ArcNet: How does it work?

To make ArcNet widely available, experts have published the methodology and tools. ArcNet’s use is encouraged widely across the Arctic – planners, managers, scientists and others are welcome to use these resources.

The ArcNet-approach first considers the region’s marine ecosystems and how they function. Next, it suggests the best way forward to support a healthy and biodiverse Arctic.

ArcNet is based on comprehensive, rigorous scientific analysis and best-available scientific data that can be accessed through an extensive database of marine life. The approach is meant to be transparent and can be reproduced.

The tools were designed to support open and inclusive cooperation between governments and other marine rightsholders and stakeholders as they work together to establish protective measures for ArcNet’s priority areas for conservation.

ArcNet will also require data to be updated, including from diverse sources of knowledge. To ensure the network delivers the conservation of Arctic marine biodiversity even as the Arctic changes over time, its effectiveness needs to be regularly assessed.

ArcNet Methodology

Published in the Nature portfolio journal Ocean Sustainability, this open-access paper outlines the ArcNet framework:

James, T.D., Sommerkorn, M., Solovyev, B. et al. Whole-ocean network design and implementation pathway for Arctic marine conservation. npj Ocean Sustain 3, 25 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44183-024-00047-9

ArcNet is a design framework to achieve ocean-scale, area-based marine conservation in the Arctic. It is centered around a ~5.9 million km2 network of 83 priority areas for conservation that was designed through an expert-driven systematic conservation planning analysis. The analysis uses conservation targets for over 800 features that represent Arctic biodiversity.

Beyond the analysis, the ArcNet framework is designed to foster collaboration, adapt to new information, and identify tailored, location-specific, conservation measures for planning and implementation through a suite of web-based tools.

Read the publication

CHICORY

CHICORY is a tool for exploring the priority areas for conservation (PACs). CHICORY allows users to explore and understand:

What conservation features and marine biodiversity are in a specific PAC, and which data was used in the process.
How that PAC would contribute to the conservation of marine biodiversity and to the broader Arctic Ocean network of PACs.

CHIKORY was designed for anyone with an interest in Arctic marine conservation. Those who want to learn about the PAC network or contribute to its implementation: scientists, planners and managers in government agencies, inhabitants of Arctic communities, and industry stakeholders.

It is the main tool to understand the PACs and the network.

Explore CHIKORY

ACCENTER

ACCENTER is a web-based mini-GIS that allows users to query the ArcNet analysis and answer questions, such as:

How was this map produced?
Why and how were the PACs selected?
Which marine biodiversity data underpin the map and PAC selection?

ACCENTER was developed with government planners, NGO advocates and other stakeholders in mind, especially those who are participating in the debate on where to establish area based protection measures in the marine Arctic.

Explore ACCENTER

GERANIUM

GERANIUM assists stakeholders in making decisions on conservation measures. It visualizes and quantifies conservation concerns and risks arising from industrial activities for marine Arctic areas, and supports discussion and decisions on conservation and management measures inside and beyond the ArcNet PACs.

Explore GERANIUM

ARCNET SHAPEFILE

The ArcNet shapefile outlines the 83 PACs. The shapefile can be used in mapping applications to visualize PACs together with other marine datasets to assist spatial planning.

The ArcNet shapefile is designed for all who want to include ArcNet and the PACs in their work on Arctic marine issues. For example, those working with spatial dimensions.

Explore the shapefile (2,2 MB)