9.7 million for environmental protection measures in Svalbard

The Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund has this autumn allocated NOK 9.7 million to environmental protection projects in Svalbard.

Svalbard’s environmental protection fund must be used to the best of the environment on Svalbard by contributing to the implementation of measures to protect the natural environment and cultural heritage on the archipelago. The fund will work to initiate and stimulate good projects and measures that aim to safeguard the high environmental goals for Svalbard and contribute to ensuring that Svalbard’s distinctive wilderness nature is preserved as a basis for experience, knowledge and value creation.

All visitors to Svalbard pay an environmental tax which accrues to Svalbard’s environmental protection fund. The fund also receives income from fees for hunting and fishing licenses, fees and compulsory fines according to the Svalbard Environment Act.

The fund can only be used for measures on Svalbard that aim to protect the environment through the protection and safeguarding of the natural environment, cultural monuments and the cultural environment, and for projects with training and information purposes.

In the autumn 2024 application round, 43 applications have been received with a total application sum of approx. NOK 20.7 million for projects within cultural heritage, research, reuse, tourism, information, training and facilitation. Of these, 19 applications have received support, within the following categories:

Cultural heritage

Within the category of cultural heritage, it can be mentioned from this autumn’s awards that Svalbard Museum will receive funds to complete an ongoing project of making available frozen archaeological artefact material. The stone sorter in Longyeardalen is an automatically protected cultural monument from early mining times that is in danger of being destroyed. The museum is now receiving support to repair the stone sorter. Underwater cultural relics have received little attention in Svalbard, and the Norwegian Folk Museum has received funds in this round of applications to investigate a known wreck found in Grønfjorden. The Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research receives funds to complete part 2 of its Climarch project, where they will look at the preservation conditions and condition of textile material from whaling graves on Svalbard.

Waste and pollution

Longyearbyen local council receives support for a project on better source sorting and utilization of waste, a follow-up to a previous project they had with pick analysis of industrial waste. A project that has previously received a lot of positive feedback is the free delivery of beach litter, Longyearbyen local council receives funds to re-establish a scheme with free delivery of beach litter for private individuals. Salt Lofoten receives support for a project on Bjørnøya about environmental toxins, plastics and additives from plastics in the arctic ecosystem.

Research

There has also been an excess of research applications in this round of applications. The Norwegian Polar Institute will acquire knowledge about noise from ship traffic and how this affects marine marine mammals. Another project dealing with noise is ICeFIN: Impacts of Cruise Ship Noise on Fish in Svalbard Fjords carried out by UNIS. Akvaplan-Niva will continue its project on humpback salmon and will receive funds to investigate the extent and origin of humpback salmon in Svalbard. The thematic report on biological diversity in Longyearbyen is an important tool for the administration and Longyearbyen local council has received funds to update the current report from 2007. The snow sparrow has experienced a sharp decline in Svalbard, and NINA has received funds to investigate the reasons for this.

Information and training

Svalbard Løypelag receives funds for the purchase of a portable warming shelter which will be a used as a destination for the local population. Ungt Entrepenørskap Arktis receives funding for the project “På tynn Is – Løsninger for fremtidens Svalbard”, a teaching program where the entire school in Longyearbyen will focus on environmental challenges.

Next award round – new opportunities!

The next allocation round will be in spring 2025. The board estimates that the announced funds will be around NOK 8 million.

Svalbard’s environmental protection fund reminds that everyone who applies must meet the requirements set for the content of the application and at the same time justify concretely and practically how the measure falls under the purpose of the Svalbard Environment Act.

As a general rule, the necessary permits must be in place before applying for support. It is also important that the application explains how the project contributes to increased environmental benefits, in line with the guidelines for the fund.

The board wishes to invite active dialogue with possible applicants. Current applicants are encouraged to contact the secretariat for discussions about project ideas and any guidance in the application process before the next application deadline of 1 February 2025.

Commitment letter

All applicants are sent a letter with the decision and any conditions. For a complete overview of this spring’s allocation, please refer to the attached list. We reserve the right to make errors in the summary at this time.

More information

Hanne Eriksen (senior adviser, secretariat) tel. 79 02 43 51

Pål Prestrud (chairman of the board) tel. 970 71 509