The "Sustainability of Arctic Communities Project" started in September 1995. This is a report of progress through April 30, 1997. Primary funding for this project comes from the National Science Foundation. The project is also being sponsored by the Canadian Ecological Assessment & Monitoring Program (EMAN) and the US Man and the Biosphere program (MAB). We have organized this section to first provide the reader with an overview of the project. We then discuss progress and work plans by key linkages between project components.