Reisa Nasjonalpark
Climate change communication and adaptation of Arctic protected areas (CLAP) – project
Reisa National Park is part of a new exciting Interreg Aurora project in collaboration with the County Administrative Board of Norrbotten and Metsähallitus with a focus on information and adaptation to climate change in Arctic protected areas (CLAP).
The ongoing climate change affects National Parks and Nature Reserves in many ways, including effects on nature types and recreational facilities. The changing conditions threaten the values of the areas and creates new risks for both management and visitors. Addressing climate change within the management of protected areas is crucial to maintaining a sustainable and safe management and to preserve their valuable resources as far as possible.
Through the cross-border cooperation in the Interreg Aurora funded project CLAP, protected area managers in northern Norway, Sweden and Finland will learn and pilot a systematic approach to climate change adaptation planning. Project partners will also jointly learn about how to build climate adapted trails, test electric equipment in maintenance work and develop a model for climate-wise campsites. In connection to this, visitor centres will jointly develop and pilot new ways to communicate about climate change and its on-going effects to visitors. Together with adaptation measures, communication will help keep visitors safe, inspire climate friendly behaviour and reduce possible negative impact of tourism on nature.
The project will also enable staff exchange and investigate models for future cooperation between partner organisations, so that the established cross-border networks created during the project will be able to continue to cooperate after the project has ended.
By increasing the knowledge, capacity and means for managers of Arctic protected areas to adapt to the new circumstances caused by climate change, and by communicating abut it actively, we will be able to better prepare for and adapt to the risks of the changing climate.
There are several planned activities in the project:
- Increase knowledge about how protected areas are affected by climate change based on different scenarios.
- We use existing models to adapt management and information based on scenarios.
- Training in the National Park Service US’s “Planning for a changing climate”.
- Include climate change adaptation in management plans.
- Test different electric alternatives for boats, snowmobiles, and bicycles.
- Look at climate-smart trails and fire pits.
- Develop educational programs related to vulnerable species affected by climate change.
- Can art be used to evoke emotions related to climate change?
- Model for further collaboration after the end of the project.
Socially, ecologically, and economically sustainable development is an overarching goal of the Interreg Aurora program. All projects funded by Interreg Aurora contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The CLAP project primarily contributes to the following of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals:
We hope that the project will provide us with increased knowledge, better tools and long-term cooperation across national borders that can improve the management of protected areas in the North. Read more about the project here:
Total project budget: 2 013 233 Euro
EU- funding, Interreg Aurora: 1 060 390 Euro
Norwegian IR- funding: 190 932 Euro
Project Duration: 01-03-2024 – 31-12-2026
Read more about the project here: