Community Adaptation and Vulnerability in Arctic Regions - Tapa dura

De la contraportada

Arctic communities are experiencing global, societal and economic pressurescoupled with additional environmental changes. The comparison of local andindigenous observations with instrumental records clearly illustrates howArctic communities, both now and in the past, have adapted to a variety ofchanges and risks affecting their livelihoods. Projections of future climatechange indicate a further reduction in sea ice extent and stability, changeto the frequency and intensity of weather events and seasonal transition,alteration in the abundance and distribution of fish and terrestrialbiodiversity, and lessening permafrost stability. All these factors willaffect Arctic resident's livelihoods and wellbeing. Under the auspices of the International Polar Year 2007-2008 (IPY), theCAVIAR consortium was formed with partners from all eight Arctic countriesas a response to the need for systematic assessment of communityvulnerabilities and adaptations across the Arctic. The aim of theinterdisciplinary CAVIAR project is to increase understanding of thevulnerability of Arctic communities to changing societal and environmentalconditions, including climate change. Presented in this volume are theresults and accomplishments drawn from the partnership with localcollaborators from fifteen Arctic communities. In each of the case studiesresearchers have documented the conditions and forces that exacerbate ordiminish vulnerabilities in each of the case studies, identified previousand current adaptation strategies, and assess the prospects for thedevelopment of effective adaptive strategies and policies in the future.