Arctic bird conservation requires cooperation on global level

Long-distance migratory birds that breed in the Arctic are experiencing alarming population declines due to climate change, habitat loss, illegal killing, and pollution. The numbers of some Arctic-breeding migratory birds have declined by 50-90 percent in the past 40 years. This issue was flagged as a major concern in the 2013 Arctic Biodiversity Assessment, which provided recommendations for the Arctic Council to work with partners to protect species along their entire migratory range. As the flyways of these migratory birds cross the globe, it is important to engage actors on a global level, not just around the Arctic.

The Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative

Seeking long-term sustainability of declining bird populations

The Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI) works to address key threats to Arctic-breeding migratory birds. The initiative is designed to improve the status and secure the long-term sustainability of declining seabird and shorebird populations, such as the thick-billed murre, ivory gull, spoon-billed sandpiper, bar-tailed godwit, red knot, great knot, dunlin, and others.

AMBI is coordinated by the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF), the Arctic Council’s biodiversity working group. AMBI works to leverage transboundary support and conserve priority species that are both underrepresented in global agreements and facing formidable conservation challenges. AMBI is an important initiative for the Arctic Council, in which, for the first time, specific actions to be taken outside of the Arctic have been identified to help conserve species that migrate to and from the Arctic.

Small steps can make a big difference

With funding of EUR 100,000 from the Arctic Council Project Support Instrument (PSI), AMBI has developed a framework to implement actions in two flyways, allowing it to:

• identify relevant conservation frameworks;
• engage strategic partners;
• leverage additional funding and in-kind contributions;
• develop objectives and actions that address conservation gaps; and
• proceed strategically towards future delivery.

Achievements so far

Preparatory actions and strengthened cooperation

The Arctic Council Project Support Instrument (PSI) provided funding for preparatory actions in the Work Plans of two AMBI flyways, the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF) and the African-Eurasian Flyway (AFEU). ​This PSI funding enabled CAFF to improve the engagement and strategic planning necessary for AMBI to identify and implement priority actions as follows:

1.  Determine priorities for the coming years

• Allowed for the development of the AMBI 2019-2023 Work Plan outlining program objectives and actions.
• Developed, in consultation with partners, 5 objectives and 8 actions identified for the African-Eurasian Flyway in 2019-2023.
• Developed, in consultation with partners, 5 objectives and 39 actions identified for the East Asian-Australasian Flyway in 2019-2023.

2. Strategically position the program 

• Positioned the program as an important actor within a complex existing multilateral conservation framework.
• Conducted crosswalk policy analyses of the African-Eurasian Flyway and East Asian- Australasian Flyway that helped AMBI better understand and strategise how, where, and with whom objectives and actions might be achieved.
• Created a series of documents and infographics to communicate how AMBI can contribute in a complex policy environment.

3. Develop specific plans to implement priority actions

• Developed implementation plans for the African-Eurasian Flyway and East Asian-Australasian Flyway that allowed AMBI to better identify scope, actors, and financing requirements, and to guide the implementation of the Work Plan.
• Eight actions currently advancing in the African-Eurasian Flyway.
• Twenty-four actions currently advancing in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

4. Engage observers and strengthen the Arctic Council structure

• Consultation and cooperation with Observers in the above processes ensured that Observer perspectives were included in AMBI objectives and actions, and built support for the implementation.
• Ten Arctic Council Observer countries (China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Spain, and the United Kingdom) engaged in AMBI and were consulted in the development of objectives, actions, and implementation.
• Seven additional partners and relevant institutions engaged in AMBI and were consulted in the development of objectives, actions, and implementation (BirdLife International, Wetlands International, EAAFP, AEWA, WSFI, BNHS).
• Mobilised additional monetary and in-kind contributions from other partners and donors.

Conservation context in the African-Eurasian Flyway

Next steps for AMBI in the African-Eurasian Flyway

• Improve conservation and management of shorebird sites throughout the African-Eurasian Flyway (AFEU Objective 1).

• Increase quality and quantity of population status assessment data (AFEU Objective 2).

• Development and dissemination of information and awareness materials addressing priority target (AFEU Objective 3).

• Work with partners in the AEWA European Seaduck International Working Group to begin to reduce bycatch of seaducks in the Baltic Sea (AFEU Objective 4).

• Support measures under the AEWA Lesser White-fronted Goose International Working Group to prevent illegal killing (AFEU Objective 5).

Conservation context in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway

Next steps for AMBI in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway

• Identify and secure important breeding and staging habitats in the Arctic (Alaska and Russia) for priority species (EAAF Objective 1).

• Secure intertidal and associated habitat for AMBI priority species at key staging and wintering sites in the flyway (EAAF Objective 2).

• Prevent illegal hunting and regulate unsustainable legal harvest of Arctic migratory birds in the flyway, focusing on priority species (EAAF Objective 3).

• Work with partners to increase the number and quality of population estimates in the flyway (EAAF Objective 4).

• Address other threats to Arctic migratory birds along the flyway including initiating work on evaluating the effects of contaminants on Arctic-breeding migratory birds (EAAF Objective 5).

Next steps for PSI and AMBI

This project has led to another PSI-supported project, which is focused on the Circumpolar Flyway. The aim of the new project is to mitigate habitat degradation, focusing on the impact of plastic pollution on Arctic seabirds and seaducks. Read more at www.nefco.org/case-studies/plastic-pollution-project/ and www.caff.is/ambi.

Furthermore, CAFF has applied for additional funding to help implement actions in the East-Asian Australasian Flyway.

“PSI funding has enabled the Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative to build transnational cooperation and deliver on Arctic Biodiversity Assessment recommendations, thereby also helping to strengthen the Arctic Council as an intergovernmental forum to build cooperation for biodiversity conservation.”

Tom Barry, Executive Secretary, CAFF

What is CAFF?

Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) is the biodiversity working group of the Arctic Council. CAFF’s 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 to ensure the sustainability of the Arctic’s living resources.  It does so through various monitoring, assessment, and expert group activities and by providing policy and management advice to the Arctic Council and its member states and organizations.

For more information, go to www.caff.is/ambi.

What is PSI?

The Arctic Council Project Support Instrument (PSI) provides financing for priority pollution-mitigation projects approved by the Arctic Council. It is a voluntary, non-exclusive mechanism that can use a broad range of funding arrangements, including grants and revolving instruments, and is managed by the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO). The PSI is governed by the PSI Committee, which is composed of representatives of its contributors, currently from Finland, Iceland, NEFCO, Norway, the Russian Federation, the Saami Council, Sweden, and the United States.

For more information, go to www.nefco.org/psi.