“Increasing temperatures are already showing many effects on Arctic biodiversity including the northward movement of more southern species, shrubbing and greening of the land, changing plant communities and their associated fauna, increases in migrating invasive species displacing native Arctic inhabitants, and the emergence of new diseases” - Arctic Biodiversity Assessment Trends 2010 Report.
Scientific assessments such as those of the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (above) are noting that stressors on biodiversity in the Arctic are growing. Climate change is initiating many environmental changes including melting sea ice, increased run off, and an eventual rise in sea level.
The Arctic is home to some globally significant populations of species distributed on land, and in the rivers, lakes, wetlands, and seas of the Arctic - some of which are already declining. Changes in biodiversity are also creating both challenges and opportunities for Arctic peoples. The traditional harvested foods continue to play a major role in the economic, social, and cultural welfare of many Indigenous Peoples and local communities across the Arctic.
See below for a selection of up-to-date Assessments and Policy-related material on Arctic biodiversity.