Back to search

KLIMAFORSK-Stort program klima

Support to arrange the 6th International Conference in Arctic Fox Biology in Longyearbyen, Svalbard 2022

Awarded: NOK 99,999

The 6th international conference in arctic fox biology will for the first time be organized and located in Norway. Circumpolar arctic fox biologists have since 1991, established a network that have arranged five international conferences in arctic fox biology. The location for the conference are rotating among the Arctic nations and it has so far been arranged in Sweden (1991 and 2009), the UK (2001), in Iceland (2013) and in Canada (2017). At the last conference in Canada, it was decided by the researcher community to be held every 3 years and Norway was selected as the next host country for the conference and that it should be held in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. We expect between 100 to 150 participants from 11 different countries to take part in the 6th arctic fox conference in Longyearbyen, Svalbard on August 26-29, 2022. The conference is the most important meeting point for arctic fox scientists, conservation managers, policy makers, tour operators and students. It has for a long time been a tradition that end-users of environmental research, i.e. various stakeholders and management authorities participate at these conferences. The central theme for this edition is the Arctic fox in a rapidly changing Arctic. Due attention will be paid to issues that is particularly relevant in context of where the conference is held – i.e. Svalbard. This regards for instance the increased focus on the Arctic fox as a showcase for sustainable arctic tourism and the ecological effects of retreating sea-ice on terrestrial biota and ecosystem dynamics. We intend to be innovative and due to COVID-19 we will arrange the conference as a hybride event where we combine live in-person events with streamed talkes and online discussions. Here we bring together for the first time, researchers, managers, stakeholders of tourist businesses and guides to discuss issues regarding increasing tourism and vulnerable species and ecosystems. Is it possible to develop sustainable tourism?

Funding scheme:

KLIMAFORSK-Stort program klima