Threats to the arctic environment
The natural surroundings of the Arctic are very fragile, and even minor encroachments can cause lasting damage. The Arctic environment is coming under growing pressure from human activity. Tourists are heading deeper into the wilderness, and more and more people want to experience the untouched nature that can only be found in polar regions.
Concentrations of environmentally hazardous PCBs in polar bears in Svalbard have been found to be up to six times higher than in polar bears in Canada. Because of the difficult climate and other natural conditions and the large areas involved, monitoring the environment in the Arctic is a major undertaking.
Svalbard
Svalbard is part of the Kingdom of Norway, but the Treaty of Svalbard from 1925 also gives other countries extensive rights. Citizens from signatory countries to the Treaty have the same rights as Norwegian citizens to engage in industry, mining, fishing, hunting and other maritime and commercial activities.
All visits to Svalbard are subject to strict regulations regarding the protection of nature and historical sites, as well as ensuring the safety of the visitors. The tour organizer must inform the Governor of Svalbard of all tour plans well ahead of the start of the season, as well as present proof of insurance to cover any search and rescue operations should the need arise. Individual travellers must notify the authorities of any planned trips.
Around 1400 Norwegians make their home in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. During the four summer months, the sun shines day and night, while there is hardly any daylight during the nearly four months of winter. The annual average temperature is -4º C.
Protected Areas
There are several national parks, reserves and protected areas in Svalbard. Two plant protection areas were established as early as 1932 and there are 15 special bird reserves. The national parks are open to basic, non-motorized outdoor recreation. In special cases, for example for scientific purposes, the Governor’s Office may permit limited use of snowmobiles, airplanes, or helicopters.
According to the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act, all traces of human activity from 1945 or earlier are considered protected cultural remains.
Conservation schemes
A number of the species native to Svalbard have suffered from centuries of indiscriminate hunting and slaughtering. The result has been dramatic reductions in the populations of walrus, polar bear and Svalbard reindeer. Now, with conservation schemes for these large mammals in place, the populations are rising again.
Norway has set ambitious goals for its management of the Arctic environment, one of which is for Svalbard to become one of the best-managed wilderness areas in the world.
In June 2001 the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act came into force. This Act is designed to preserve a virtually untouched environment in Svalbard with respect to continuous areas of wilderness, landscape elements, flora, fauna and cultural heritage. Within this framework, the Act allows for environmentally sound settlement, research and commercial activities.
Facts about Antarctica
- The coldest, windiest, highest and driest continent on earth
- Close to 99% of the continent is covered by an ice-sheet
- Average height above sea level: Approximately 2 500 meters
- Average temperature: - 60º C in the higher areas, -10º C in the coastal areas
- Norway's claims: Dronning Maud Land and Peter I Island.
- Bouvet Island, north of the Antarctic continent, is considered Norwegian territory.
- The Norwegian Polar Institute is the environmental administrative authority for Bouvet Island.
Antarctica is the least spoiled wilderness in the world. Norway has played a very active role in the development and implementation of the environmental regulations in Antarctica, and has led the initial work under the Committee of Environmental Protection.
In June 2003 the Norwegian Minister of the Environment decided to upgrade the Norwegian summer station Troll in Dronning Maud Land to a permanent research station. In the field of climate change, Antarctica is one of the world’s most important natural laboratories for scientific research.
By the Norwegian Ministry for the Environment