Arctic Biodiversity Futures

Polar bears clinging to ever-shrinking ice floes, thawing permafrost, reindeer unable to find food: Reports on biodiversity in the Arctic are characterised by dramatic images. Such images overwhelm us and convey a sense of hopelessness. How can we counteract this?

The climate crisis is particularly noticeable in the Arctic. For every degree of global warming, the Arctic warms by 4°C. The consequences for animals, plants and humans are severe. But there are also ways to steer the course of the Arctic towards a better future.

During the World Biodiversity Forums 2024 , representatives of indigenous groups, business, politics and scientists met to develop ways to improve Arctic biodiversity. The results of their discussions, which were captured by artist Ollie Prothero, were exhibited in the Science Pavilion UZH and are now archieved on this page.

Let yourself be inspired by the positive visions for the future.

For every degree of global warming, the Arctic is warming 4°C. This warming promotes industrial activity such as mining and extraction of oil and gas. Together, these changes put pressure on cold adapted plants and animals, as well as peoples such as reindeer herders, for whom the region is a homeland. Reports of changes in Arctic biodiversity are told as stories of “doom and gloom”, which dominate the news from the region.

It is easy to get overwhelmed by the photos of polar bears struggling on ice floes, but at the same time we have real opportunities to steer the course of the Arctic into a better future – if we want to!

The World Biodiversity Forum is a scientific conference that brings together biodiversity researchers, decision-makers, artists and stakeholders from various biodiversity sectors. In various workshops, they discuss the latest scientific findings and their implementation in practice.

The University of Zurich initiated the conference and organises it every two years.

The 2024 conference

The theme of the 2024 conference was ‘From Science to Action’. 826 scientists, indigenous people, business- and policymakers met in Davos to think about what we could do to create a better future for Arctic biodiversity. They explored the transition from knowledge to actions and solutions that lead to the conservation of biodiversity and a sustainable society. One focus was on positive change, from the development of narratives to visions for a sustainable future.

Workshop Video
 

Artist Ollie Prothero captured the results of our discussions. This artwork was produced as part of the EU CHARTER project and was co-funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 programme (agreement No 869471), the University of Zurich and the Oliver Wyman Social Impact programme. 

Why positive futures?

The facts paint a clear picture: biodiversity is not doing well. It is declining and is particularly at risk in vulnerable ecosystems. This frightens us and overwhelms some people. They wonder whether they can still make a difference at all. Hopelessness is spreading, as we are not only facing this ecological crisis. 

By imagining positive scenarios that go beyond facts and figures, we regain courage, have a goal in mind and can take care of the necessary measures. We concretise proposed solutions to achieve the goal. We don't forget the scientific facts but see how we can deal with them. 

CHARTER 

CHARTER is the abbreviation for the EU-funded ‘Drivers and Feedbacks of Changes in Arctic Terrestrial Biodiversity’. 21 research institutions from 9 countries, including the University of Zurich, were involved in the project. 

The aim of CHARTER is to increase knowledge about Arctic biodiversity and the complex interactions between Arctic ecosystems and humans. This should help the local population to adapt to the ecological changes. 

The project encompasses many research disciplines andmethods. The local population not only helped with a lot of sampling in the field, but also with identifying the problems they face due to dwindling biodiversity. 

Indigenous peoples such as the Sami and Nenets know the region best and their survival depends on the conservation of the ecosystem. Therefore, their knowledge and concerns have been included in the research questions. 
 

Funding period: 1.8.2020 - 31.7.2024
Website:CHARTER blog

The climate in the Arctic region is harsh. This climate has not only significantly shaped the landscape, but also the creatures that inhabit it. They are adapted to low temperatures, dry and windy climates, barren landscapes and seasonal fluctuations in the amount of sunlight. However, difficult living conditions do not equate to lower biodiversity. 

Around 21,000 species of mammals, birds, fish, invertebrates, plants, fungi and microbes live in the Arctic. And these are just the species we know about. Many have not even been discovered yet. 

Due to the special living conditions, the Arctic is home to many endemic species. These are organisms that only occur in the Arctic regions. Of the 2,200 plants that thrive in the Arctic, 106 can only be found there. It is not only endemic species that find a home here. Many migratory birds also breed in the Arctic.

Interesting Fact: Contrary to common perception, the Arctic is not a single large expanse of snow and ice. Indeed, most of the terrestrial Arctic is snow-free in summer with plants and animals enjoying 24 hours of sunlight during the polar day. 

Representatives of arctic biodiversity

Fascinating and extraordinary organisms live both on land and in the water. They are all optimally adapted to the Arctic environmental conditions. 

Plants

Cloudberry

The cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) became famous through its depiction on the Finnish 2-euro coin. It grows in the circumpolar regions between 78° and 54° latitude. It is considered the symbol of Lapland and is also regarded as the gold of the Arctic tundra because of its colour. 

For the indigenous population, it was and is an important source of food and a good source of vitamins. 

Arctic willow

The arctic willow (Salix arctica) is one of the most northerly growing woody plants. It grows in the form of a creeping shrub between 1 and 15 cm high. 

Like other arctic plants, it grows slowly and can therefore become very old. The Inuit use it in many ways. They eat parts of it because it has a sweet flavour and is rich in vitamin C. 

Mountain aven

The Mountain avens (Dryas integrifolia) can be found in the Arctic regions, but also here in the Alps. 

Here in the Alps, it is a glacial relict – a species that is usually only found in cold northern regions and was able to spread to southern latitudes during the last ice age. When the ice disappeared again, it retreated once more, for example in the mountain regions. 

Reindeer lichen

Reindeer lichen (Cladonia rangiferina) is a greyish-white lichen species that is mainly found in the taiga and tundra. There it sometimes covers the entire ground. 

Like many species in the Arctic, reindeer lichen grows very slowly, namely only 3 to 5 mm per year. 

Animals

Reindeer

Reindeer (Rangifer tardus) belong to the deer family. They live in the Arctic tundra and taiga of northern Eurasia, North America, Greenland and other Arctic islands. North American representatives are also known as caribou. Both males and females of the reindeer have antlers. In winter, their diet is mainly limited to reindeer lichen and in autumn to mushrooms. Their diet only becomes more varied in summer, when they will eat any plant. 

Reindeer herding

Reindeer are the only cervids that have been semi-domesticated.  Around 100,000 people are involved in reindeer herding in the Arctic. It is not only a way of earning a living, but also a way of life.

For indigenous peoples such as the Sami and the Nenets, reindeer herding is an essential part of their culture. Reindeer herding leads to a semi-nomadic lifestyle, as suitable grazing areas have to be sought. 

Musk ox

The majority of these impressive animals are now found in Canada, Siberia and Greenland. Musk oxen (Ovibos moschatus) are adapted to low temperatures but avoid moisture. They therefore feel at home in the tundra with little precipitation. 

In winter, they feed on the fat reserves that they build up in summer by eating grasses and sedges. Arctic willow is the main food source in winter.

The legendary narwhal

The legendary narwhal (Monodon monoceros) belongs to the toothed whales and is at home in the Arctic waters around Canada, Greenland and Russia.

The males have a striking feature: they have a tusk that is twisted in a spiral and can grow up to 3 m long. This is the left canine tooth, which protrudes through the upper lip.

Snowy Owl

Snowy owls (Bubo scandiacus) breed in the Arctic. They feed mainly on voles and lemmings. Unlike other owl species, they also hunt during the day. 

If there are not enough voles to catch in a given year, they will not reproduce that year. 

Interesting Fact: Indigenous Peoples have lived in the Arctic for thousands of years, developing ingenious lifestyles that are well adapted to the cold environment. Living in close connection with nature these Peoples are stewards of the local biodiversity and rights holders of the Arctic.

They have deep understanding and knowledge of the Arctic and the rapid changes happening due to global change drivers.

The climate crisis is particularly noticeable in the Arctic. The climate here is warming almost four times as fast as on the rest of the planet¹. This is leading to major environmental changes and threats to life in the Arctic, including the people who live in these regions.

Warm winters

The unusually high temperature peaks in winter lead to the snow melting and refreezing or falling in the form of rain, which in turn freezes.

This creates large patches of ice that cover the reindeer lichen, the main food of reindeer in winter. Reindeer cannot dig through the ice to reach the lichen. As a result, they starve.

Invasive species

Due to the rising temperatures, species that are more competitive can now colonise. 

For example, arctic plants grow close to the ground. Competitive species that originally come from warmer areas and are taller can overshadow the arctic plants.

Melting ice

The melting of the pack ice means that polar bears are increasingly tied to the mainland. There they have more difficult access to their prey, the seals (especially ringed seals). They have to make ever longer journeys to hunt. 

However, the dwindling pack ice is also a problem for the seals themselves. Pups now have to go into the water earlier, when their protective layer of fat has not yet developed. 

Thawing permafrost

Countless microorganisms are trapped in the permafrost. When the permafrost thaws, the microorganisms can break down the carbon that was previously stored in it. 

This decomposition leads to CO₂ and methane. Both gases additionally warm the climate. This is known as a feedback effect. 

Warm waters

Warming waters are just as much of a problem in the Arctic as they are on the rest of the planet. 

Fish such as the polar cod are finding less food and vulnerable life stages, such as eggs and larvae, are no longer developing optimally. This has consequences for countless species in Arctic waters, as these fish are an important food source for many animals. 

Researchers at the University of Zurich are contributing to knowledge about Arctic biodiversity, its functions and protection.

Models and experiments

Not only models are used to investigate the impact of changing environmental factors on Arctic ecosystems. We also conduct experiments in the field.

For example, researchers at UZH have developed an experiment that simulates the effects of drought and heavy rainfall on the Arctic tundra. This allows the effects of extreme precipitation events on vegetation and permafrost to be analysed.

Arctic Vegetation Archive

For example, they are involved in the ‘Arctic Vegetation Archive’ project. This is a publicly accessible database in which existing observations of plant and lichen species in the Arctic are standardised and collected.

This allows changes in Arctic ecosystems to be quantified and future scenarios to be modelled. In addition, hotspots of Arctic biodiversity can be identified and protected. 

Spatial Ecology and Remote Sensing Group

We are a group of researchers from diverse backgrounds interested in the Arctic as a component of the Earth System. 

Our research bridges many disciplines, including ecology, remote sensing, Earth system modelling and social sciences.  By combining methods from all these disciplines, we produce open science that provides new insights about the North of our planet. 

We are passionate about putting our science to good use. We work with the media to share our results with the public and are actively involved in policy-making through the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) of the Arctic Council. 

Indigenous Peoples have lived in the Arctic for thousands of years, developing ingenious lifestyles that are well adapted to the cold environment. Living in close connection with nature these Peoples are stewards of the local biodiversity and rights holders of the Arctic.

They have deep understanding and knowledge of the Arctic and the rapid changes happening due to global change drivers.

Spatial Ecology and Remote Sensing Group website: earthsystemscience.org

URPP – Global Change and Biodiversity

With the University Research Priority Programme «Global Change and Biodiversity», the University of Zurich bundled research activities to investigate the drivers of species loss and feedback mechanisms. With their knowledge and commitment, the researchers also contributed to a deeper understanding and better perception of biodiversity in society. 

The work of the scientists involved has resulted in several hundred publications that have significantly improved the knowledge base on biodiversity. They have also been able to develop new technologies and methods that enable precise monitoring of biodiversity. 
 

Zoom

Group photo UFSP. © UFSP – Globaler Wandel und Biodiversität

The programme ran from 2013 to 2024 and various options for follow-up programmes are currently being considered (as of June 2026).

The pannels featuring the illustrated impressions of the 2024 conference were on display at the Science Pavilion UZH from autumn 2025 to spring 2026.

Footnotes

¹ Rantanen, M., Karpechko, A. Y., Lipponen, A., et al. (2022). The Arctic has warmed nearly four times faster than the globe since 1979. Communications Earth & Environment, 3, 168. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-022-00498-3