List of protected areas of Svalbard explained

Svalbard is an Arctic wilderness archipelago comprising the northernmost part of Norway. There are twenty-nine protected natural areas, consisting of seven national parks, six nature reserves, fifteen bird sanctuaries and one geotope protected area.[1] In addition, human traces dating from before 1946 are automatically protected.[2] The protected areas make up 39800km2 or 65% of the land area, and 78000km2 or 86.5% of the territorial waters. The largest protected areas are Nordaust-Svalbard Nature Reserve and Søraust-Svalbard Nature Reserve, which cover most of the areas east of the main island of Spitsbergen, including the islands of Nordaustlandet, Edgeøya, Barentsøya, Kong Karls Land and Kvitøya. Six of the national parks are located on Spitsbergen. Ten of the bird sanctuaries and the Moffen Nature Reserve are located within national parks. Five of the bird sanctuaries are Ramsar sites and fourteen of the bird sanctuaries are islands. Svalbard is on Norway's tentative list for nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[3]

The supreme responsibility for conservation lies with the Norwegian Ministry of the Environment, which has delegated the management to the Governor of Svalbard and the Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management. The foundation for conservation was established in the Svalbard Treaty of 1920, and has been further specified in the Svalbard Environmental Act of 2001.[4] The first round of protection took force on 1 July 1973, when most of the current protected areas came into effect. This included the two large nature reserves and three of the national parks. Moffen Nature Reserve was established in 1983, followed by four national parks, three nature reserves and one geotope protection area between 2002 and 2005.

Two primarily terrestrial mammalian species inhabit the archipelago: the Arctic fox and the Svalbard reindeer. There are 15 to 20 types of marine mammals, including whales, dolphins, seals, walruses, and polar bears. About 30 types of bird are found on Svalbard, most of which are migratory. The Barents Sea is among the areas in the world with most seabirds, with about 20 million individuals during late summer. Sixteen bird species are on the IUCN Red List. In particular, Bjørnøya, Storfjorden, Nordvest-Spitsbergen and Hopen are important breeding grounds for seabirds. Svalbard has permafrost and tundra, with both low, middle and high Arctic vegetation. There have been found 165 species of plants on the archipelago, although vegetation only covers 10% of the island group.[5] Low precipitation gives the archipelago a steppe climate; however plants still have good access to water because the cold climate reduces evaporation.[6] The growing season is very short, and may last only for a few weeks.[7]

National parks, nature reserves and geotope protection areas

The following lists contains all national parks, nature reserves and geotope protection areas in Svalbard. It includes the protected areas' name, type, total size, size of the land area and size of the marine area, excluding freshwater, in square kilometers and square miles.

scope=col Areascope=col Typescope=col Establishedscope=col Size
km2		scope=col Size
sq mi		scope=col Land
km2		scope=col Land
sq mi !		Marine
km2		scope=col Marine
sq mi		scope=col class=unsortable Ref
scope=row Bjørnøya Nature ReserveNature reserve 2981.3km2 177km2 2805km2 align=center [8]
scope=row Festningen Geotope Protected AreaGeotope protection area 16.6km2 14km2 3km2 align=center [9]
scope=row Forlandet National ParkNational park 4626.8km2 616km2 4018km2 align=center [10]
scope=row Hopen Nature ReserveNature reserve 3185.6km2 46km2 3140km2 align=center [11]
scope=row Indre Wijdefjorden National ParkNational park 1127.1km2 745km2 382km2 align=center [12]
scope=row Moffen Nature ReserveNature reserve 8.8km2 5km2 4km2 align=center [13]
scope=row Nordaust-Svalbard Nature ReserveNature reserve 55354.3km2 18663km2 36691km2 align=center [14]
scope=row Nordenskiöld Land National ParkNational park 1362.3km2 155km2 1207km2 align=center [15]
scope=row Nordre Isfjorden National ParkNational park 2952.1km2 2050km2 904km2 align=center [16]
scope=row Nordvest-Spitsbergen National ParkNational park 9870.5km2 3684km2 6189km2 align=center [17]
scope=row Ossian Sars Nature ReserveNature reserve 12.1km2 12km2 0km2 align=center [18]
scope=row Sassen-Bünsow Land National ParkNational park 1230.5km2 1157km2 73km2 align=center [19]
scope=row Søraust-Svalbard Nature ReserveNature reserve 21825.9km2 15426km2 25436km2 align=center [20]
scope=row Sør-Spitsbergen National ParkNational park 13177.3km2 5030km2 8198km2 align=center [21]

Bird sanctuaries

The following lists contains all bird sanctuaries in Svalbard. It includes the sanctuaries' names and total size in square kilometers and square miles. Bird sanctuaries that are also Ramsar sites are indicated. All bird sanctuaries were established on 1 July 1973.

class=row style="background-color:#DDFFDD"†Ramsar sites
scope=col Areascope=col Size
km2		scope=col Size
sq mi		scope=col class=unsortable Ref
scope=row Blomstrandhamna Bird Sanctuary0.6km2 align=center [22]
scope=row Boheman Bird Sanctuary2.1km2 align=center [23]
scope=row style="background-color:#DDFFDD" Dunøyane Bird Sanctuary†11.9km2 align=center [24]
scope=row style="background-color:#DDFFDD" Forlandsøyane Bird Sanctuary†5.4km2 align=center [25]
scope=row style="background-color:#DDFFDD" 2.4km2 align=center [26]
scope=row Guissezholmen Bird Sanctuary0.4km2 align=center [27]
scope=row Hermansen Island Bird Sanctuary4.2km2 align=center [28]
scope=row style="background-color:#DDFFDD" Isøyane Bird Sanctuary†2.3km2 align=center [29]
scope=row Kapp Linné Bird Sanctuary1.9km2 align=center [30]
scope=row style="background-color:#DDFFDD" Kongsfjorden Bird Sanctuary†7.1km2 align=center [31]
scope=row Moseøya Bird Sanctuary1.4km2 [32]
scope=row Olsholmen Bird Sanctuary0.5km2 align=center [33]
scope=row Plankeholmane Bird Sanctuary1.6km2 align=center [34]
scope=row Skorpa Bird Sanctuary1.1km2 align=center [35]
scope=row Sørkapp Bird Sanctuary36km2 align=center [36]

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Protected Areas in Svalbard . . 14 May 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120229205606/http://www.dirnat.no/attachment.ap?id=1043 . 29 February 2012 .
  2. Umbriet (2005): 132
  3. Web site: Svalbard . . 24 March 2010.
  4. Web site: Svalbardloven . Backer . Inge Lorang . . 27 March 2010 . no . https://web.archive.org/web/20071009090344/http://www.okokrim.no/aktuelt_arkiv/miljokrim/magasinet/2002-2-3/page6.html . 9 October 2007.
  5. Torkilsen (1984): 144
  6. Torkilsen (1984): 101
  7. Umbreit (2005): 32
  8. Web site: Bjørnøya naturreservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120222120052/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002569 . 22 February 2012 .
  9. Web site: Festningen geotopvernområde . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110724175342/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002575 . 24 July 2011 .
  10. Web site: Forlandet nasjonalpark . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120222120116/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002572 . 22 February 2012 .
  11. Web site: Hopen naturreservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120222120537/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002566 . 22 February 2012 .
  12. Web site: Indre Wijdefjorde nasjonalpark . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://archive.today/20120527025549/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002570 . 27 May 2012 .
  13. Web site: Moffen naturreservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120222120650/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002563 . 22 February 2012 .
  14. Web site: Nordaust-Svalbard naturreservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120222120537/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002566 . 22 February 2012 .
  15. Web site: Nordenskiöld Land nasjonalpark . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://archive.today/20120527025549/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002570 . 27 May 2012 .
  16. Web site: Nordre Isfjorden nasjonalpark . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120222120700/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002584 . 22 February 2012 .
  17. Web site: Nordvest-Spitsbergen nasjonalpark . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120222120703/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002573 . 22 February 2012 .
  18. Web site: Ossian Sars naturreservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111006220709/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002579 . 6 October 2011 .
  19. Web site: Sassen-Bünsow Land nasjonalpark . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120222120703/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002573 . 22 February 2012 .
  20. Web site: Søraust-Svalbard naturreservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://archive.today/20120527025558/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002568 . 27 May 2012 .
  21. Web site: Sør-Spitsbergen nasjonalpark . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://archive.today/20120527025549/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002565 . 27 May 2012 .
  22. Web site: Blomstrandhamna fuglereservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110724175311/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002556 . 24 July 2011 .
  23. Web site: Boheman fuglereservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110724175321/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002577 . 24 July 2011 .
  24. Web site: Dunøyane fuglereservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110724175334/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002561 . 24 July 2011 .
  25. Web site: Forlandsøyane fuglereservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111006215801/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002558 . 6 October 2011 .
  26. Web site: Gåsøyane fuglereservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111006215839/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002576 . 6 October 2011 .
  27. Web site: Guissezholmen fuglereservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111006215847/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002580 . 6 October 2011 .
  28. Web site: Hermansenøya fuglereservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111006215906/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002557 . 6 October 2011 .
  29. Web site: Isøyane fuglereservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111006220200/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002582 . 6 October 2011 .
  30. Web site: Kapp Linné fuglereservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111006220352/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002574 . 6 October 2011 .
  31. Web site: Kongsfjorden fuglereservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120222120631/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002578 . 22 February 2012 .
  32. Web site: Moseøya fuglereservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110724175615/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002581 . 24 July 2011 .
  33. Web site: Olsholmen fuglereservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111006220639/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002560 . 6 October 2011 .
  34. Web site: Plankeholmane fuglereservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110814202222/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002559 . 14 August 2011 .
  35. Web site: Skorpa fuglereservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110814201918/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002555 . 14 August 2011 .
  36. Web site: Sørkapp fuglereservat . . 28 March 2010 . no . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120222120744/http://dnweb12.dirnat.no/nbinnsyn/asp/faktaark.asp?iid=VV00002562 . 22 February 2012 .

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