E-learning for Svalbard researchers

Environmental legislation and regulations in Svalbard

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Environmental legislation and regulations in Svalbard
Project registration and permits for research
Natural hazards and safety training
Open Science and FAIR data

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Section 1Environmental legislation and regulations in Svalbard

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Index

Svalbard Environmental Protection Act
National parks, nature reserves and associated restrictions on access
Regulations and travel restrictions
Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

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Introduction

It is the responsibility of each researcher to familiarise themselves with the rules that apply to conducting research in Svalbard.

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Section 1Environmental legislation and regulations in Svalbard

As a rule, most field activity will require a permit or an exemption from the environmental regulations from the Governor of Svalbard, which must be submitted through the Research in Svalbard portal.

Refer to section 2 for further information about project registration and permitting.

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Sub-section 1Svalbard Environmental Protection Act

The purpose of the Act is to preserve a virtually untouched environment in Svalbard with respect to continuous areas of wilderness, landscape, flora, fauna and cultural heritage.

* (The link is to an unofficial English translation of the act from 2012 provided for information purposes. In the event of any inconsistency, the Norwegian version shall prevail.)

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Sub-section 1Svalbard Environmental Protection Act

Everyone who is staying in and carrying out any kind of activity in Svalbard must avoid unnecessary damage or disturbance to the natural environment and cultural heritage.

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Sub-section 1Svalbard Environmental Protection Act

The Svalbard Environmental Protection Act outlines duties and responsibilities that have been set up to ensure this protection.

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Sub-section 1Svalbard Environmental Protection Act

It also sets the legislative framework for protected areas and land-use plans.
The principles for protection of flora and fauna, including safety measures with respect to polar bears, are also described.

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Sub-section 1Svalbard Environmental Protection Act

As a researcher planning activities in Svalbard, you should read the act carefully and understand how it pertains to your planned activity.

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Sub-section 2National parks, nature reserves and associated restrictions on access

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Sub-section 2National parks, nature reserves and associated restrictions on access

There are three categories of protected areas designated in Svalbard:

National parks
Nature reserves
Geotope conservation area

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Sub-section 2National parks, nature reserves and associated restrictions on access

In addition, there are cultural heritage sites with prohibitions on access, sites with specific guidelines for tour operators and bird reserves. This map summarises the areas with restrictions on access, as well as the specific regulations for each protected area.

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Sub-section 2National parks, nature reserves and associated restrictions on access

An interactive version of this may be found in Svalbardkartet (add layers “Natural Environment” and “Traffic”).

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Sub-section 2National parks, nature reserves and associated restrictions on access

You can see the registered cultural heritage sites and the protection areas around them by adding the layer “Kulturminner fra Riksantikvaren” in Svalbardkartet.
By using the information function in Svalbardkartet you can find a link to the specific regulations that apply to any area of the map.

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Sub-section 2National parks, nature reserves and associated restrictions on access

You can download the map data showing the areas with restrictions on access and motorised transport to store on your GPS from the website of the Governor of Svalbard.

Additional map data for use in GIS programmes can be downloaded from the website of the Norwegian Polar Institute.

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Sub-section 2National parks, nature reserves and associated restrictions on access

You must familiarise yourself with the nature conservation status and associated restrictions on travel and activity of both the area that you are working in and the areas you are travelling through to get there.

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Sub-section 3Regulations and travel restrictions

Research and educational institutions are obliged to familiarise themselves with the laws and regulations of Svalbard and must comply with the regulations in all their activities.

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Sub-section 3Regulations and travel restrictions

The following list may not be exhaustive, so you should check which laws and regulations apply to the planned activity before travelling.

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Sub-section 3Regulations and travel restrictions

Research activity in Svalbard is regulated as part of the Tourism Regulations.

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Sub-section 3Regulations and travel restrictions

If you are using motorised transport (snowmobiles, tracked vehicles or aircraft) it is important to read and understand the Regulations relating to motor traffic in Svalbard and refer to the map of the areas where visitors to Svalbard may use snowmobiles. Specific permission is needed for helicopter landings and airdrops, including on sea ice or on vessels.

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Sub-section 3Regulations and travel restrictions

Use of field camps is regulated under the camping regulations (Norwegian text English translation not available).

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Sub-section 3Regulations and travel restrictions

The use of unmanned arial vehicles is regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority and registration of pilots is mandatory. It is forbidden to fly drones within 5km of an airport, and specific restrictions apply in a 20km radius around Ny-Ålesund. More information may be found on the website of the Governor of Svalbard.

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Sub-section 3Regulations and travel restrictions

Species-specific information about how to avoid disturbing wildlife is available in a very nice guide produced by the Norwegian Polar Institute.

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Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

The Governor of Svalbard has outlined a list of requirements for those planning to take others out in the field.

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Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

This applies to tour operators, researchers, and educational institutions and covers aspects such as laws and regulations, safety, local conditions, environmental protection and cultural monuments, and responsible travel.

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Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

The Governor has also collected some Guidelines for researchers in Svalbard. These requirements and guidelines should be read carefully before planning your field activity in Svalbard.

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Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

A nice overview of how to experience Svalbard on nature’s terms is also available (in Norwegian only).

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Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

1. Don’t be an Arctic litterbug! Leave no lasting signs of your visit.

2. Birds and other animals are not to be disturbed. Remember, you are the guest.

3. Help take care of the biodiversity. Do not pick flowers.

4. Leave old cultural remains alone. Law protects all traces of humans from before 1946.

5. It is prohibited to lure, pursue or otherwise seek out polar bears in such a way as to disturb them or expose either bears or humans to danger.

6. Don`t leave settlements without a suitable gun, and experience in using it.

7. Be considerate to others.

8. Contact the Governor’s office (Sysselmesteren) if planning a longer field excursion. A mandatory registration applies for travel to large parts of Svalbard.

9. Acquaint yourself with the rules and regulations pertaining to travel and other tourist activities in Svalbard.

10.For the sake of both the environment and yourself, we recommend organised tour arrangements.

It is impossible being an invisible tourist, but we do appreciate your trying.

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Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

For SIOS members: One of the core values of SIOS is reducing the environmental footprint of scientific research.

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Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

As an employee or student at a SIOS member institution, or participant in a SIOS project, you are expected to embrace this mindset.

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Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

This means not only following all the environmental legislation and regulations listed above, but also actively seeking out ways to reduce the environmental impact of your research. This includes, but is not limited to:

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Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Efficient use of transport – e.g. share boat rides with other researchers going to the same area.

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Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Choose technologies that are energy efficient, run on renewable energy or otherwise help reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with your research.

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Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Leave nothing behind when you are packing up your field camp – bring all waste including toilet waste with you back to town.

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Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Take steps to avoid spillages of fuel and other chemicals to land and water.

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Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Consider whether you need to travel at all – could the task be carried out by other scientists or technicians that are already going to the area? If so, you could use the SIOS logistics sharing notice board to request support.

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Project registration and permits for research

Section 2Project registration and permits for research

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Introduction

All research projects in Svalbard and surrounding waters should register in the Research in Svalbard (RiS) portal. Research applications and reports to The Governor of Svalbard must be submitted via the Research in Svalbard (RiS) portal.

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Section 2Project registration and permits for research

You should also be aware that there are different rules for which areas you can travel to, depending if you are a resident in Svalbard or not.

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Sub-section 1Project registration and reporting in RiS

Research in Svalbard (RiS) is a project registration portal that is operated by Svalbard Science Forum (SSF) of the Research Council of Norway. It collects and makes available information about all kinds of science projects in Svalbard.

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Sub-section 1Project registration and reporting in RiS

You can use RiS for the following main functions:

Register a science project
Find information about planned and completed projects
Apply for research permits from the Governor of Svalbard
Book travel and accommodation in Ny-Ålesund

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Register a science project

All researchers are encouraged to register their projects in RiS. Once the project registration is approved you will receive a unique ID number for your project. The RiS ID is needed for many things, including:

Applications for funding for Svalbard-related projects from the Research Council of Norway, Svalbard Environment Fund and SIOS Access Programme;
Bookings to Ny-Ålesund and Hornsund research stations;
Applications for research permits.

Projects can be short or ongoing. For long-term projects you can add additional fieldwork periods when as needed. As the project moves forward you can post project updates, publications and metadata on your project page.

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Find information about planned and completed projects

Find information about planned, ongoing and completed projects: RiS is an open information sharing portal, in which you can find information about planned, ongoing and completed science projects in Svalbard without needing to register or log in. This includes the participating scientists and their affiliations, a description of the project, fieldwork and publications. Users are notified on their project page of fieldwork taking place close to their own, as well as projects with matching keywords. This allows researchers to find potential cooperation partners and opens up the possibility on coordinating field logistics, thus improving efficiency while reducing cost and the environmental impact of research.

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Apply for research permits from the Governor of Svalbard

Apply for research permits from the Governor of Svalbard: In RiS you can easily submit applications to the Governor of Svalbard from your project page. This is mandatory for all research projects requiring authorisation pursuant to the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act (see section 1 of this e-learning). You must allow a minimum of 8 weeks for your application to be processed.

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Book travel and accommodation in Ny-Ålesund

Book travel and accommodation in Ny-Ålesund Research Station: If you are planning to travel to Ny-Ålesund Research Station you must book your flights and accommodation with Kings Bay in RiS. Additional services from Kings Bay, your local host, and other service providers like space in the shared laboratories, access to boats, safety course, safety and personal equipments, and so on may also be booked in RiS from your project page.

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Sub-section 1Project registration and reporting in RiS

For more information on how to use RiS, refer to the “how-to” guides from SSF. For projects in Ny-Ålesund research station you may also refer to their guide for registering projects.

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Sub-section 2Notification and reporting to the Governor of Svalbard

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Sub-section 2Notification and reporting to the Governor of Svalbard

If you are not resident in Svalbard and are planning to travel outside Management Area 10 you must report your trip to The Governor of Svalbard. The application must be submitted using the online form no later than eight weeks before the planned trip.

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Sub-section 2Notification and reporting to the Governor of Svalbard

When you return you must also report electronically the number of days spent in the field to The Governor as soon as possible after the trip. For a group trip, it is sufficient that one person completes and submits a joint form.

Residents of Svalbard must also report their travel plans to the Governor of Svalbard if they are travelling to the national parks in the south, east and north-west.

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Sub-section 2Notification and reporting to the Governor of Svalbard

In Svalbard it is mandatory to bring means for scaring away a polar bear when travelling outside of the main settlements. It is also strongly advised to carry a rifle for self-defence against polar bears.
To carry a rifle you need a permit. If you do not have a Norwegian or European firearm permit you may apply to the Governor of Svalbard for a permit to rent a firearm for polar bear protection. All the information you need to apply is available on the Governor's website.
Please apply in good time, as the processing time is up to 4 weeks.

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Sub-section 3Permits for research

Some research activities in Svalbard do not require prior consent, while others may be subject to the approval of several government bodies.

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Sub-section 3Permits for research

Most of Norway's legislation applies in Svalbard and this regulates many research-relevant activities in the archipelago. Researchers and research institutions must familiarise themselves with applicable regulations and obtain all relevant permits from Norwegian authorities before initiating their research activities in Svalbard.

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Sub-section 3Permits for research

Svalbard-specific Norwegian legislation, notably the Svalbard Environmental Protection Act and its regulations, is highly relevant to all field research in the archipelago (see chapter 1 of this e-learning for details).

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Sub-section 3Permits for research

In addition, Svalbard Science Forum has compiled a list of relevant bodies that you may need a permit from depending on the nature of your planned research.

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Sub-section 3Permits for research

For more information about research permissions refer to the web page of Svalbard Science Forum.

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Sub-section 4Insurance

Fieldwork in the Arctic can be unpredictable, and you should account for this and have a few delay days in your plans. Flight cancellations and delays, delays in cargo transport and re-scheduling of internal flights and boat transports due to adverse weather are common in Svalbard. In addition, you may experience delays while out in the field that can result in you missing your return flights. You should ensure you have adequate insurance to cover any losses resulting from such delays.

The Governor of Svalbard may require you to take out specific search and rescue (SAR) insurance in advance of your fieldwork in Svalbard. If this is the case it will be specified in the reply to your application for a research permit from The Governor of Svalbard. The letter will detail how much insurance you need to be able to complete your trip. The insurance will be used to cover the cost of any searches, rescue operations and patient transport that may be necessary, regardless of whether negligence has been demonstrated. Ordinary travel insurance will not normally cover the costs of a SAR operation, so you will most likely need to take out a new, separate insurance policy in this case. Please note that the insurance must be valid for two weeks longer than the time you have planned to be on the trip, to cover delays.

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Sub-section 5Location specific information

Where are you travelling in Svalbard?

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Ny-Ålesund

Longyearbyen

Barentsburg

Hornsund

Hopen and Bjørnøya

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Sub-section 5Location specific informationNy-Ålesund

Ny-Ålesund research station is one of the world’s northernmost year-round research communities and provides unique access to a natural polar laboratory as well as world-class laboratory facilities. In addition to several Norwegian institutions research institutions from 10 other countries have a long-term presence in Ny-Ålesund. The presence of many researchers from many countries, together with Norwegian and international investments in long-term time series and short-term research campaigns, gives Ny-Ålesund the position as one of the main Arctic research stations. To ensure collaboration and coordination between the different research group operating in Ny-Ålesund, four research flagships programmes as well as the Ny-Ålesund Science Managers Committee (NySMAC) have been established. The Norwegian Polar Institute performs the Norwegian host role and is the point of contact for research and official visits. The land is owned by Kings Bay AS which oversees safety, operates the port and airport, and provides catering, accommodation, access to the shared laboratories as well as logistical services. Ny-Ålesund may be reached by airplane or boat from Longyearbyen. Bookings to travel to and stay in Ny-Ålesund must be made in RiS.
Detailed information about how to plan and carry out research in Ny-Ålesund is provided in the researchers’ guide to Ny-Ålesund: https://nyalesundresearch.no/research-and-monitoring/researchers-guide/

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Sub-section 5Location specific informationLongyearbyen

Svalbard Science Centre (SSC) is a hub for research activity and higher education in Longyearbyen. The University Centre in Svalbard and Norwegian Polar Institute are the two main providers of logistical support to research in the Longyearbyen area or in remote locations with starting point in Longyearbyen. Several other institutions also have offices at SSC, including EISCAT, the Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center (NERSC), the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR), SINTEF, Svalbard Museum, the SIOS Knowledge Centre (SIOS-KC) and the Svalbard Science Forum (SSF). Longyearbyen may be reached from the Norwegian mainland (Tromsø or Oslo) by regular commercial flights. There are several hotels and guest houses, as well as a range of cafes and restaurants. There is one supermarket, a pharmacy, a kiosk and shops selling and leasing field equipment such as firearms, communications equipment, snowmobiles and outdoor clothing. For more information visit the Svalbard Science Forum guide to planning research:
https://www.forskningsradet.no/en/svalbard-science-forum/svalbard-research-planning/planning/

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Sub-section 5Location specific informationBarentsburg

Barentsburg is a Russian coal mining town and is the hub for Russian research in Svalbard. There are several Russian research institutes involved in environmental monitoring and research based in Barentsburg. For more information about the research facilities visit: https://www.forskningsradet.no/en/svalbard-science-forum/svalbard-research-planning/research-communities/barentsburg/

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Sub-section 5Location specific informationHornsund

The Stanisław Siedlecki Polish Polar Station in Hornsund was established during the International Geophysical Year of 1957-58 and has since 1978 been permanently manned by staff at the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Science. The station can accommodate up to 20 visiting researchers in addition to its permanent staff. The station consists of laboratories, kitchen facilities, dormitories, a workshop, a boathouse and storage rooms.
Hornsund is usually accessed by boat, when weather and ice conditions allow. Reaching Hornsund by snowmobile from Longyearbyen requires a permit from the Governor of Svalbard (see sub-chapter 2), good sea ice and snow conditions and experience driving snowmobiles on sea ice, glaciers and uneven terrain.

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Sub-section 5Location specific informationHopen and Bjørnøya

The Norwegian Meteorological Institute operates two remote staffed stations in the Svalbard archipelago – Hopen and Bjørnøya. They can offer accommodation and limited facilities to researchers visiting these facilities upon request. Both islands can only be visited by boat or helicopter. Contact the Norwegian Meteorological Institute to request access: https://www.met.no/

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Sub-section 5Location specific information

Most research facilities in Svalbard are described in more detail on the European Polar Infrastructure Database.

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Chapter overview

Environmental legislation and regulations in Svalbard
Project registration and permits for research
Natural hazards and safety training
Open Science and FAIR data

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Project registration and permits for researchPage overview

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Project registration and permits for researchPage overview

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Natural hazards and safety training

Section 3Natural hazards and safety training

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Section 3Natural hazards and safety training

There are many serious natural hazards in Svalbard that you must familiarise yourself with when you are planning fieldwork, along with appropriate safety measures. Safety training tailored to the nature of the planned work is strongly recommended and depending on the provider of logistical support may be required.

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Section 3Natural hazards and safety training

Anyone travelling outside of the main settlements in Svalbard must be aware that there is no mobile phone signal most places in Svalbard. As such alternative communications equipment, primarily satellite phone, is essential safety equipment on all excursions. Everyone travelling outside Management Area 10 must report their plans to The Governor of Svalbard (see chapter 2). The field party must carry an emergency beacon and The Governor of Svalbard must be informed of the identity of the transmitter, which should be included in the notification form.

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Section 3Natural hazards and safety training

The Governor of Svalbard has collected some essential information about field safety in the brochure “Safety in Svalbard”. This can be downloaded as a PDF on the link provided, or picked up from Svalbard Science Centre. Svalbard Science Forum has also made a handy guide to field safety on their website.

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Section 3Natural hazards and safety training

This chapter of the e-learning aims to provide a brief overview and raise awareness of some of the main risks associated with fieldwork in Svalbard. It is not intended as an exhaustive list of all risks that you may encounter. It does not provide the necessary information on how to manage risk and should not be treated as safety training. It remains your responsibility to ensure you and your field party are sufficiently prepared and trained for the planned work.

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Index

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Sub-section 1Natural hazards: weather

Weather conditions in Svalbard can be extreme and unpredictable.

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Sub-section 1Natural hazards: weather

Weather forecasts are typically less reliable than on the Norwegian mainland as the weather models are based on a lower density of observations. As such, fieldworkers should always be prepared for the weather to change and factor in extra time to complete their work in case of weather-related delays.

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Sub-section 1Cold temperaturesCold temperatures

Being in the high Arctic, Svalbard is characterised by cold temperatures all year round. The average temperature at Svalbard airport in the coldest month (March) is -12°C and in the warmest month (July) it is 7°C, based on the period 1991-2020. This does not necessarily give an accurate representation of the risk from cold weather, as Svalbard is generally windy which makes it feel colder than it is due to wind chill. It is the combination of temperature and wind speed that determines how cold it feels, and in temperatures of -10 and lower even relatively weak winds can result in a strong wind chill. The main risks from cold weather are hypothermia (lowering of core body temperature) and frostbite (damage to skin due to freezing). It is important to dress according to the weather, with several warming layers and a windproof outer layer, not forgetting to cover the face and hands. Staying active also helps maintain body temperature.

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Sub-section 1WindWind

As mentioned in the section about cold temperatures, wind is a common feature of the weather in Svalbard and leads to wind chill and increased risk of hypothermia and frostbite. Wind is associated with other risks, and strong winds can cause conditions that are dangerous to be outdoors in. Snowfall or loose snow on the ground can, in combination with strong winds, cause white-out conditions with very low visibility. The weather forecast may not give a reliable picture of wind conditions as the landscape influences wind direction and wind speed, for example by funnelling through valleys. This should be taken into account when using the weather forecast to plan trips.

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Sub-section 1PrecipitationPrecipitation

Precipitation in Svalbard is generally low (26. 6mm on average during the wettest month, September, based on the period 1991-2020), although this is increasing as a result of climate change. Depending on temperature precipitation may fall as snow or rain, both of which can present a hazard for fieldworkers. Snow in combination with strong winds can lead to extremely reduced visibility making it dangerous to drive snowmobiles or even move around on foot. Depending on other conditions snowfall can lead to risk of avalanches (see section 2 of this chapter). Heavy rain, especially in autumn when the active layer of permafrost is at its deepest, can cause landslides.

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Sub-section 1Reduced visibilityReduced visibility

Low visibility can be caused by windblown snow, low cloud or fog and can make it dangerous to travel by snowmobile, boat and other motorised transport. It also reduces your ability to spot polar bears or other hazards. If visibility is very low fieldwork should be cancelled, and if necessary, the field party should seek shelter until conditions improve.

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Sub-section 2Natural hazards: landscape

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Sub-section 2GlaciersGlaciers

Glaciers cover much of the land surface in Svalbard and make important transport routes in winter when travelling by snowmobile. They are also a valuable study area for glaciologists and snow scientists. There are many risks associated with glaciers that anyone travelling or working on them should be aware of. Movement on glaciers should not be attempted without knowledge and experience of how to identify high risk areas such as crevasses, meltwater channels and moulins. These are areas that may be hidden by snow bridges in winter which may not be strong enough to hold the weight of a person / snowmobile, meaning there is risk of falling deep into crevasses, getting injured or stuck and needing rescue. In addition, navigating moraines can be tricky and dangerous and requires experience with finding safe routes and driving in challenging terrain. Safety training is strongly recommended.

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Sub-section 2Sea iceSea ice

Sea ice is an important transport route in Svalbard in winter but driving snowmobiles on it requires knowledge and experience to avoid serious accidents. Measurements of the ice thickness should be made at regular intervals, and care should be taken to identify and avoid areas of weak or cracked ice. Inexperienced snowmobile drivers should not attempt a sea ice crossing without extensive planning with the aid of experienced colleagues or a guide. Safety training, including sea ice rescue, is strongly recommended.

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Sub-section 2Slopes in winter – avalanchesSlopes in winter – avalanches

Svalbard is characterised by mountainous, snow-covered terrain, and this can carry with it a considerable risk of avalanches in winter and spring. The avalanche risk is dependent on four main factors:

Terrain – steepness and orientation of slopes
Weather – snowfall, wind, temperature, and rain on snow events
Snowpack – stability, variability, presence of wind-deposited snow
People – behaviour, choice of route

Avalanche forecasts are provided by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) in the period 1st December to 31st May. This forecast gives an idea of the risk of avalanches on a regional scale, but considerable knowledge is required to make a good assessment of the avalanche risk on a local scale. Safety training covering avalanche risk and rescue is therefore very important for anyone travelling by snowmobile, on skis or on foot in Svalbard in winter.

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Sub-section 2Slopes in summer – landslides, rock falls and trip hazardsSlopes in summer – landslides, rock falls and trip hazards

When the snow melts on the mountain slopes the risk of avalanches lessens but spending time in these environments is still not without risk. The terrain is characterised by hard, uneven rock and soft, muddy areas which makes for an uneven surface for walking. Many slopes have loose rocks that can be released by hikers, causing a hazard for others that are following. Svalbard is a continuous permafrost zone, meaning the ground is always frozen apart from a shallow layer that thaws in summer (known as the active layer). As the active layer is deepest in autumn, this time of year has the highest risk of landslides following heavy rain. As such the weather conditions in the period leading up to the planned fieldwork should be considered in the risk assessment.

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Sub-section 2Rivers / wetlandsRivers / wetlands

The tundra of Svalbard can be a challenging environment to move around in as it is often wet and muddy, especially in the early part of the summer when the snow is melting. In addition, large rivers carrying high concentrations of sediment run through the valleys. These rivers are hard to cross, especially in the early part of the summer when they are fast flowing and turbid, making it impossible to see the bottom. Care should be taken to pick a safe route, avoiding narrow fast flowing sections.

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Sub-section 3Natural hazards: wildlife

As we have seen in chapter 1, care should be taken to avoid disturbing wildlife when travelling in Svalbard. This can be a safety issue in addition to being a concern in terms of environmental protection.

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Sub-section 3Natural hazards: wildlife

By law, anyone who travels outside of the Svalbard settlements must know how to protect themselves against polar bears. Measures must be taken to avoid polar bear attacks and to ward off an attack without injuring or killing the animal, including being equipped with appropriate means of frightening and chasing off polar bears. It is mandatory to secure campsites against polar bears. Make sure you are familiar with how to use the firearm and flare gun that you are carrying. The proper handling of firearms is important for the safety of yourself, other people, and wildlife.

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Sub-section 3Natural hazards: wildlife

Polar bears are not the only potentially hazardous wildlife in Svalbard. Click on the pictures below to learn more about each biological hazard.

Rabies
Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)
Vole parasite
Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)

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Sub-section 3RabiesRabies

Rabies is a fatal disease for humans and warm-blooded animals and occurs on Svalbard, where the main carriers are foxes and reindeer. Domestic dogs in Svalbard are vaccinated against the disease. The disease can be prevented through vaccination, but it cannot be treated after the infected person has developed clinical symptoms. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health recommends that anyone who will come into contact with wild animals (e.g. through hunting or research) is vaccinated. More information about rabies and the occurrence in Svalbard is available (in Norwegian) from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

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Sub-section 3Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)

While they do not prey on humans, walrus are large animals that are generally not very afraid of humans. They are not very fast on land but can move quickly in water. Care should be taken to avoid getting too close to walrus on land, especially in mixed colonies including young and female walrus. Never get between a walrus and the shoreline. Walrus have been known to puncture inflatable boats and overturn kayaks, so distance should also be kept on the water.
More information about walrus: https://www.npolar.no/en/species/walrus/

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Sub-section 3Vole parasiteVole parasite

The parasite Echinococcus multilocularis occurs in Svalbard, primarily carried by the sibling vole (Microtus levis) and Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus). The vole was introduced by accident to Svalbard sometime in the first half of the 20th century and confirmed to be present near the former mining settlement Grumantbyen in 1960. The presence of the tapeworm E. multilocularis in the sibling vole was confirmed in 1999. This parasite can be transmitted to humans and has a mortality rate of 80-90% if left untreated. Possible infection pathways for humans include direct contact with or drinking water contaminated by vole or fox faeces.
More information about the sibling vole: https://www.npolar.no/en/species/sibling-vole/
More information about the Arctic fox: https://www.npolar.no/en/species/arctic-fox/
More information about E. multilocularis (in Norwegian): https://www.fhi.no/nettpub/smittevernveilederen/sykdommer-a-a/ekinokokkose---veileder-for-helsepe/

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Sub-section 3Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)

The need for adequate protection against polar bears is already described above. You must always be prepared for the possibility of encountering a polar bear on Svalbard, and your focus should be on avoiding encounters with polar bears. Precautions include remaining alert when on the move, keeping one person as look-out when conducting field activities, maintaining a polar bear guard during the night when camping and avoiding areas with high risk of encountering bears (e.g. sea ice during seal breeding season, near to whale carcasses or where fresh tracks are observed). Always have an escape route in mind in case a bear crosses your path. Avoid attracting bears by leaving food in unsealed containers near your camp.
More information about the polar bear: https://www.npolar.no/en/species/polar-bear/
A summary of what to consider when encountering wildlife in Svalbard is available from the Norwegian Polar Institute: Experiencing Svalbard’s Wildlife – a guide for excursions in Svalbard’s natural environment.

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Sub-section 4Safety training – providers and their requirements

The Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) offers the following training in Longyearbyen:

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Sub-section 4Safety training – providers and their requirements

Shooting course:
includes use of pyrotechnical safety equipment, correct weapon handling and polar bear safety.

Several operators in Svalbard cooperate on this training, to save you from repeating the training at each new provider you borrow a weapon from. Read more about this here: https://sios-svalbard.org/rifle_cooperation

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Sub-section 4Safety training – providers and their requirements

First aid course:
tailored to the fieldwork and season, includes use of communications equipment.

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Sub-section 4Safety training – providers and their requirements

Survival suit training:
use and maintenance of survival suits for use in small boats (required for research cruises on Kronprins Haakon etc.)

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Sub-section 4Safety training – providers and their requirements

Boat course:
for those hiring boats from NPI (small Polarcirkel or Zodiak). Includes mooring, anchoring and safe driving.

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Sub-section 4Safety training – providers and their requirements

Snowmobile course:
use of the different models of snowmobiles available for hire from NPI, includes theory, maintenance and practical driving.

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Sub-section 4Safety training – providers and their requirements

Avalanche course:
safe travel in avalanche terrain during winter, including assessment of terrain and avalanche risk, as well as buddy rescue

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Sub-section 4Safety training – providers and their requirements

Glacier course:
correct use of safety and rescue equipment on glacier, along with safe travel on glacier.

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Chapter overview

Environmental legislation and regulations in Svalbard
Project registration and permits for research
Natural hazards and safety training
Open Science and FAIR data

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Natural hazards and safety trainingPage overview

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Natural hazards and safety trainingPage overview

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Open Science and FAIR data

Section 4Open Science and FAIR data

Researchers conducting fieldwork in Svalbard are encouraged to follow the principles of open science and data, in line with the policy of the research council of Norway (RCN): https://www.forskningsradet.no/forskningspolitisk-radgivning/apen-forskning/.

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Section 4Open Science and FAIR data

SIOS offers a range of tools and resources to help researchers with data management.

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Index

Open science
FAIR data
Data repositories
For SIOS projects: SIOS data policy
The research strategy for Svalbard

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Sub-section 1Open science

All the scientific community are encouraged to implement the Open Science to their data management plans.

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Sub-section 1Open science

Open Science is the practice of science in such a way that others can collaborate and contribute, where research data, lab notes and other research processes are freely available, under terms that enable reuse, redistribution and reproduction of the research and its underlying data and methods.
https://www.fosteropenscience.eu/foster-taxonomy/open-science-definition
https://opendefinition.org/od/2.1/en/

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Sub-section 1Open science

The important part of sharing the data is to do it under standardised terms – licenses. Data may be protected by one or more intellectual property rights. The use of data requires a license from the data owner or a repository licensed by the owner to share the data. Data licenses present several unique licensing issues concerning data ownership and data usage. As the author of your work, you can decide what others can do with the dataset you are sharing and also the conditions under which you are providing access to these materials. This is possible by giving your work the appropriate license. The licenses do not reduce, limit, or restrict any rights under exceptions and limitations to copyright.
https://how-to-open.science/share/licenses/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/

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Sub-section 2 FAIR data

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FAIR research data shall be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. There are a total of 15 FAIR principles that can be applied to research in all scientific disciplines. The FAIR data principles emphasise machine-actionability (i.e., the capacity of computational systems to find, access, interoperate, and reuse data with none or minimal human intervention) because humans increasingly rely on computational support to deal with data as a result of the increase in volume, complexity, and creation speed of data.

When you are sharing your data, you should remember about basic FAIR principles that will make your data visible and reusable:

- Make data Findable – assign a global unique and persistent identifier (e.g. DOI), use standardised metadata
- Make data Accessible - free and open access to the data
- Make data Interoperable – use open file format (e.g. NetCDF)
- Increase data Reusable – licenses, long preservation

https://www.go-fair.org/fair-principles/ https://www.nature.com/articles/sdata201618

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Sub-section 3Data repositories

Svalbard data is now scattered across many different repositories. They are thematic, national, international and institutional repositories. The FAIRness level of these varies, e.g., concerning citation (DOI), interoperability or long-term preservation. Be aware that some of the repositories give access to metadata only, not actual data.

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Sub-section 3Data repositories

There are portals, like the SIOS data access portal, that establish a virtual data point offering unified access to relevant data.

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Sub-section 3Data repositories

The best practice is to use repositories that follow FAIR data principles (SDMS Interoperability Guidelines) like the repositories connected to the SIOS data management system (SIOS Data Management Plan). SIOS has produced a video lecture on how to store and manage data to aid researchers.

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Sub-section 3Data repositories

Arctic Data Centre/ Norway

PANGAEA/ Germany

Italian Arctic Data Center (IADC)/ Italy

Norwegian Marine Data Centre/ Norway

Norwegian Polar Institute/ Norway

Polish Polar DataBase/ Poland

National Infrastructure for Research Data (NIRD) Research Data Archive/ Norway

Arctic Data Archive System, Japan

Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Norway

Norwegian Satellite Earth Observation Database for Marine and Polar Research (NORMAP), Norway

British Antarctic Survey, Great Britain

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Sub-section 4For SIOS projects: SIOS data policy

SIOS has a Data Policy that based on the principle of open access to data, observations and scientific reports.

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Sub-section 4For SIOS projects: SIOS data policy

The SIOS data sharing principles are as follows:

There will be full and open exchange of data, metadata and products shared within SIOS, recognising relevant international instruments and national policies and legislation;
All shared data, metadata and products will be made available through the SIOS Data Management System (SDMS), with minimum time delay and at minimum cost;
All shared data, metadata and products should be distributed free of charge or no more than the cost of reproduction;
Data access may be restricted when data release could compromise the confidentiality of human subjects or cause harm to endangered species or other vulnerable subjects.

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Sub-section 4For SIOS projects: SIOS data policy

Data that have been generated using the SIOS infrastructure, both metadata and data, have to be submitted to a data centre integrated with the SIOS Data Management System (SDMS). When non-SIOS data are used for e.g., SESS report or data is stored in the repository that is not a part of SDMS, metadata and the URL to the datasets have to be provided to the SIOS Data Management System through the metadata collection form.

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Sub-section 5The research strategy for Svalbard

There are many documents at different levels regarding the research strategy for Svalbard. From documents covering the whole of Svalbard to strategies for selected areas. Selected countries also have their own research strategies. The issues presented in the strategies cover the subjects of sustainable research production, open access to data, protection of natural habitats and the environment, legislation, economic activity, vision of polar research development, strengthening international and national cooperation.

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Sub-section 5The research strategy for Svalbard

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Open Science and FAIR dataPage overview

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Chapter overview

Environmental legislation and regulations in Svalbard
Project registration and permits for research
Natural hazards and safety training
Open Science and FAIR data

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E-learning for Svalbard researchers

Environmental legislation and regulations in Svalbard

SIOS SvalbardE-learning for Svalbard researchersa platform for scientists

Section 1Environmental legislation and regulations in Svalbard

Index

Introduction

Section 1Environmental legislation and regulations in Svalbard

Sub-section 1Svalbard Environmental Protection Act

Sub-section 1Svalbard Environmental Protection Act

Sub-section 1Svalbard Environmental Protection Act

Sub-section 1Svalbard Environmental Protection Act

Sub-section 1Svalbard Environmental Protection Act

Sub-section 2National parks, nature reserves and associated restrictions on access

Sub-section 2National parks, nature reserves and associated restrictions on access

Sub-section 2National parks, nature reserves and associated restrictions on access

Sub-section 2National parks, nature reserves and associated restrictions on access

Sub-section 2National parks, nature reserves and associated restrictions on access

Sub-section 2National parks, nature reserves and associated restrictions on access

Sub-section 2National parks, nature reserves and associated restrictions on access

Sub-section 3Regulations and travel restrictions

Sub-section 3Regulations and travel restrictions

Sub-section 3Regulations and travel restrictions

Sub-section 3Regulations and travel restrictions

Sub-section 3Regulations and travel restrictions

Sub-section 3Regulations and travel restrictions

Sub-section 3Regulations and travel restrictions

Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Sub-section 4Requirements and guidelines for research and educational institutions

Chapter overview

Page overviewEnvironmental legislation and regulations in Svalbard

Environmental legislation and regulations in SvalbardPage overview

Project registration and permits for research

Section 2Project registration and permits for research

Introduction

Section 2Project registration and permits for research

Sub-section 1Project registration and reporting in RiS

Sub-section 1Project registration and reporting in RiS

Register a science project

Find information about planned and completed projects

Apply for research permits from the Governor of Svalbard

Book travel and accommodation in Ny-Ålesund

Sub-section 1Project registration and reporting in RiS

Sub-section 2Notification and reporting to the Governor of Svalbard

Sub-section 2Notification and reporting to the Governor of Svalbard

Sub-section 2Notification and reporting to the Governor of Svalbard

Sub-section 2Notification and reporting to the Governor of Svalbard

Sub-section 3Permits for research

Sub-section 3Permits for research

Sub-section 3Permits for research

Sub-section 3Permits for research

Sub-section 3Permits for research

Sub-section 4Insurance

Sub-section 5Location specific information

Ny-Ålesund

Longyearbyen

Barentsburg

Hornsund

Hopen and Bjørnøya

Hopen and Bjørnøya

Sub-section 5Location specific informationNy-Ålesund

Sub-section 5Location specific informationLongyearbyen

Sub-section 5Location specific informationBarentsburg

Sub-section 5Location specific informationHornsund

Sub-section 5Location specific informationHopen and Bjørnøya

Sub-section 5Location specific information

Chapter overview

Project registration and permits for researchPage overview

Project registration and permits for researchPage overview

Natural hazards and safety training