Greenlandic biodiversity at the forefront of climate change

Greenland is home to a number of species adapted to the harsh Arctic climate. However, the island’s biodiversity is increasingly threatened by the impacts of climate change.

Climate change and challenges for Greenland society

The major challenge facing Greenland is the balance between sustainable development and meeting climate change concerns. This balance can only be achieved by pursuing a responsible policy on mitigation and adaption to climate change, and sustainably meeting the needs and aspirations of the Greenlandic people. Renewable energy is an important solution to address climate change and targeting energy consumption and efficiency.

Arctic technology for the sustainable development of Greenland

Most Greenlandic communities are small remote settlements dependent on oil for their energy needs. The rising costs of oil and gas have spurred interest in renewable options. Developing and adapting new technology to meet the needs of the Arctic region to support its sustainable development is a major task.

New protected area in the Caribbean

In January 2011, St. Maarten Nature Foundation announced the approval of the Man of War Shoal Marine Park, as the country’s first National Environmentally Protected Area. The park is a major step towards realizing environmental and, more specifically, marine conservation on St. Maarten.

The flora of Reunion Island at risk

In December 2010, the IUCN French National Committee with partners expanded the national Red List of Threatened Species in France to include the flora of Reunion Island. All indigenous vascular plants, which include 905 species of ferns and flowering plants, were assessed using the Categories and Criteria of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species^TM.

Henderson Island to be restored in 2011

In December 2001, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) made a provisional decision to proceed with the restoration of the Henderson Island World Heritage Site in August 2011. The restoration aims to eradicate rodents thus saving the endangered Henderson petrel from extinction and preserving the island’s World Heritage values.

Conservation achievements in British overseas

In December 2010, the UK's Darwin Initiative published a briefing note on the lessons learned from it’s work in British overseas territories. It presented a number of case studies such as the Turks and Caicos adapting to their environment, creating a legacy through science in Gough Island, responding to change in the Cayman Islands and involving media in conservation efforts on Montserrat.

Managing invasive alien species in French overseas

In December 2010, IUCN French National Committee with partners convened a workshop in New Caledonia, bringing together sixty experts and stakeholders from all French overseas, their neighbouring countries, and the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). The workshop aimed to improve the management of invasive alien species in French overseas, and was part of the IUCN French overseas-wide initiative on invasive alien species.

Islands of the Western Indian Ocean unite

In October, 2010 during the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 10) in Nagoya, Japan, the Western Indian Ocean Partnership (WIOP) was launched. WIOP, under the Global Islands Partnership (GLISPA), aims to promote national and regional action to safeguard the resilience of the region’s ecosystems so that they can continue to help address climate change and provide security to its people.

Unique data on Indian Ocean seamounts

IUCN, in collaboration with many partners, including the Marine Ecology laboratory of Reunion University (ECOMAR), organized a survey of seamounts, underwater mountains of volcanic origin that are hotspots of marine biodiversity, in the international waters of the southern Indian Ocean. Currently the taxonomic analysis of the collected samples is under way. Already more than 200 species of fish and 74 species of squid have been identified, including a 70-cm long new species of squid previously unknown to science.

EU Strategy on Invasive Alien Species

In December 2010, IUCN participated in the Working Group on Prevention of Invasive Alien Species to discuss the scope of work. The working group is a part of the European Commission’s consultation process for the development of a European Union (EU) Strategy on Invasive Alien Species.

EU-Pacific Joint Initiative on Climate Change

In December 2010, the Joint Pacific-EU Initiative on Climate Change was launched. It encourages EU Member States and international partners to join efforts to help Pacific Countries addressing the impacts of climate change more efficiently. The European Commission is leading the EU's efforts in supporting the Pacific Islands in tackling climate change effects, with 90 million euros over 5 years (2008-2013).

Changing perspectives on the next EU budget

In November 2010, a group of environmental NGOs, presented a comprehensive vision for a greener, fairer, and more effective European Union (EU) budget 2014-2020, including a perspective on Europe overseas.

Europe overseas go for BEST

In October 2010, at the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 10) in Nagoya, Japan, representatives of the European Commission, the European Parliament, France and the United Kingdom jointly announced a voluntary scheme to promote the conservation and sustainable use of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Territories of European overseas (BEST). BEST is a unique opportunity to address issues of biodiversity loss and climate change in European overseas.

2 million euros for OCTs development

In October 2010, the European Commission adopted a decision to fund a Technical Cooperation Facility for EU Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) to improve their ability and awareness in the formulation and implementation of key territorial policies.

Have your say: Consultations on future environment financing

The first consultation is on the next financial instrument for the environment, which will succeed LIFE+ after its expiry at the end of 2013. The second consultation is on future EU co-financing of NATURA 2000, the EU's network of protected areas. Both consultations run until mid-February 2011.

Outcomes of the Cancun Climate Change Conference: Opportunities for Parties to submit views related to biodiversity

In January 2011, in an effort to enhance synergies between the two processes, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) prepared a notification including invitations for parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to submit their views on areas of potential input of biodiversity considerations into the climate change discussions.

Resolutions on protection of oceans, corals and marine biodiversity

In December 2010, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted two resolutions calling on all States to bolster their support for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and landmark texts on protecting coral reefs, mitigating ill effects of chemical munitions dumped at sea.

First UNESCO Marine World Heritage meeting

In December 2010, the first UNESCO Marine World Heritage meeting in Hawaii brought together all 43 marine World Heritage site managers and leading marine scientists and practitioners to establish a productive exchange of success stories and management experiences. A report from the meeting will be available in April 2011.

IUCN raises the profile of Europe overseas internationally

In October 2010, during the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP10) in Nagoya, Japan, IUCN contributed to a number of events aimed at raising the profile of Europe overseas’ biodiversity and climate change.

Dominique Benzaken

is coordinating the IUCN EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories Programme.
> Read more

Olivier Tyack

is coordinating the IUCN Islands Initiative within the IUCN Ecosystem Management Programme.
> Read more

Cambio climático y biodiversidad en los territorios de ultramar de la Unión Europea

 
> Read the publication

Atlas: Biodiversity of the Francophonie: Richness and vulnerabilities

 
> Read the publication

Les Espaces protégés français : une pluralité d'outils au service de la conservation de la biodiversité

 
> Read the publication

Outlook Report on the State of the Marine Biodiversity in the Pacific Islands Region

 
> Read the report

Baseline Study on Climate Change in French Polynesia

 
> Read the study

Global Ocean Protection: Present Status and Future Possibilities

 
> Read the publication

Building Resilience to Climate Change: Ecosystem-based adaptation and lessons from the field

 
> Read the publication

Sandwatch: Adapting to Climate Change and Educating for Sustainable Development

 
> Download the revised and expanded edition of the manual

Carbon Management in Tourism: Mitigating the Impacts on Climate Change

 
> Find out more

Disappearing Destinations: Climate Change and Future Challenges for Coastal Tourism

 
> Find out more

Encyclopedia of Modern Coral Reefs: Structure, Form and Process

 
> Find out more

NET-BIOME call towards biodiversity management in support of sustainable development in tropical and sub-tropical EU

 
> Apply by February 28, 2011

US Fish and Wildlife Service's grants for Latin America and the Caribbean

 
> Apply by March 1, 2011

Climate & Development Knowledge Network's research funding

 
> Apply by March 31, 2011

INTERREG IVC funding for environment and risk prevention

 
> Apply by April 1, 2011

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's grants for sea turtle conservation - Fall 2011

 
> Submit pre-proposals by April 1, 2011

LIFE+ funding

 
> Call for proposals to be published in Mid-February 2011

New funding initiative Save Our Species (SOS)

 
> The first call for proposals to be issued in early 2011

February 28 - March 4, 2011 (Port Vila, Vanatu)

 
> 1st Pacific Training Workshop, Policy Dialogue and Hight Level Segment of the Global Climate Change Alliance

February 28 - March 4, 2011 (New Caledonia)

 
> OCTA Ministerial Conference and Forum

February 28 - March 4, 2011 (Noumea, New Caledonia)

 
> 7th Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Heads of Fisheries Meeting

March 1 - 2, 2011 (Sisimiut, Greenland)

 
> International ARTEK Event 2011: Innovation in Greenland

March 4 - 7, 2011 (Willemstad, Curaçao)

 
> 1st International Conference on Governance for Sustainable Development of Caribbean SIDS

March 14 - 18, 2011 (Alofi, Niue)

 
> Pacific Climate Change Roundtable: Mobilising Climate Change Resources

March 20 - 25, 2011 (Honolulu, Hawaii)

 
> 5th International Marine Debris Conference

March 21 - 23, 2011 (Grand Baie, Mauritius)

 
> Conference on Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation in the Western Indian Ocean

March 22 - 24, 2011 (Akureyri, Iceland)

 
> Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) Workshop on Sea Ice Associated Biodiversity

March 28 - 29, 2011 (Belize City, Belize)

 
> Caribbean Regional Conference of the Global Climate Change Alliance

March 28 - 30, 2011 (Girdwood, Alaska)

 
> Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) Workshop on Arctic Protected Areas Monitoring Framework

March 29 - 30, 2011 (Brussels, Belgium)

 
> OCTA Workshop on Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for Small Islands and Greenland

> See more events and opportunities

IUCN (The International Union for Conservation of Nature) © 2011

IUCN helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. It supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world and brings governments, non-government organizations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy, laws and best practice.

You have received this newsletter because the IUCN EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories Programme might be of interest to you.

The views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN.

Photo credits: Greenlandic biodiversity © The Government of Greenland; Climate changes © The Government of Greenland; Arctic technology © ARTEK; New protected area © St. Maarten Nature Foundation; The Flora of Reunion © Sonia Françoise/CBNM; Henderson Island © Richard Cuthbert; Conservation achievements © Mike Pienkowski; Managing invasive © Michel de Garine; Islands of the Western © John Turner; Unique data © Rainer von Brandis/IUCN; EU Strategy © Olivier Gargominy; EU-Pacific © European Commission; Changing perspectives © BirdLife Europe, CEE Bankwatch Network, Conservation International, European Environment Bureau, Friends of Earth Europe, Transport and Environment, WWF; Europe overseas © IUCN; 2 million euros © ITER Canarias; Have your say © Matarpada; Outcomes of the Cancun © CBD; Resolutions on protection © Mila Zinkova; First UNESCO © Dan Laffoley/IUCN; IUCN raises the profile © IUCN; Dominique Benzaken © IUCN/GLISPA; Olivier Tyack © IUCN; Header banner © The Government of Greenland.

This newsletter has been developed, compiled and edited by Dominique Benzaken and Anete Berzina, IUCN EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories Programme. A particular thank you to all those colleagues and partners for having contributed to this newsletter. Send your contribution for the next editons to euoverseas@iucn.org.