Human- Polar Bear conflict reduction workshop 2013 By Espen Stokke, Senior Adviser Nature Management THE GOVERNOR OF SVALBARD
Topics Svalbard Environmental Protection Act - New rules on protection in the field - Behaviour towards polar bears Governor's office preventive measures
Legal framework for the management of Svalbard The Svalbard Treaty The Svalbard Act Svalbard Environmental Protection Act
Regulations with special rules on protection of polar bears Svalbard Environmental Protection Act Regulations on protected areas Regulations on tourism and other travel Regulations on camping activities
Svalbard Environmental protection act
Purpose of the act To preserve a virtually untouched environment in Svalbard with respect to continuous areas of wilderness, landscape elements, flora, fauna and cultural heritage.
Duty of care and duty to provide information Any person who is staying in or operates an undertaking in Svalbard shall show due consideration and exercise the caution required to avoid unnecessary damage or disturbance to the natural environment or cultural heritage.
General provisions relating to access to and passage through the natural environment All access and passage in Svalbard shall take place in a way that does not harm pollute or in any other way damage the natural environment or cultural heritage or result in unnecessary disturbance to humans or animals. (extract of 73)
Protection of fauna No person may hunt, capture, injure or kill fauna or damage eggs, nests or lairs It is prohibited to lure, pursue or otherwise seek out polar bears in such a way as to disturb them or expose either bears or humans to danger. (extract of 30)
Safety measures in respect of polar bears Duty to possess knowledge about safety measures against polar bear attacks bring suitable means for chasing away polar bears Necessary measures shall be taken to avoid the danger of polar bear attacks and to ward off an attack without injuring or killing the animal (Unofficial translation 30a)
Regulations on protected areas Public access to land All activities that can change or disturb the natural environment are prohibited
Protected areas 65% land area 84 % territorial waters is protected 21 nature reserves 15 bird sanctuaries 2 large reserves in Eastern Svalbard Bjørnøya Hopen Moffen Ossian Sars 7 national parks
The protection areas are selected to Include the variation of nature types and landscapes Safeguard areas with distinct nature or culture values Safeguard ecosystems on land and in the sea Maintain wilderness and untouched nature (Extract 11)
Protection of Kong Karls land The ban applies to all traffic on and to the Islands and the waters around them at a distance of 500 m from the shore as well as the flying above these areas at an altitude of less than 500 m. The purpose of the traffic ban is to prevent that the polar bear population in Svalbard will be harmed by unwanted traffic in the polar bears main denning area and habitat. The ban applies throughout the year.
Regulations on tourism and other travel 5 - Responsibility of tour operators and tourist Carriers for the safety and behaviour of participants 7 - Notification of travel plans
Regulations on camping activities in Svalbard Campers are encouraged to carry signal pistols, flare pens equipped with thunder flashes, or signal cartridges, or sirens. In the case of camping activities that require a permit, the area of the camp shall be safeguarded by means of at least one detection device such as guard dogs or a polar bear watch routine.
Current situation Not many incidents Most visitors come through restricted carriers Qualified guiding is needed Many visitors stay on a short time level Giving satisfactory information (qualitative & quantitative) is recognized as a huge challenge
Confrontations between polar bears and people
Polar Bear killed on Svalbard 1974-2012
Preventive measures Information Scientists Tourists Residents Specific conditions Updating PBHIMS
Information brochures
Thank you for your attention!