ArcticHubs

Last changed: 28 September 2020
Map over 22 hubs

The ArcticHubs project was launched on 1 August 2020, a four-year initiative funded as part of the EU’s Horizon 2020 program. The ArcticHubs project brings together 22 partners in Eleven different countries all around the Arctic region , from Canada to Russia. Its partners are drawn from Universities and research Institutes; the NGO, public and private sectors; and civil society.

Local governments, states in the project area, international Actors and NGOs have tried to ensure not only the natural Sustainability of the Arctic area, but also its social, cultural and economic Sustainability, as well as their resilience to future changes.

The ArcticHubs project, Coordinated by the Natural Resources Institute Finland, is developing solution-focused tools such as participatory spatial information systems, guidelines for the use of social license to operate, and future scenarios for Arctic communities, various industries, decision-makers and other Stakeholders.

This will help to create and implement regional development strategies aimed at coordinating new economic activities with traditional industries and resolving land use conflicts between different Actors.

"Finland focuses mainly on the land use conflicts of forestry, tourism, the Mining industry and reindeer husbandry. In Sweden, conflicts over the use of land are similar to those in Finland, but in Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland, for example, the problems of coordinating fishing, fish farming and tourism are highlighted “says Pasi Rautio, project Coordinator at the Natural Resources
Center from Finland.

 

The strategic goal of ArcticHubs is to develop sustainable, solution-oriented tools for reconciling competing models of livelihood and land-use in Arctic hubs and their surroundings, whilst respecting the needs and cultures of local populations (eg Sámi in Fennoscandia).

The project will work towards this goal through four specific objectives:

  • Map and analyze global drivers influencing the future of the Arctic and explore how different kinds of global Actors in the region understand their social, economic and environmental responsibilities
  • Identify and quantify environmental, socioeconomic, cultural and political impacts of current industrial activities in the Arctic, and assess how Predicted changes in activity resulting from Adaptive Responses to climate change will affect these impacts
  • Using a co-design approach, develop interactive tools for decision- and policymakers to maximize uptake of knowledge of local situations and tensions, and to provide channels for continuous communication and dialogue with stakeholder groups
  • Using foresight methods, change the perspective from that of the present to the near future, with the aim of broadening Consensus on developmental goals for the region

The project will develop three core tools , which will be trialled and implemented in the 22 hubs:

  • Public participatory geographical information systems (GIS)
  • Guidelines for ‘social license to operate’
  • Building of future scenarios to be applied in the Arctic

Facts:

Project timetable: 20-08-01 - 24-07-31 

Funders: EU Horizon 2020

Project coordinator: LUKE, Finland

Project partners: 22 partners in Eleven different countries all around the Arctic region, from Canada to Russia.

Project participants SLU: WP4 Leader: Per Sandström (SRH), Forest Hub Leader: Dan Bergström (SBT)

Project budget: 6 000 000 EUR

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