Partners and project aim

The project is led by NORDECO, partnering with Greenland Climate Research Centre, Hokkaido University, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR). The aim of the project is to consolidate and further develop the UArctic Thematic Network on Collaborative Resource Management with its focus on interdisciplinary capacity development in collaborative natural resource management and monitoring in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic. The project started in September last year.

Creating dialogue and sharing knowledge about community-based monitoring (CBM)

Several partners in the Thematic Network are behind a policy brief with recommendations to the Fisheries Commission in Greenland about including user knowledge in the aims of the new Fisheries Law in Greenland. The project has also prepared a podcast about community-based monitoring (CBM) with the American Association of Biological Sciences, facilitated by the editor of the journal BioScience. The project is also behind the book launch event “Community-Based Monitoring in the Arctic” (University of Alaska Press, 2020) at the Greenland Science Week.

Furthermore, the project has co-developed four scientific papers about CBM methods and approaches. The project has also contributed to a dialogue with decision-makers and local community actors in Longyearbyen about the use of citizen science by guides and guests on expedition cruise ships for monitoring Arctic cultural heritage sites at risk from climate change. In Greenland, the project has continued dialogue with municipal government agencies and civil society associations on effective approaches for CBM development.

The project has also co-organized a “zoom coffee chat” meeting with representatives from all EU projects that to our knowledge have components on CBM or Citizen Science in the Arctic. The meeting provided an opportunity for coordination and experience exchange across the EU-funded Arctic science initiatives. The project has further highlighted the importance of capacity-development in community-based management and monitoring at different events, e.g. the Arctic Science Summit Week in Tromsø (March 2022) and different workshops throughout the year.

The project partners will continue their work, and we are looking forward to further following their progress!