Photo credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceThe 2018-2020 2-Year Implementation Plan was adopted at the 2018 Meeting of the Parties (MoP) to the Agreement in Fairbanks, Alaska, USA. Progress on the 2018-2020 Plan was reported at the 2020 MoP in Norway.
2018-2020 Implementation Plan Overview (click on table to view the document in a pop-up window)
2018-2020 Implementation Plan Progress Reports
(Click on the icon to view the overall progress report. Report sections for each Action are provided in the relevant sections below)
List of Objectives and associated Actions of the CAP 2018 - 2020 implementation plan:
(The Actions were not directly associated with the CAP Objectives in the original 2015-2025 CAP. The categorization of the Actions by Objectives presented below is based on the Mid-Term Review report in 2020; Annex_4_Fate_of_Previous_Actions and Annex_5_Rank_and_timing_of_actions).
Objective 1 - Track and reduce emerging threats to polar bears - (No Action)
Objective 1 - Track and reduce emerging threats to polar bears
No defined action. All Range States will flag any new or emerging threats to polar bear
Objective 2 - Communicate to the public, policy makers, and legislators around the world the importance of mitigating GHG emissions to polar bear conservation - (Action 53, 59)
Objective 2, 2018-2020 Implementation Plan
Action 53 - Establish and maintain a Range States’ website to disseminate information and provide links to relevant information sources
Action 53 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan Period
Status of Action-53 in 2020: Ongoing activity
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Action was partly modified to:
- CCC-A4: The Maintain a climate change communications page on the RS website - associated with CAP Objective-2
Action 59 - Develop and implement a communications strategy on climate change in order to bring global focus to the threat to the Arctic and to polar bears and the need for the global community to reduce GHG emissions
Action 59 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Status of Action-59 in 2020: Started.
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Action was modified to:
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CCC-A2: Develop a climate change communications plan that outlines key messages regarding the threat to the Arctic and to polar bears from climate change and the need for the global community to reduce GHG emissions.
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CCC-A3: Identify strategic communications opportunities for the Range States to provide information regarding the threat to the Arctic and to polar bears from climate change and the need for the global community to reduce GHG emissions.
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CCC-A6: Communicate key messages regarding the threat to polar bears and to the Arctic from climate change and the need for the global community to reduce GHG emissions.
Objective 3 - Ensure the conservation of essential habitat for polar bears - (Action 3)
Objective 3, 2018-2020-3 Implementation Plan
Action 3 - Define essential polar bear habitat and document change over time:
Action-3 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan Period
Status of Action-3 in 2020: Started
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Action was modicied to:
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EH-A1: The PBSG will be asked to define categories of essential polar bear habitat and then compile existing information to generate an inventory of essential habitat by the categories (and identify gaps in existing information).
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EH-A5: In each biennial report, the PBSG will be asked to provide an inventory of essential habitat by the categories identified previously by the PBSG.
Objective 4 - Ensure that harvest of polar bear subpopulations is managed in a biologically sustainable manner in accordance with sound conservation practices - (Action 1)
Objective 4, 2018-2020 Implementation Plan
Action 1 - Consider the cumulative effects of climate change and human activities on polar bear subpopulations and habitats when making management decisions using tools such as predictive modeling
Action- 1 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Status of Action-1 in 2020: Started
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Action was modified to:
- HM-A5: Compile an evaluation of Biologically Sustainable Harvest for each Polar Bear subpopulation, considering the influence of climate change.
Objective 5 - Manage human-bear interactions to ensure human safety and to minimize polar bear injury or mortality - (Actions 7, 19, 20, 22, 58)
Objective 5, 2018-2020 Implementation Plan
Action 7 - Develop strategies for responding to the potential for large numbers of nutritionally-stressed bears being close to communities and consider the consequences including those for human safety and transmission of disease between bears
Action-7 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Status of Action 7 in 2020: Started
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Action was modified to
- HBC-IS1: Share information related to strategies for responding to the potential for large numbers of bears stranded on shore near communities and human developments and consider the consequences including those for human safety.
Action 19 - Establish working relationships with tourism organizations
and
Action 20 - Collect occurrence data, and develop BMPs, with the goal of minimizing the impact of tourism-related activities and their impact on polar bears
Action-19 & 20 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Status of Actions 19 & 20 in 2020: Started
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
Action 20 was modified to:
- HBC-IS4: Share BMPs for minimizing the impact of tourism-related activities on polar bears.
Action 22 - Reduce the risk of injury and mortality to humans and bears as a result of their interactions
Reduce the risk of injury and mortality to humans and bears as a result of their interactions by:
a. continuing to support the work of the Range State Conflict Working Group;
b. implementing and making available to all Range States the Polar Bear-Human Information Management System (PBHIMS);
c. developing and implementing appropriate data-sharing agreements among the Range States and making the data available to Range State management authorities;
d. entering all available data on human-bear interactions into the PBHIMS database on an ongoing basis; and
e. developing BMPs on tools and techniques for use in preventing and mitigating human–bear conflicts
Action-22 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Status of Action-22 in 2020: Partially completed.
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Action was modified to:
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HBC-A1: Make available to all Range States the Polar Bear-Human Information Management System (PBHIMS); use SMART where possible.
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HBC-IS3: Collaborate and share information on applied research and testing of new deterrent tools (i.e., drones, olfactory, electric fences) on wild and captive bears.>/p>
Action 58 - Use the PBHIMS database to produce safety education materials for use throughout the Arctic in order to minimize and mitigate human-bear interactions
Action-58 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Status of Action-58 in 2020: Not completed.
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Action was modified to:
- HBC-A7: Develop, and post to the RS website, core polar bear safety messages for a general audience and more detailed guidelines for specific user groups (e.g., industry, guide-led tourist groups, hunting/subsistence camps, researchers) as needed. One such product is tourism-operator guidelines to be published on the RS website and shared with The Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO) etc.
Objective 6 - Ensure that international trade of polar bears is carried out according to conservation principles - (Action 12)
Objective 6, 2018-2020 Implementation Plan
Action 12 - Consider, and implement as appropriate, recommendations from the Range States’ Trade Working Group
Action-12 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Status of Action-12 in 2020: Started
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Action was removed from the Circumpolar Action Plan.
Objective 7 - Carry out coordinated circumpolar population research and monitoring that addresses achieving the objectives and providing information to help make progress toward the vision and monitor progress toward the vision of the CAP - (Action 27, 29, 30) *
Objective 7, 2018-2020 Implementation Plan
Action 27 - Share research plans among jurisdictions to encourage consistency of methods and data
Action-27 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Status of Action-27 in 2020: Started
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Action was modified to:
- PRM-A2: Share research plans among jurisdictions to encourage consistency of methods and data - associated with a new CAP Objective-7: Carry out coordinated circumpolar population research and monitoring that addresses achieving the objectives and providing information to help make progress toward the vision and monitor progress toward the vision of the CAP
Action 29 - Share research plans among jurisdictions to encourage consistency of methods and data
Action-29 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Status of Action-29 in 2020: Started
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Action was modified to:
- PRM-A2: Share research plans among jurisdictions to encourage consistency of methods and data - associated with a new CAP Objective-7: Carry out coordinated circumpolar population research and monitoring that addresses achieving the objectives and providing information to help make progress toward the vision and monitor progress toward the vision of the CAP
Action 30 - Obtain information, where possible, on vital rates for all 19 subpopulations of polar bears. Improve methods to evaluate ecological indicators (e.g., reproduction) as proxies for robust estimates of vital rates
Action-30 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Status of Action-30 in 2020: Started
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Action was modified to:
- PRM-A4: Encourage support and compile estimates of vital rates for all 19 subpopulations of polar bears
- PRM-A5: Collate information on vital rates for each of the 19 subpopulations of polar bears
* Objective-7 was added to the Circumpolar Action Plan in 2020.
List of other Actions of the CAP 2018 - 2020 implementation plan**:
Best Management Practices - (Actions 14, 16, 17, 18)
Action 14 - Work with appropriate authorities to develop the necessary emergency response plans
and
Action 16 - Compile, and prepare as necessary, international, national, and local BMPs for mineral and energy exploration and development
Status of Action-14-16 in 2020: Not started
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Actions were removed from the Circumpolar Action Plan.
Action 17 - Operations, Protocolls and Procedures of the Range States
Action-17 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Status of Action-17 in 2020: Started
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Action was removed from the CAP but continued as an ongoing PBRS activity.
- Contaminants and Pollution:
Action 18 - Develop and implement BMPs or action plans to mitigate contamination, or debris, and their effect on polar bears in subpopulations where contaminants are a concern
Action-18 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Status of Action-18 in 2020: Started
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Action was removed from the CAP but continued as an ongoing PBRS activity.
Monitoring and Research - (Actions 33, 34, 35, 42)
- Obtain Information on all Polar Bear Subpopulations:
Action 33 - Have the relevant scientific authorities conduct regular population assessments
Action-33 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Status of Action-33 in 2020: Started
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Action was removed from the Circumpolar Action Plan but continued as an ongoing activity.
Remarks: Annual reports and polar bear population status tables are presented on the IUCN/SCC Polar Bear Specialist Group website.
Action 34 - Obtain TEK as per the acquisition schedule (Appendix VI) and consider, in conjunction with scientific data, in management decisions, where appropriate
Action-34 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Status of Action-34 in 2020: Ongoing activity
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Action was removed from the CAP but continued as an ongoing PBRS activity
Action 35 - Determine what kinds of TEK are most useful for conservation and management and develop objectives, guidelines, and standards for collection and reporting of such information to maximize its utility
Action-35 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Status of Action-35 in 2020: Ongoing activity
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Action was removed from the CAP but continued as an ongoing PBRS activity.
- Contaminants and Pollution Research:
Action 42 - Compile the state of knowledge on (both global and local source) contaminants affecting polar bears and prey
Action-42 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Action 42 presentation at Biennial Meeting of the Parties in 2020
Technical report (Action 42 deliverable):
- Routti et al (2019), Contaminants in polar bears from the circumpolar Arctic, State of knowledge and further recommendations for monitoring and research – Action #42 of the Circumpolar Action Plan for polar bear conservation. Norwegian Polar Institute Brief report nr. 52.
- Routti, H., et al (2019), State of knowledge on current exposure, fate and potential health effects of contaminants in polar bears from the circumpolar Arctic, Science of the Total Environment, vol 664: 1063-1083, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.030
Status of Action-42 in 2020: Completed
Performance Measurement - (Actions 60, 63)
Action 60 - Regular reporting of the results of the Plan will be done according to Table 4
The reports will be made public:
a) Biennial reviews will be made before each Meeting of the Parties, measuring progress on the action points.
b) A more in-depth mid-term review will be made after four years, measuring progress on the objectives.
Action-60 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Status of Action-60 in 2020: Ongoing
Action 63 - Improved design of polar bear population studies
Action-63 Progress Report for the 2018-2020 Implementation Plan period
Status of Action-63 in 2020: Started
Mid-Term Review updates in 2020:
The Action was removed from the Circumpolar Action Plan.
* * The 'other' Actions have a general connection to the CAP and are not directly associated with a specific CAP Objective. The categorization applied in this list follows the categories used in the original CAP. (Source: Table of CAP Actions in original CAP (Annex 3) (2015). See also Mid-Term Review report (2020); MTR report Annex_4_Fate_of_Previous_Actions and MTR report Annex_5_Rank_and_timing_of_actions).
