95 



including these sciences into multi-disciplinary programs being Initiated or 

 supported by lASC. 



The lASC is now well informed about the activities and potential of the 

 lUCH and we are acknowledged as a body representing human health and medicine in 

 the circumpolar regions. The Executive of the lASC has already called upon lUCH 

 for specific advise on two health- related topics. 



A very different example of "indirect" lUCH collaboration and cooperation 

 on health matters is with the "Finnish Initiative". At the ministerial 

 conference in Rovaniemi, Finland, June 1991, the eight Arctic countries adopted 

 the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy and commitLted themselves to 

 establish an Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP) to monitor the 

 levels of, and assess the effects of, anthropogenic pollutants in all 

 compartments of the Arctic environment and to establish an Arctic Monitoring and 

 Assessment Task Force (AMATF) to implement the program. An AMAP Secretariat has 

 been established in Norway. 



A working group is now finalizing a draft plan for the human health 

 dimension of this work. Denmark/Greenland has been appointed the so-called lead 

 country for the human health part of AMAP at a meeting in Tromso, Norway in 

 December 1991. The lUCH President, Dr. Hart Hansen, is the Chair of this working 

 group, thus, making the lUCH an indirect participant in this important work. In 

 addition to human health matters, other concerns include atmosphere, marine 

 environment, terrestrial environment, fresh water and rivers and remote, sensing 

 and modeling. 



We have also offered our services, by way of an proposal, to the Northern 

 Forum, a regional government initiative with a Secretariat or main office in 

 Anchorage, Alaska. At the Third Northern Regions Conference in September 1990, 



