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BSSN Information
The Bering Sea Sub-Network: International
Community-Based Environmental Observation
Alliance for the Arctic Observing Network, known as
BSSN, began as a 2008-09 International Polar Year
project implemented by the Aleut International
Association in collaboration with the University of
Alaska, United Nations Environment Programme –
Global Resource Databank Arendal and the
Alaska Native Science Commission under the auspices of the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna working group of the Arctic Council . BSSN initially was funded by the United States National Science Foundation under the Cooperative Agreement ARC – 0634079 as a pilot in 2007 (Phase I)and and received an award for a five-year continuation in 2009 (Phase II ARC_0856774).
Alaska Native Science Commission under the auspices of the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna working group of the Arctic Council . BSSN initially was funded by the United States National Science Foundation under the Cooperative Agreement ARC – 0634079 as a pilot in 2007 (Phase I)and and received an award for a five-year continuation in 2009 (Phase II ARC_0856774).
Bering Sea Sub-Network
Coastal Communities of the Bering Sea observing their environment
"Sharing knowledge - improving understanding"
Coastal Communities of the Bering Sea observing their environment
"Sharing knowledge - improving understanding"
The overall goal of the Bering Sea Sub Network (BSSN) is to advance knowledge of the environmental changes that are of
significance to understanding pan-arctic processes thereby enabling scientists, arctic communities and governments to
predict, plan and respond to these changes. This may also help to enhance community resilience under conditions of rapid
environmental and social change (Alessa et al 2007).
This project created a structured framework that provides the means for the systematic collection of information about the environmental and socioeconomic conditions based on the perceptions of local residents. The network also provides for the efficient management of data gathered from community-based observations. The pilot phase demonstrated that such an international network of indigenous communities can be organized and can produce usable data sets based on local observations.
This project created a structured framework that provides the means for the systematic collection of information about the environmental and socioeconomic conditions based on the perceptions of local residents. The network also provides for the efficient management of data gathered from community-based observations. The pilot phase demonstrated that such an international network of indigenous communities can be organized and can produce usable data sets based on local observations.