CAFF Proceeding Series Report nr. 1 January 2011
- CAFF Flora Group Papers from the CAFF Flora Group (CFG) and Circumboreal Vegetation Map (CBVM) Workshops: 2009-2010
ARCTIC COUNCIL 2 3 Acknowledgements Table of Contents Table of Contents
CAFF Designated Agencies: Address to the Flora Group Meeting April 1 – 3, 2009 at Uppsala, Sweden. Sune Sohlberg...... 7 • Directorate for Nature Management, Trondheim, Norway • Environment Canada, Ottawa, Canada • Faroese Museum of Natural History, Tórshavn, Faroe Islands (Kingdom of Denmark) Vegetation Mapping...... 9 • Finnish Ministry of the Environment, Helsinki, Finland
• Icelandic Institute of Natural History, Reykjavik, Iceland Criteria for Delimitation and Subdivision of the Boreal Zone in Different • The Ministry of Domestic Affairs, Nature and Environment, Government of Greenland Regions of Eurasia and North America. Teuvo Ahti...... 10 • Russian Federation Ministry of Natural Resources, Moscow, Russia Bioclimatic Framework for the Circumboreal Vegetation Mapping (CBVM) Project. • Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, Stockholm, Sweden Daniel Sánchez-Mata and Salvador Rivas-Martínez...... 12 • United States Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, Anchorage, Alaska Principles of Vegetation Classification for the CBVM, Udo Bohn...... 19
Draft of Legend for Eurasian Boreal Vegetation as a Part of the Overall Legend of CBVM Higher This publication should be cited as: Talbot, S., (ed) 2011. Papers from the CAFF Flora Group (CFG) Units of Classification and Units of Forest Vegetation, Subarctic Open Woodlands, and Partly and Circumboreal Vegetation Map (CBVM) Workshops: 2009-2010. CAFF International Secretariat, of Subalpine Vegetation. Nicolai Ermakov and Udo Bohn ...... 22 CAFF Proceedings Series Report Nr. 1. ISBN: 978-9979-9778-7-2 An Integrated Mapping Approach and Suggestions for Incorporating Tundra into the CBVM Cover photo: by Sergey Balandin Legend. D. A. Walker...... 32
Circumboreal Vegetation Map (CBVM) North America. William. J. Meades...... 39
Mapping North Atlantic Oceanic Vegetation (MNAOV) Fred J. A. Daniëls, Anna Maria Fosaa and Gudmundur Gudjonsson...... 40
Biogeography of the Mountain Forests of Siberia. Galina Ogureeva...... 42
Approaches to vegetation mapping of Kola Peninsula. Tatjana Chernenkova...... 44 For more information please contact: CAFF International Secretariat Comments on the Bioclimatic Divisions and the Proposed Legends are for the Borgir, Nordurslod Circumboreal Vegetation Map (CBVM). Teuvo Ahti...... 45 600 Akureyri, Iceland Phone: +354 462-3350 Remote Sensing Projections and Preliminary Image Products for the Circumboreal Fax: +354 462-3390 Vegetation Mapping Project. Carl Markon...... 47 Email: [email protected] Internet: http://www.caff.is Monitoring Ammassalik Vegetation Change 1968/1969 – 2007 (MAVC) – Global Warming and Vegetation Change in the coastal low-arctic tundra of Southeast Greenland. Fred J. A. Daniëls and Johannes G. De Molenaar...... 48
Application of CBVM for the Identification and Protection of Threatened Habitats ___ CAFF Designated Area -Possibilities and Challenges. Raimo Heikkilä...... 49
Analysis of Spatial Distribution of Upper Mountain Forest Belt in South Siberia. V. I. Kharuk...... 50
Letter to Participants at the Uppsala Joint Meeting of the CAFF Flora Group and Circum-Boreal Vegetation Map project...... 53 Editing: Stephen Talbot Layout: Kári Fannar Lárusson Report on the Helsinki Leadership Workshop – Circumboreal Vegetation Map (CBVM) Workshop prepared by the Canadian Delegation ...... 55
Summary Report: North American CBVM Workshop Prepared by: Dr. William. J. Meades ...... 63
Vegetation - Map Legend and Classification...... 68
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Papers and Abstracts Focussing on Flora Topics 74 Preface
Current Work on Svalbardflora.net and Redlisted Species in Svalbard. Inger Greve Alsos...... 75 In November 2008, an international Circumboreal Vegetation Mapping (CBVM) workshop Working with Red Lists of Fungi in Europe. Anders Dahlberg...... 82 was convened in Helsinki, Finland. This workshop was a major step toward achieving the CBVM goal to provide a common international framework for understanding the boreal Toward an Understanding of Arctic and Alpine Poppies. Heidi Solstad...... 83 region. Currently, various maps already exist of the boreal biome, but these do not rely on a Global Warming and Potential Effects on Individual Plant- and Community-level Results unified international method for classifying and mapping boreal from a Few Case Studies, Wenche Eide ...... 84 vegetation. By recognizing the boreal region as a single geo- Northern Ontario Plant Database. Susan J. Meades...... 86 ecosystem with a common set of cultural, political and economic issues, the CBVM will be the first detailed vegetation map of the A Project to Create a List of Mosses from the Arctic Regions...... 87 entire global biome. Such a map is needed for a wide variety of On the Use of Molecular Phylogenies for Conservation Purposes Katarina Andreasen...... 88 purposes related to resource development, land-use planning, studies of boreal biota and biodiversity, education, anticipated global changes and human interaction. A common legend and language for describing boreal ecosystems is essential for answering questions at a global scale. Boreal forests are particularly appropriate for unified classification because of their high level of floristic, physiognomic and syntaxonomic similarity across the entire biome. A circumboreal vegetation map will have numerous other application uses for boreal scientists and managers such as impact studies on wildlife and feedback mechanisms in models or increased emission of greenhouse gases. The CBVM will also contribute to global efforts to improve understanding and communication with policy-makers.
A secondary goal is to make the map compat- 3. The basic scientific problems solved within the ible with the Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map frame of the CBVM correspond to the actual (CAVM, scale 1:7,500,000) to the north. Linking thematic activities in the IAVS meetings. These these two global-scale maps is necessary because include: very few issues relevant to the Arctic or the boreal re- gions stop at tree line. For example, most rivers flow- - classification of vegetation of large regions ing into the Arctic Ocean have their origin far to the - development of the system of bioclimatic subdivi- south of the tree line. Climate and vegetation-change sions of vegetation models, analysis of animal migrations, roads and in- - plant-geographical and evolutional regularities in dustrial developments, and arctic-human interaction boreal vegetation all require maps that include both the Arctic tundra - monographic study of entire (largest) biome and boreal forest regions. - dynamic and disturbance of boreal vegetation The tasks listed above are directly related to activi- - small-scale geobotanical mapping ties of the International Association for Vegetation - boreal vegetation in satellite images Science (IAVS) (http://www.iavs.org/); the CBVM is now formally recognized as an IAVS Working Group: Toward these goals we held an international work- shop in Helsinki, Finland, during the period No- 1. The Circumboreal Vegetation Map will synthe- vember 3-6, 2008, to develop a strategy to map the size comprehensive knowledge about diversity, vegetation of the circumboreal zone. 50 vegetation ecology, geography and disturbance of boreal scientists from 10 northern countries attended. biome; The proceedings of the workshop were published 2. The CBVM is based on international scientific as Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) cooperation of phytosociologists from wide spec- Technical Report No. 21
The CFG has produced valuable input to our joint ed and enhanced. CBMP is CAFF’s response to work to conserve Arctic Flora. I certainly like to the global importance of the Arctic’s biodiversity, mention the Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Map the increasing pressures on Arctic biodiversity (CAVM) as one good example. The creation of this and human communities, and our limited capac- map initiated a new CAFF product – the maps. To- ity to monitor and understand these changes. day you are deeply involved in your next map activity – the Circumpolar Boreal Vegetation Map (CBVM). The CBMP is a mechanism for harmonizing and Among the core areas of CAFF’s Work Plan that the enhancing long-term biodiversity monitoring CFG may really support are: 1. nature and biodiversi- efforts across the Arctic in order to improve our ty management issues, 2. response to climate change, ability to detect and report on significant trends 3. adaptability, and 4. communication and outreach. and pressures. The CBMP will facilitate the inte- I will highlight three CAFF activities that will benefit gration and coordination of a multidisciplinary, from support of the CFG and its members. These are integrated ecosystem-based approach to research Circumpolar Protected Area Network (CPAN), Cir- and monitoring through the development of five cumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP) integrated Expert Monitoring Groups (Marine, and Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (ABA). Coastal, Freshwater, Terrestrial Vegetation and Terrestrial Fauna). Each group will be comprised 1. Circumpolar Protected Area Network (CPAN) of existing place-based and network-based re- CPAN Expert Group is not active at the moment search and monitoring programs utilizing both due to heavy work load. However, an update of community-based and other scientific monitoring the protected areas is included in the ABA under approaches, representing a diversity of expertise the lead of Canada. Furthermore, there is a strong and monitoring capabilities. Special attention focus on this issue globally from the Convention will be paid to community-based observations on Biological Diversity (CBD) and regionally in and citizen science, understanding the value and the Barents Euro-Arctic Cooperation, especially significance of local people living in the Arctic between Finland, Norway, Sweden, Russian Fed- environment and their contribution to the moni- eration and relevant Russian regions. CAFF and toring of Arctic biodiversity. CBD are expected to sign an agreement on collab- oration at the next Ministerial Meeting in Tromsø Over the next five years, the CBMP will focus its in the end of April. efforts on the following key areas:
2. Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program a. Developing a strategy for building and maintain- (CBMP) The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment ing a comprehensive and cost-effective circumpo- (ACIA) published in 2004 recommended long- lar monitoring program that addresses current term Arctic biodiversity monitoring to be expand- deficiencies; 8 b. Coordinating and integrating biodiversity moni- as co-leads of the assessment. Hans Meltofte has toring programs and promoting standardized been appointed as Chief Scientist for the Assess- measures and harmonized data protocols; ment. ABA is led by Finland, Greenland/Denmark c. Assessing current monitoring capacity and de- and US. CAFF is supported by a steering group sign to identify elemental, geographic, and statis- with representatives from Finland, US, Green- Circumboreal tical design deficiencies and inefficiencies; land/Denmark, UNEP Grid Arendahl/UNEP d. Interpreting, integrating, and communicating ex- WCMC and Giwich’in Council International/Arc- isting biodiversity information (establishing sta- tic Athabaskan Council. tistical baselines and retrospective assessments); Vegetation Mapping e. Developing data-management structures and a Phase 1 of ABA will produce a short 2010 Arctic Web-based data portal for the synthesis, analysis, Highlights Report. This report will present 21 and dissemination of biodiversity information; indicators based on those developed by CBMP. An f. Identifying and initiating pilot monitoring pro- Arctic Trend Index will be developed for this re- jects, where clear gaps exist; port. Authors have been identified and CAFF will g. Reporting on the status of Arctic biodiversity prepare this report as an Arctic Council contribu- and the issues facing it, using diverse formats for tion to the United Nations Biodiversity Target and communication, education and outreach at the International Biodiversity Year in 2010. Phase 2 global, national, regional and local levels. of ABA will be a full assessment to be presented at the Ministerial Meeting in 2013 somewhere in This information will also be found on the CAFF Sweden. This work has also started. The Scien- website. CBMP is currently led from a Canadian tific Report contains seven chapters of which the office by Canada and US supported by CAFF chair species chapter is certainly relevant to the Flora and a steering group with additional representa- Group. tives from Iceland, UNEP Grid Arendahl/UNEP WCMC, and Giwich’in Council International/ The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency Arctic Athabaskan Council. The implementation recently provided funds for a co-lead author to phase described above started March 6 -7, 2008 at ABA. I am happy to tell you that Anders Dahlberg an international workshop in Washington ”Build- from the Swedish Species Information Centre has ing a Partnership for Enhanced Understanding accepted the co-lead on fungi. You will meet him and Conservation of Arctic Biodiversity.” tomorrow. In the scheme of the project, there will be lead authors and as well as contributing au- 3. Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (ABA) thors. The chapters of ABA are: species accounts, The Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (ABA) is an terrestrial ecosystems, aquatic (freshwater) eco- innovative and important exploration of Arctic systems, marine ecosystems, ecosystem services, biodiversity. Its purpose is to synthesize and as- genetic diversity and gaps and recommendations. sess the status and trends of biological diversity in I assume that some of you might be involved in the Arctic. The ABA is the response of the Arctic this. CAFF welcomes support from the CFG in Council to the United Nations UNEP /CBD 2010 the implementation of CBMP and its continued global target to halt or significantly reduce biodi- work on ABA. versity loss. It also responds to the Millennium Development Goal Nr. 4 to ensure environmental Thank you for the opportunity to speak to you! I sustainability. In addition, there is a proposal for am looking forward to new CFG progress in the the ABA to be the Arctic Council’s contribution to near future. the International Biodiversity Year in 2010.
ABA will serve as a baseline for use in assessments of Arctic biodiversity and further inform Arctic Council work. The baseline will be used to iden- tify: 1. gaps in the data record, 2. main stressors, 3. key mechanisms driving change, and 4. produce recommendations. Greenland/Denmark/Faroes have stepped forward alongside Finland and US 10 11
Criteria for Delimitation and Subdivision of the Boreal Zone in Different tree species is not acceptable in a transcontinental advisable to use terms like the subzone A, B, C, etc. bioclimatic zonation. In the first place it is an histori- like in the CAVM. Regions of Eurasia and North America cal floristic line where Picea glauca-P. mariana-Abies balsamea-Pinus banksiana forests are replaced by P. Sectorial divisions of the boreal Teuvo Ahti engelmannii-Abies lasiocarpa-Pinus contorta-Picea Botanical Garden and Museum sitchensis forests. A more difficult problem comes in Although some sectorial bioclimatic divisions have Finnish Museum of Natural History southern B.C.: the adjacent temperate forests are also been presented for the whole boreal zone (Tuhkanen P.O. Box 7, FI-00014 Helsinki University, Finland coniferous, largely consisting of the same trees spe- 1984: fig. 18), I would not suggest the designation of Email: