Courtney Price

The Arctic is the place where all key global issues present themselves: climate change, biodiversity loss, multilateral cooperation, sustainable development, Indigenous rights and so much more. It is one of the most dynamic and vibrant places to live and work.

Since 2011 I’ve worked at the Conservation of Flora and Fauna (CAFF) international secretariat in Akureyri, Iceland. CAFF is the biodiversity working group of the Arctic Council, a high level intergovernmental forum to promote cooperation, coordination and interaction among the Arctic States, with the involvement of Arctic Indigenous Peoples.

I have dual roles at CAFF. My first role is as Communications Manager, where I design, plan and implement an overall communications strategy for the organization, and its programs and projects including the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program and the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment. I work with key partners to address international scientific and political audiences in formal and informal settings and have been instrumental in organizing and hosting the highly successful Arctic Biodiversity Congress (2014 and 2018).

I have recently taken on a second role as the Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI) Global Coordinator. As part of this role I oversee a small team of flyway coordinators and coordinate efforts to unite Arctic and non-Arctic countries in the conservation of declining populations of Arctic-breeding migratory birds. Many populations of shorebirds that breed in the Arctic are undergoing alarming decline. In some flyways, some species have declined anywhere from 50-90% in the past 30 years. Only international cooperation and comprehensive solutions can help reduce threats to these species and promote conservation, and the Arctic Council is uniquely positioned to address these important biodiversity issues with Arctic States, Indigenous Peoples Observer States and Organizations.

I joined CAFF to specialize in Arctic issues after three years as a Science and Technology Liaison Officer at Environment Canada, and two years in communications for the Canadian Wildlife Service, where I worked to promote the findings of the wildlife research community to departmental policy audiences.

I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, double major Mass Communications, from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada and an MSc in Global Challenges through the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. After my undergraduate degree I worked at the Centre for Canadian-Australian Studies at the University of Wollongong, Australia as part of an international internship program of the Canadian government.

If you would like to contact me:

Email: courtney@caff.is

My publications include:

Barry, T and C. Price. 2015. Arctic biodiversity: from science to policy. Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, 5(3): 283–287. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs13412-015-0267-3.

Useful links to learn more about CAFF and to get in contact with us:

CAFF website

Arctic Biodiversity Assessment website

Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative webpage

State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report website

Twitter: @CAFFSecretariat

Facebook: @CAFFS

Instagram: @caff_arctic_biodiversity

Flickr: Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna – CAFF

YouTube: @CAFFBiodiversity

Publications and outputs from CAFF include:

CAFF State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report: Key Findings and Advice for Monitoring (2017). https://www.caff.is/marine/marine-monitoring-publications/state-of-the-arctic-marine-biodiversity-report/416-state-of-the-arctic-marine-biodiversity-report-key-findings-and-advice-for-monit. State of the Arctic Marine Biodiversity Report: Key Findings and Advice for Monitoring Summary April 2017DOWNLOAD

CAFF Arctic Biodiversity Assessment 2013: Report for Policy Makers (English).
https://www.caff.is/assessment-series/arctic-biodiversity-assessment/229-arctic-biodiversity-assessment-2013-report-for-policy-makers-english.Arctic Biodiversity Assessment 2013 Report for Policy Makers (English)DOWNLOAD

CAFF Management Board meeting in Alaska, February 2019: https://www.flickr.com/photos/93387980@N07/32066936187/in/album-72157705028385671/

Participants at the Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative, China, December 2018: https://www.flickr.com/photos/93387980@N07/46359178321/in/album-72157698843781320/

At the Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2018 introducing speakers, Finland, October 2018: https://www.flickr.com/photos/93387980@N07/43616307410/in/album-72157672508076197/