| Summary: | The task of measuring the change of Arctic biodiversity and instituting changes to halt and reverse any downturn has been taken up in response to the rapid changes observed in the region. It is an undertaking made more difficult by the rate at which environmental change is occurring and the difficulty in monitoring species in remote and challenging habitats. We explored techniques to aggregate population trends among vertebrate species. We compiled almost 900 time series data sets tracking trends in Arctic vertebrate populations over the past four decades representing 37% of all known Arctic vertebrate species. Our results showed strengths in the breadth of populations and species monitored and the disaggregation of the data to uncover regional trends. Limitations of the data set were still apparent, due to the lack of any stratified monitoring scheme. Specifically, there were more bird species data than any other vertebrate class. To measure progress towards global targets for the environment, such as the Aichi biodiversity targets for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), indicators like the one we have developed must be strengthened and adapted. Never has it been more important to understand how Arctic ecosystems and the living resources they support are responding to environmental change; tracking how they respond to growing and cumulative pressures will enable pre-emptive action to safeguard their future. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
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