Polar regions

Norwegian Print

Strategic objective:

The large continuous wilderness areas in Svalbard and the Antarctic shall together with the cultural heritage in these areas be protected against major developments and environmental pressures. Svalbard shall be one of the best managed wilderness areas in the world, and the settlements shall be soundly managed in order to protect the environment and promote human welfare. Norway will work to ensure that its neighbouring Arctic seas remain some of the cleanest in the world, and that their resources are used within limits that will ensure the maintenance of biological diversity both in the short term and in the long term.

National targets

Indicators

Status

Circum polar cooperation
Cooperation in the Nordic region and adjacent areas and in the Arctic region shall lead to improvements in the state of the environment, protect and enhance the natural and cultural heritage in these areas, and help to reduce and prevent transboundary pollution that may have an impact on the environment or economic activity in Norway.

No indicator developed

Cooperation with Russia
Cooperation shall be used to put the authorities and business and industry in Russia in a better position to control the country’s own environmental problems properly, and to integrate Russia’s environmental authorities into international and regional cooperation.

No indcator developed

Ensure sound resource management
Utilisation of resources in Norway’s neighbouring Arctic seas shall not cause species to become endangered or extinct. Populations of species that are currently believed to be endangered or otherwise adversely affected by land use, harvesting or pollution shall be conserved and if possible restored.

Annual reported harvest of selected marine stocks in relation to stock sizes and ICES recommendations

		Northeast Arctic cod: quota and harvest
		Capelin: quota and harvest

Population trends for selected seabird species that are sensitive to resource use in the Barents Sea

Protect Svalbard's wilderness character
Efforts shall be made to retain the extent of continuous wilderness areas in Svalbard. By 2002, a representative cross-section of Svalbard’s natural environment shall be protected against major developments and environmental pressures by the establishment of specially protected areas. Steps shall be taken to give adequate protection to marine areas of particular conservation value around Svalbard.

Proportion of different biogeographical zones on Svalbard under statutory protection

Proportion protected

Marine areas around Svalbard under statutory or other forms of protection

Areas of Svalbard affected by infrastructure development

Roads and erosion

Preserve cultural heritage sites
Steps shall be taken to preserve a representative selection of structures and sites belonging to the cultural heritage of Svalbard and Jan Mayen as scientific source material and as a source of emotional and aesthetic experience for future generations. Losses of such structures and sites as a result of human activity shall not exceed an average of 0.1 per cent of the total per year.

Damage caused by visitors to selected cultural heritage sites

Avoid damage from transport and travel
Transport and travel in Svalbard shall not cause serious or permanent damage to the vegetation or disturb animal life. Opportunities for experiencing the natural environment undisturbed by motor traffic shall also be ensured in areas that are easily accessible from the settlements.

Volume of shipping and motor traffic on Svalbard

		Cruise ships
		Registered snowmobiles and fuel consumption, Longyearbyen

Size of areas without motor traffic that are easily accessible from the settlements in Svalbard

Areas where snowmobiles are not permitted