Periodic Reporting for period 3 - CHARTER (Drivers and Feedbacks of Changes in Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity)
Berichtszeitraum: 2023-08-01 bis 2025-01-31
CHARTER (Drivers and Feedbacks of Changes in Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity, 2020-2025) wanted to better understand the processes related to rapid climate and land use changes in the Arctic. Coordinated by the Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, CHARTER involved 21 research institutions across 9 countries.
CHARTER’s focus was on changes in land use, biodiversity, snow and ice cover and permafrost mainly in the European Arctic. These changes impact Arctic climate patterns and socio-ecological systems such as reindeer herding. Reindeer are a key species for local and Indigenous peoples of the region and have a strong effect on how ecosystems function.
CHARTER had two wide cross-cutting themes: “Tools and data for Arctic Strategies”, and “Public dialogue on the Arctic”. CHARTER aimed to co-develop tools with Arctic communities to better adapt to climatic and biodiversity changes. The project used joint data collection, analysis and modeling. CHARTER created a picture of change throughout the Holocene period (the last 11,000 years), with a focus on the last 40 years. CHARTER co-produced knowledge with local herders and other practitioners and co-developed optional future pathways for the region. The aim was to develop climate modelling tools that better considered climate impacts and related land cover changes, the hypothesis being that if climate scenarios up to 2050 take Arctic livelihoods into account, strategies for adaptation are easier to co-develop. This way decision making could support more sustainable land management and better consider actions by local communities and livelihoods.
CHARTER’s focus was on changes in land use, biodiversity, snow and ice cover and permafrost mainly in the European Arctic. These changes impact Arctic climate patterns and socio-ecological systems such as reindeer herding. Reindeer are a key species for local and Indigenous peoples of the region and have a strong effect on how ecosystems function.
CHARTER had two wide cross-cutting themes: “Tools and data for Arctic Strategies”, and “Public dialogue on the Arctic”. CHARTER aimed to co-develop tools with Arctic communities to better adapt to climatic and biodiversity changes. The project used joint data collection, analysis and modeling. CHARTER created a picture of change throughout the Holocene period (the last 11,000 years), with a focus on the last 40 years. CHARTER co-produced knowledge with local herders and other practitioners and co-developed optional future pathways for the region. The aim was to develop climate modelling tools that better considered climate impacts and related land cover changes, the hypothesis being that if climate scenarios up to 2050 take Arctic livelihoods into account, strategies for adaptation are easier to co-develop. This way decision making could support more sustainable land management and better consider actions by local communities and livelihoods.
Researchers in seven working packages examined how land cover, biodiversity and the cryosphere have evolved. Remote sensing techniques, drone data and artificial intelligence were used, and satellite data was combined with drone surveys. To assess historical change, CHARTER used natural records preserved in lake or peat sediments. CHARTER investigated how Arctic biodiversity has responded to the reindeer grazing regimes by synthesising existing data across Fennoscandia and sought to understand how climate drivers and management impact Arctic food-webs. The socio-economic impacts of climate and land-use changes were studied together with local practitioners. Climate modelers co-developed their tools with local experts, with the aim of better including human drivers into models. Finally, CHARTER produced pathway narratives out to 2050, and policy options to offer relatable information for local communities and decision makers.
CHARTER created the first ever comprehensive Holocene Arctic Biodiversity Indicator database (https://zenodo.org/records/7584533(öffnet in neuem Fenster)). CHARTER produced complex analyses related to more recent land-cover changes and evidenced for example that earlier spring snowmelt has multiple cascading consequences. While the ‘greening of the Arctic’ was confirmed as a trend, it is highly variable across the region. Lichen vegetation is also changing: lichens cover less of the ground, but at the same time, lichen height has increased in many areas.
CHARTER confirmed that reindeer have a substantial impact on ecosystems. Boreal forests and subarctic tundra heaths should be seen as ecosystems with a long history of humans and herbivores, creating cultural landscapes. There is no uniform recommendation for preferred reindeer density and reindeer management activities that would promote the recovery of lichen and shrub vegetation where they have declined.
CHARTER established that the environmental impacts of large herbivores can be included in land surface models, and illustrated the steps that need to be taken for models to produce locally relevant information on possible future challenges due to climate change. Trust, clear communication and time were found to be key in this co-creation process with local practitioners.
To support the dissemination of CHARTER results, policy briefs in multiple languages were produced, briefings and poster exhibitions held, and StoryMaps developed (https://www.charter-arctic.org/storymaps/(öffnet in neuem Fenster)) in addition to the use of standard print and digital channels. Researchers produced over 80 publications in scientific journals. CHARTER created a citizen science snow observation tool and a novel workshop method (https://zenodo.org/records/14843107(öffnet in neuem Fenster)). Together with other Horizon-funded projects CHARTER identified critical gaps in Arctic research (https://www.charter-arctic.org/charter-fact-sheets/(öffnet in neuem Fenster)).
CHARTER created the first ever comprehensive Holocene Arctic Biodiversity Indicator database (https://zenodo.org/records/7584533(öffnet in neuem Fenster)). CHARTER produced complex analyses related to more recent land-cover changes and evidenced for example that earlier spring snowmelt has multiple cascading consequences. While the ‘greening of the Arctic’ was confirmed as a trend, it is highly variable across the region. Lichen vegetation is also changing: lichens cover less of the ground, but at the same time, lichen height has increased in many areas.
CHARTER confirmed that reindeer have a substantial impact on ecosystems. Boreal forests and subarctic tundra heaths should be seen as ecosystems with a long history of humans and herbivores, creating cultural landscapes. There is no uniform recommendation for preferred reindeer density and reindeer management activities that would promote the recovery of lichen and shrub vegetation where they have declined.
CHARTER established that the environmental impacts of large herbivores can be included in land surface models, and illustrated the steps that need to be taken for models to produce locally relevant information on possible future challenges due to climate change. Trust, clear communication and time were found to be key in this co-creation process with local practitioners.
To support the dissemination of CHARTER results, policy briefs in multiple languages were produced, briefings and poster exhibitions held, and StoryMaps developed (https://www.charter-arctic.org/storymaps/(öffnet in neuem Fenster)) in addition to the use of standard print and digital channels. Researchers produced over 80 publications in scientific journals. CHARTER created a citizen science snow observation tool and a novel workshop method (https://zenodo.org/records/14843107(öffnet in neuem Fenster)). Together with other Horizon-funded projects CHARTER identified critical gaps in Arctic research (https://www.charter-arctic.org/charter-fact-sheets/(öffnet in neuem Fenster)).
CHARTER created the first ever comprehensive Holocene Biodiversity dataset. New algorithms for satellite product retrieval were developed, including the use of artificial intelligence.
CHARTER findings defy commonly held beliefs that the number of reindeer are too high in northern Fennoscandia. The effects of reindeer grazing on vegetation and soil processes vary across habitats and depend on current land-uses and historically formed grazing regimes. CHARTER added evidence that reindeer herding can potentially contribute to climate mitigation by keeping tundra landscapes open, confirming that while northernmost Europe is often seen as wilderness, these areas should better be seen as cultural landscapes, where knowledge of history is a prerequisite for understanding ecosystems – and biodiversity changes in the North cannot be analyzed without understanding regional land-use changes.
Diverging aims and views related to future land-use developments in the Arctic regions exist and concerns expressed by local communities deserve to be investigated further. Local communities and traditional livelihoods should not merely be considered as “victims” of change rather, they have agency and participate in shaping ecosystems.
CHARTER established that local practitioners are interested in climate modelling that better serves their needs. Earth system modellers need to better understand the needs of end users, and people at the local level need capacity building and inclusion in future research projects, to better utilize modelling outputs.
Land-use planning has a key role and its implementation requires holistic coordination to avoid harmful cumulative impacts. Nature-based livelihoods like reindeer herding can adapt, but only if able to maintain flexibility, through adaptive co-management of resources and spatial mobility.
CHARTER work confirmed that Arctic is experiencing rapid and interlinked socio-environmental changes. Governance approaches that consider biodiversity, climate change, land use and livelihoods of local communities together are needed. Adaptive co-management was seen as practical implementations of these approaches. Dialogue and interaction between and within governance levels and sectors, and with local people, is required and local, traditional ecological knowledges has a key role to play.
CHARTER findings defy commonly held beliefs that the number of reindeer are too high in northern Fennoscandia. The effects of reindeer grazing on vegetation and soil processes vary across habitats and depend on current land-uses and historically formed grazing regimes. CHARTER added evidence that reindeer herding can potentially contribute to climate mitigation by keeping tundra landscapes open, confirming that while northernmost Europe is often seen as wilderness, these areas should better be seen as cultural landscapes, where knowledge of history is a prerequisite for understanding ecosystems – and biodiversity changes in the North cannot be analyzed without understanding regional land-use changes.
Diverging aims and views related to future land-use developments in the Arctic regions exist and concerns expressed by local communities deserve to be investigated further. Local communities and traditional livelihoods should not merely be considered as “victims” of change rather, they have agency and participate in shaping ecosystems.
CHARTER established that local practitioners are interested in climate modelling that better serves their needs. Earth system modellers need to better understand the needs of end users, and people at the local level need capacity building and inclusion in future research projects, to better utilize modelling outputs.
Land-use planning has a key role and its implementation requires holistic coordination to avoid harmful cumulative impacts. Nature-based livelihoods like reindeer herding can adapt, but only if able to maintain flexibility, through adaptive co-management of resources and spatial mobility.
CHARTER work confirmed that Arctic is experiencing rapid and interlinked socio-environmental changes. Governance approaches that consider biodiversity, climate change, land use and livelihoods of local communities together are needed. Adaptive co-management was seen as practical implementations of these approaches. Dialogue and interaction between and within governance levels and sectors, and with local people, is required and local, traditional ecological knowledges has a key role to play.