Announcement – 27th round of allocation – autumn 2020
The Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund has around NOK 2.5 million available for project support in 2020.
Especially for 2020
All allocations from the fund that are made within one year are based on the income in the same year. Since it was not known this spring how this year’s income would be due to covid-19, the board decided to postpone the spring allocation round until the autumn.
It has now been half a year, and it can be seen that covid-19 has hit the tourism industry hard. This has significantly reduced the fund’s income. The board has nevertheless decided to announce funds this autumn, albeit with a considerably lower allocation limit than normal.
All applications that came in this spring will be transferred to this autumn’s application round. Should anyone wish to change an application, one must first subtract the existing one and then add a new one in this application round.
The board wants to prioritize projects that provide activity in today’s Svalbard society and that are known to be implemented over the next 2 years, regardless of the corona situation. This will mean that this year you cannot expect large allocation sums per. project.
Purpose
Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund’s purpose is to ensure that Svalbard’s distinctive wilderness character and the unique cultural heritage is preserved as the basis of experience, knowledge and wealth creation. Visitors to Svalbard pay an environmental fee, and the revenue from the fee goes to Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund. The Fund also gets income from fees for hunting and fishing permits and fees and fines under the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act.
What can the fund be used for?
The fund’s resources can only be used for initiatives in Svalbard with the purpose of protecting the natural environment and cultural heritage, and to projects with training and information purposes, cf. § 2 of the Statute of the Fund and regulations for grants from the Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund.
Main priorities in 2020
- Projects that promote sustainable tourism in Svalbard channeled to the areas around the larger settlements in the Isfjord area.
- Projects that ensures knowledge of the overall load of human activity on vulnerable natural and cultural heritage, and especially about species addicted to ice.
- Project that ensures knowledge about the impact of climate change on the natural environment and cultural heritage.
- Project that promotes measures to protect cultural heritage, with particular emphasis on projects that protect cultural heritage that are exposed to the effects of climate change.
- Project that promotes engagement and concrete environment-related action by increasing knowledge about Svalbard’s natural and cultural environment among residents and visitors, for example through innovative use of various forms of communication..
- Projects that contributes to low-emission solutions and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as a result of operations in Svalbard.
- Projects that help to improve the knowledge base for harvesting in Svalbard and contribute to proper harvesting of wildlife and fish populations.
Applicants
Individuals, companies, NGOs and public organizations can apply for support from the Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund. Applicants are encouraged to contact the secretariat if they need guidance in the application process.
Application
Applications must be submitted through the online application centre. Applicants must create a profile in the application centre to access the application form. Remember that all permits and attachments must be submitted together with the application. The application system is only available in Norwegian, but English guidelines are available. It is possible to submit applications and attachments in English. For further information about the application process, please contact the secretariat or visit www.miljovernfond.no