Working Group on Environment: From Challenges to Success Stories

Climate change and environmental matters pose a challenge for everyone, they know no borders: different species and natural phenomena move freely between countries in the High North as well as elsewhere. Addressing such elements thus requires people coming together and working towards solutions. This has been exemplified by the Working Group on Environment (WGE) meetings, which showcase the importance of cooperation and environmental collaborations. The various success stories from the past highlight the possibilities when working together.

Currently, WGE has multiple ongoing collaboration projects, one of which is Our Precious Transboundary Waters. The Interreg Aurora funded project with various partners runs 2023-2026 and focuses on the conservation and management of the freshwater ecosystem in the Lake Inari - Pasvik River catchment area in Northern Finland and Norway. A key aspect of the project is the conservation of brown trout in the area, as it is an important species and currently threatened by phenomena such as overexploitation and habitat fragmentation. Without the cross-border cooperation, achieving considerable results would be more challenging.

Recently, WGE held a meeting at the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) Svanhovd Conference Centre in Pasvik Valley in Finnmark, Norway over 10-13 June. Pasvik Valley is a great location for people who truly care about the environment, as no matter where one goes, there is nature everywhere. The main building is surrounded by vast green fields and forests, there is even some shared land for people to cultivate jointly. A small botanical garden with a pond is situated by the main building with a playground for children. No better place to work on environmental questions than this serene countryside!

Fitting the theme of this working group, two guided field trips introduced the meeting attendees to the surrounding environment and its diverse biodiversity. On a guided walking tour around the Svanvik village, our guide pointed out many interesting facts about the surrounding flora and fauna. To illustrate, looking at the same kind of a tree in two different locations a few hundred meters apart can provide much information about the environment and the differing microclimates for those locations, as was explained by our guide Paul Eric Aspholm from NIBIO.

In addition to nature providing people with information, many of the buildings in the valley tell stories of history: The fieldtrip included a visit to the wooden Svanvik Church built in 1934, the inside of which still bears some damage caused by shrapnel during World War II when the Germans were pushed out of Finnmark.

Another field trip took us to the Skogfoss hydroelectric power plant by the Pasvik river, which starts from Lake Inari in Finland and runs until the Barents Sea. Much of the Norwegian-Russian border line lies in the river itself, and after touring the main building and learning about the operations of the power plant, our guide took us for a walk over the dam with the Norwegian-Russian border post. The two field trips were excellent learning opportunities and gave the attendees another glimpse into the Barents region.

STRONG FOUNDATIONS

WGE has been a very active and successful Barents Working Group as they have been able to meet, exchange ideas and brainstorm together on a regular basis. Many members of WGE have been part of the group for over a decade and know each other quite well. Interpersonal trust has a role to play in successful, long-term collaborations, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by Oskar Nielsen from the Swedish Ministry of Climate and Enterprise. In his time working with the WGE, Nielsen has grown to appreciate the strong foundation built on personal relationships with other members:

Personal relationships help create a relaxed atmosphere, fostering the feeling of a more informal gathering among friends while working on topics everyone is passionate about. Different ideas are discussed from various angles in order to find the best solution possible.

However, although the cooperation has a long history, there have been some changes in WGE operations. The ongoing war against Ukraine has led to the end of collaborations with Russian contacts. This is particularly relevant in the Pasvik Valley and the rivers and oceans in the North, as cooperation involving Russia on cross-border environmental issues has been suspended. However, Oskar Nielsen recognizes the value of regional cross-border collaboration between the current regions and sees that there is hope for the future:

The Working Group on Environment is highly motivated to find solutions for environmental issues and hopes to see more successful cooperation in the upcoming years.