Connecting nature, local cultures and tourism in subarctic landscape - a case study of local communities attached to the Varanger Peninsula National Park in Northern Norway
Morten Clemetsen, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Aas (NO)
In Norway, there have traditionally been a segregative approach to nature protection, focusing on protecting nature from human activities. However, in recent years we have seen a more integrative approach, focusing on a beneficial interaction between parks and local communities. The aim of this paper is to present recent research output from the Varanger Peninsula National Park in the far north of the Norwegian mainland. The region is multicultural with Sami, Finnish and Norwegian inhabitants. The region is subject to increasing nature-based tourism, particularly related to bird watching. Through a landscape resource analysis, we have identified some preconditions for integrated sustainable development, connecting local cultures and tourism with the National Park management.