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Restore nature & map wildlife in Ånderdalen National Park, Senja

Goal: Support Ånderdalen National Park's conservation efforts

What you’ll do:

Inventory species (birds, insects, plants), map trail conditions, revegetate abandoned trails, restore in-use trails to protect the soil and vegetation.

 

When:

June to September

 

Where:

Ånderdalen National Park, Senja

 

Duration:

1 week at a time

What the project is about:

The island of Senja has one of the most scenic landscapes in Scandinavia. On the southwestern part, Ånderdalen National Park is a gem of wilderness, with a spectacular fjord, high mountain peaks, patches of old growth forests, peatbogs, rivers, lakes and waterfalls. Since 1970, the park’s authorities have done a fantastic job at keeping the park free of infrastructure. No dam, no powerline, no wind turbines, no paved road, which is a rare sight in Norway, as anywhere in the world really. Senja island Since the park's establishment in 1970, visitor management has consumed most of its resources. This challenge has only intensified with the steady rise in travelers, many of whom seek out less-known destinations. Senja has become one of these increasingly popular spots. As a result, the pressure on the nature has grown, with the most noticeable impact being the damage to soil and vegetation along the hiking trails. Knowledge gap Another result of prioritizing visitor management is that limited resources have been allocated to mapping the species and assessing their conservation status. This has created a knowledge gap, as species play a crucial role in enhancing the value of any protected area. Citizen science for a cause How can we support the conservation efforts in Ånderdalen? Can citizen science be a tool to engage communities in meaningful actions that benefit the national park? That is the question we asked the national park’s board of directors and manager. In the summer of 2024, in close collaboration with the national park, a group of volunteers launched a pilot project, conducting species inventories and mapping the condition of trails in key areas. The initiative was a resounding success, from both the participants' and the national park's perspective. Rissa is now co-organizing more of these meaningful events where anyone can participate in conservation actions in one of the most beautiful national parks in Norway. Roll up your sleeves When you join one of the events, you will help inventory species, and you will learn how to map trails, revegetate abandoned trails and restore in-use trails to protect the soil and vegetation. While relevant expertise is welcome, anyone can apply to join the events and learn skills in the field. The events typically last for 5 full days between June and September, and it is probably the most meaningful way to spend time in Ånderdalen National Park. For more information, contact us at info@rissa-cs.org

Become a member and join these events

  • 30 May 2025, 08:00 – 07 Jun 2025, 17:00
    Senja, Senja, Norway
    THIS EVENT IS ORGANIZED WITH A SCHOOL Rissa is welcoming a dozen students from France, aged 14 to 15, to experience one week in Ånderdalen National Park, mapping species and restoring nature along the trails. The students will travel from France by train and bus to keep their carbon footprint low.
  • 12 Jun 2025, 12:00 – 19 Jun 2025, 19:00
    Senja, Senja, Norway
    Spend a week immersed in Ånderdalen National Park. Guided by experienced naturalists, you'll learn to identify wildlife and you'll take part in hands-on nature restoration actions, contributing to the park's conservation efforts. Are you potentially interested in this event? Get in touch first :)

Our partner

Ånderdalen National Park is our main partner for this project. We work closely with the park manager to co-design the tasks. As a volunteer, you will only engage in actions that are valuable to the national park. After every event, we report to Ånderdalen National Park and share the project's outcome with the participants.

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