Arctic Flora and Fauna: Status and Conservation

The aim of this report is to answer the many aspects of this seemingly straightforward question. Although several national and international efforts have looked at parts of the Arctic, this is the first attempt to assess the state of Arctic flora and fauna as a whole. Clearly, a brief report cannot cover all the relevant aspects and areas of the Arctic in detail. The chief criterion used to determine what to include has been international interest or significance. While much has of necessity been left out, we hope that the report nonetheless gives a thoughtful and compelling reply to our opening question. Many volumes have been written, and will continue to be written, about the ecology, conservation, indigenous peoples, environmental threats, economics, oceanography, politics, and other aspects of the Arctic region. Adding another book has a threefold purpose: To summarize, in one place, the information required to assess the state of the Arctic environment today, providing a marker from which to measure progress in conservation; To provide a useful reference to a wide audience of policy makers, Arctic residents, researchers, and others active in the conservation of Arctic flora and fauna; To point the way to improving our collective understanding and facilitating the international co-operative action required to conserve the Arctic environment. The book is structured to strike a balance between covering many aspects of the Arctic in general terms and covering a few points in detail.