U.S. Chairmanship-Sponsored Workshops - Workshop Funding Proposal Template - Mapping Arctic marine habitat connectivity

Sep 12, 2026

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Workshop Funding Proposal Template for a limited, USA-administered funding request under the DOS Arctic Council chairmanship budget. The project, “Mapping Arctic marine habitat connectivity,” supports chairmanship initiatives by advancing an ecologically connected network of Arctic marine protected areas. The workshop convenes scientific experts to review updated habitat maps, select physical oceanographic models, and identify key species categories for connectivity analysis. Outputs inform Arctic states’ decisions on MPA network design, establishment, management, and regulations for commercial activity.

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Pages3

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Workshop Funding Proposal Template

Required Information

Justification and Workshop Objectives

Species Categories and Review Process

Post-Workshop Activities (Duke Marine Geospatial Lab)

Workshop Logistics

PAME (II)/15/6/c/funding proposal by USA U.S. CHAIRMANSHIP-SPONSORED WORKSHOPS WORKSHOP FUNDING PROPOSAL-TEMPLATE As part of the DOS Arctic Council chairmanship budget, there is a limited amount of funding available to promote chairmanship initiatives through international workshops. US PAME HOD intends to apply for funds to hold the workshop described below. REQUIRED INFORMATION | PROJECT TITLE | Mapping Arctic marine habitat connectivity | | --- | --- | | USG POC [name, agency, contact information] | Lauren Wenzel, NOAA
[Lauren.wenzel@noaa.gov](Lauren.wenzel@noaa.gov) (301-713-7265)
Elizabeth McLanahan, NOAA
[Elizabeth.mclanahan@noaa.gov](Elizabeth.mclanahan@noaa.gov) (202-482-5140) | | | | | CHAIRMANSHIP PILLAR | Arctic Ocean safety, security and stewardship | | AC WORKING GROUP, if any | PAME | | | | | JUSTIFICATION [How will this workshop further a chairmanship initiative in a manner that cannot be achieved through the regularly scheduled WG meeting or intersessional work?]: | | | At the May 2015 Arctic Council Ministerial, the Foreign Ministers ofthe eight Arctic Council States approved the Framework for a pan-Arctic network of ecologically connected, representative marine protected areas (MPAs). The U.S. has also prioritized advancing such an ecologically connected MPA network in its Chairmanship agenda.
The proposed workshop would be part of the Chairmanship agenda and 2015-2017 PAME Workplan project that calls for “A Best Practices Study: Linking area-based conservation measures to categories of Arctic marine biodiversity to support marine protected area networksand the long-term conservation of the Arctic marine environment and associated services and cultural values.” The aim is to generate a toolbox that demonstrates how different types of MPAs and other area-based conservation measures can be used to conserve categories of Arctic marine biodiversity and habitat, thereby providing a menu of possible conservation tools for consideration by Arctic states in developing MPA networks.
This workshop aims to convene scientific experts to initiate a project to map key pathways that connect Arctic marine habitats for a select group of species. This first step in mapping Arctic marine habitat connectivity will involve the review of updated habitat maps, the selection of physical oceanographic models, and the identification of key species to inform connectivity analysis. The exercise will serve as a proof of concept for the approach, as well as providing key information to inform decisions by Arctic States regarding MPA network design, establishment and management, as well as appropriate siting and regulation of commercial activity in the Arctic Ocean.
The workshop would focus on identifying species and their habitats in three broad categories:
a. “Keystone species,” that are fundamental to the functioning of the Arctic marine | | PAME (II)/15/6/c/funding proposal by USA | ecosystem as a whole (e.g., polar cod)
b. “Highly valued species,” that are iconic, important for subsistence, or economically important (e.g., bowhead whales)
c. “Representative species,”with life histories and migration patterns that capture those of a broader set of species.
In advance of the workshop, organizers will a) update existing Arctic habitat maps, b) identify best available physical oceanographic models, and c) consult with scientists to produce a proposed list of 2-5 species in each of these three categories, taking into consideration availability and quality of data, the extent to which species are of international management interest, geographic balance, taxonomic balance (birds, mammals, fish, invertebrates), and other factors.
The workshop would then review the recently synthesized information and evaluate the preliminary list of proposed species by focusing on the following:
a) Review of the species categories – are they appropriate?
b) Review of the draft species list within eac

FAQs

What is the proposed workshop’s main objective?

To initiate a project mapping key pathways that connect Arctic marine habitats for selected species, using updated habitat maps, physical oceanographic models, and species selection to enable connectivity analysis.

How will organizers select the species used for connectivity mapping?

Organizers will update habitat maps, identify best available oceanographic models, and consult scientists to propose 2–5 species in each of three categories: keystone species, highly valued species, and representative species—considering data quality, management interest, and taxonomic and geographic balance.

What happens after the workshop?

The PAME MPA Expert Group plans to engage the Duke Marine Geospatial Lab to map current ecological connectivity for planktonic and non-planktonic species using the selected models and connectivity data, focusing on current conditions without anticipated sea-ice retreat.

Sep 12, 2026

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