News of Norway, September 27, 2003
"The new protected areas will ensure that the full diversity of natural habitats and landscapes on Svalbard are represented within protected areas. To improve the representation of biolocially productive and diverse tundra areas has been a main objective, since such ecologically important areas were poorly represented within the existing protected areas. Some of the biologically important areas which are now protected, have also been at risk from industrial exploitation, such as mining operations," said Mr. Brende.
The new protected areas cover a total area of 4449 km2, or 8 percent of Svalbards landareas. This is the most extensive esablishment of protected areas in Norway since 1973 when the original five large protected areas of Svalbard were established. The original protected areas already cover 57 prosent of Svalbard, but dos not include the most biologically important tundra areas of the archipelago.
"Norway has a moral as well as a legal commitment to save the natural heritage of Svalbard," said Mr. Brende.
The new protected areas include the valley Reindalen midway between the Norwgian settlements Longyearbyen and Svea. This is the largest single area of continuous rich tundra vegetation on Svalbard.?In the middele part of the valley, the Norwegian mining company Store Norske has identified coal deposits that could be of economic interest. The new regulations allows further exploration of these deposits, and future mining operations below the land surface with access by tunnel from outside the protected area, can be allowed on the condition that this will cause no significant physical encroachments inside the valley.
"The establishment of the new protected areas does not mean that Norwegian mining-operations will have to be terminated in the near future. What we have done is to set strict environmental framework conditions in line with the environmental objectives of the Government, and in accordance with the new environmental act for Svalbard," said Mr Brende.
Included in the new protected areas is also the oceanic island of Hopen in the Barents Sea, including its territorial waters. This island is a very important area for the populations of polar bears and walrus, and has some of the largest seabird colonies on Svalbard.
"I consider it particulary important to protect the natural habitats of the polar bear, which is threathed both from long range persistent pollutants and climate change," said Mr. Brende.
"The new protected areas also secures areas which are of great important for science and wilderness experience."
"The new protected areas has been subject to a comprehensive process of public hearings before their establishment. - This process has revealed that there is no significant conflicts between ongoing activities and the new protected areas," said Mr Brende.