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Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP)

AMAP's mission To provide reliable and sufficient information on the status of, and threats to, the Arctic Environment, and provide scientific advice on actions to be taken in order to support Arctic governments in their efforts to take remedial and preventive actions relating to contaminants and effects of climate change

The Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) was established in 1991 to implement parts of the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (AEPS). In 1997, the AEPS was subsumed under the responsibilities of the Arctic Council and AMAP is now one of the working groups reporting to the Arctic Council.

The primary objectives of AMAP are:
 * to measure the levels, and assess the effects of anthropogenic pollutants in all compartments of the Arctic environment, including humans;
 * to document trends in pollution;
 * to document sources and pathways of pollutants;
 * to examine the impact of pollution on Arctic flora and fauna, especially those used as food by indigenous people and the general population;
 * to monitor and assess effects of climate change on Arctic ecosystems;
 * to monitor and assess effects on Arctic ecosystems of increased UV-B radiation due to stratospheric depletion;
 * to assess the effects of multiple stressors, with special attention on human health impacts;
 * to report on the State of the Arctic environment to Ministers and relevant fora; and
 * to give advice to Ministers on priority actions needed to improve the environmental conditions in the Arctic.

AMAP's Circumpolar Monitoring Programme is based on existing national and international monitoring and research programmes, aiminh to harmonize these with regard to methodologies and quality assurance. Each country defines National Implementation Plan to meet AMAP monitoring objectives.

AMAP monitoring and reserach projects are described in the AMAP Project Directory. Please visit the AMAP web site at: http://www.amap.no.

AMAP thematic data centres have been established for atmospheric data (NILU, Norway), freshwater/terrestrial data (UAF, USA), marine data (ICES, Denmark) and radioactivity data (NRPA, Norway) to compile and ensure long-term access to data used in AMAP assessments.

AMAP assessments are prepared by AMAP Expert Groups composed of scientists and experts nominated from Arctic countries, Arctic indigenous peoples' organizations, other countries and international organizations. These Expert Groups are established by the AMAP Working Group to deliver scientifically independant, peer reviewed assessments on topics currently addressed in the AMAP workplan. The AMAP Working Group, together with the lead authors of the scientific assessments, prepare State of the Arctic Environment Reports, including key findings and recommendations for actions, based on the scientific assessments. AMAP reports and recommendations for actions are delivered to Arctic Council Ministers for their consideration.

AMAP Reports


 * AMAP Assessment Reports - fully referenced, technical and scientific presentation of all validated data on the status of the Arctic environment.
 * State of the Arctic Environment Reports - concise reports presenting key results of AMAP assessments; including recommendations for actions.

All reports are available on the AMAP website: http://www.amap.no