014
Key finding	5	Environmental changes are generally, but not always, resulting in negative effects to traditional harvests with impacts to food and cultural security	Project Summary: Bering Sea Sub-Network II	2015
Advice		Develop realistic scenarios to help predict what could happen, given different policy options, in the short term (10 to 15 years) and the long term (over 50 years).	Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2014, Co-Chairs Report	2014
Key finding		There is a wide gap between what we know and how we act. Although research to fill gaps in knowledge is still needed, there is enough knowledge about what needs to be done to act now. A companion to this message is the urgent need to shorten the time it takes for scientific understanding to be translated into policy in the Arctic.	Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2014, Co-Chairs Report	2014