Following the mandate given to AMAP in the Salekhard declaration of the Arctic Council 2006, the SAON Initiating Group was formed in 2007 by representatives of the organisations listed below to facilitate a process towards Sustaining Arctic Observing Networks. The agreed process is to organise a series of workshops in collaboration with national hosts and in close dialogue with the Arctic observing and monitoring communities. Please find below a pdf describing the SAON aims, present status and a suggested process to achieve the aims.

SAON document

	International Programme Office for the International Polar Year			Arctic Council -Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program
	Climate and Cryosphere			Forum of Arctic Research Operators
	International Arctic Science Committee			International Arctic Social Science Association
	Arctic Council - Indigenous Peoples Secretariat			International Study of Arctic Change
	US National Science Foundation			Arctic Ocean Sciences Board
	The Global Ocean Observing System			International Permafrost Association
	European Polar Board