Start of work on management and protection plans for Central Spitsbergen

This work includes
The management plan for the protected areas in Central Spitsbergen and intermediate areas that are not subject to protection. The protected areas that are included are Sassen-Bünsow land national park, Nordre Isfjorden national park, Nordenskiöld land national park and Indre Wijdefjorden national park, as well as the Festningen geotop protected area. See the attached map. The management plan will provide guidelines for the management of the protective areas on the basis for protection regulations and the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act. The management plan does not include area plan areas.

The expansion of the Nordenskiöld Land national park so that it will encompass the Van Mijen fjord and surrounding areas of land.

Evaluation of the potential protection of Nedre Adventdalen in order to assess the need for strengthened protection of areas with particularly rich bird life.

Knowledge base and participation
The Norwegian Polar Institute has prepared several reports to be used as the knowledge base in this work, see the project site. However, local participation is important to ensure that relevant usage and issues are dealt with in the processes. We are therefore seeking input from all affected parties. Three working groups incorporating representatives from different user groups that will contribute to the work. It is desirable that appropriate user groups appoint delegates to these groups.

Input
The Governor would like to receive specific, justified input to this start up notification.

• We are particularly interested in receiving input on:
• Business and user interests and use of areas today
• Needs and plans for the use of areas in the future
• Problems that ought to be highlighted
• Delineation of areas

Input relating to the start up notification can be submitted by letter or email to firmapost@sysselmannen.no The deadline for responses is 15/10/2019.