Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) is the biodiversity working group of the Arctic Council. CAFF conducts Monitoring, Assessment, Policy, and expert group activities to preserve Arctic biodiversity and ensure the sustainability of biological resources and communicates the results to governments and indigenous peoples. The main tasks of CAFF consist of monitoring (Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program), assessment (Arctic Biodiversity Assessment) and strategic projects (Arctic Migratory Bird Initiative, AMBI). Korea has been directly participating in the AMBI since 2015 after acquiring observer status of the Arctic Council in 2013. The AMBI aims to preserve habitats on migration routes used by breeding birds in the Arctic and prevent illegal hunting. Thus, observer countries on migratory routes are directly participating in the project. When selecting priorities for participation in Arctic cooperation projects by 2030, Korea should consider continuing participation in AMBI and participating in the “CAFF Youth Program” in connection with the Arctic Academy program operated by Korea’s public institutes.

This study aims to establish the national strategy for biodiversity conservation by analyzing the current status of ecodiversity as the foundation of biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, this study has another purpose of preparing the measures for conservation and restoration of biodiversity. Ecodiversity was discussed as the basis for conserving biodiversity. Five climate zones and 14 climatic regions, eight plant geographic regions, three massifs and major geologic series, horizontal and vertical topographic conditions, 16 ecoregions, major ecosystems including forest, river and streams, wetlands, coast and marine, agriculture, and urban esosystems, and land use types were discussed as the element of the ecodiversity. In terms of biodiversity conservation, the actual conditions of each ecological unit were reviewed and measures were proposed to reduce biodiversity loss. Destruction and fragmentation of habitat, poor ecosystem management due to socioeconomic changes, the effects of exotic species and chemicals, and climate change were discussed as the major factors causing biodiversity loss. Systematic monitoring based on scientific principles and ecological restoration based on those monitoring results were recommended as measures for biodiversity conservation.