New service infrastructure, nature exhibitions and a range of different workshops are boosting cooperation between tourism entrepreneurs in the Fennoscandian Green Belt in Finnish, Norwegian and Russian Lapland and introducing the tourists visiting the region to the nature phenomena of the Arctic.
For the next three years, Finnish, Norwegian and Russian partners will closely cooperate in the PAN project Phenomena of Arctic Nature, the results of which will benefit tourism entrepreneurs, visitors to the region, school children and local residents.
The first workshop, focusing on wooden architecture, was held in Norway in October, and the participants discussed usage of local timber in tourist infrastructure and service structures in protected areas and hiking areas in the North. The first structures will be built in Salla where several nature observation points are planned. They are of new type and will be located in the areas near the Sallatunturi fell. The project will also result in exhibitions, audiovisual presentations and nature education material for all participant countries.
In joint international workshops and seminars, participants will learn more about the topic, establish mechanisms for closer cooperation between tourism operators and organisations maintaining conservation areas as well share tips on developing new tourism products. The project also provides networking opportunities for the visitor centres and information points located in the Green Belt of Fennoscandia.
EU funding for the project PAN – Phenomena of Arctic Nature comes from the ENI Kolarctic CBC programme, national funding is provided by Finland, Norway and Russia, while private funding comes from the Matkalle Sallaan organisation. Metsähallitus, Parks & Wildlife Finland is the lead partner in the project.
Additional information
The Green Belt of Fennoscandia (www.ym.fi) is a chain of existing and planned conservation areas in the border regions of Finland, Norway and Russia.
PAN – Phenomena of Arctic Nature, Project Manager Riina Tervo, riina.tervo@metsa.fi, tel. +358 40 758 5472
The project involves the following partners: Metsähallitus, Municipality of Salla, Lapland University of Applied Sciences and the Youth Centre Vasatokka (in Finland); Pasvik State Nature Reserve and the Institute of Industrial Ecology Problems of the North (INEP) (in Russia); and Biotope AS architects office, the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) and the Øvre Pasvik National Park Board (in Norway).