
What you'll do:
Explore areas used by northern lights hunters, look for campfires and damage on trees, and restore nature where it has been damaged by fire.
When:
All year round.
Where:
Kvaløya (Whale Island) and other northern lights watching spots near Tromsø.
What the project is about:
“I’ve always made campfires in nature, it’s a tradition, so why should it change?” This sentiment is common in Northern Norway. However, in many places, the number of people, both residents and visitors using nature has increased dramatically. In Tromsø, the northern lights tourism industry, in particular, has seen explosive growth over the past ten years or so. In a short time, Tromsø has become a green-looking town, due to its booming tourism based on the observation of aurora borealis. AN EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRY Marketing and social media promote a well-polished narrative that shapes tourists’ expectations. In line with this narrative, purchasing a northern lights experience often comes as a package deal that includes two products: selfies under the aurora and a campfire. From September to April, guided tours and travellers driving rental cars hit the icy roads in search of the lights. For six months, every night, most of these aurora hunters make a campfire, often directly on the ground. Some will start their fire with birch bark picked directly on nearby trunks and will gather branches from live trees or lying around. While some guides and visitors opt for traceless practices, the sheer volume of people has led to significant soil and vegetation damage. This is a growing problem not only around Tromsø but also in numerous locations within a three-hour drive of the city―the home range of commercial aurora hunters. A GROWING CONFLICT These campfires contribute to locals' negative perception of tourism, at least for those who view northern lights hunting parties as an intrusion on their peace and quiet. In summer, after the snow has melted, black patches of ash and charcoal are found in high numbers in the most frequented aurora viewing spots. In the Arctic, vegetation grows slowly and requires years to recover. However, it often doesn't have the chance to heal, as it faces continued trampling and new campfires year after year. Firepits may appear right by wooden cabins that offer a relative shelter during stormy nights. Farmers sometimes discover carbonized patches of meadow where an open snow field provided hunters with an ideal campsite for the evening. If these misbehaviours are caused by a minority of hunters, they fuel the conflict. This is also a source of stress and discomfort for aurora hunting guides who experience local hostility first hand, often in front of their guests. CITIZEN SCIENCE AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Rissa Citizen Science partners with the Norwegian institute for nature research (NINA) to map and restore the campfires, with the participation of volunteers and travellers, and in collaboration with local tour operators. The NINA project team includes social scientists and experts in nature restoration from Tromsø, Lillehammer and Trondheim. This citizen science project is funded in part by the Research Council of Norway. Tromsø municipality welcomes this initiative, which hopefully will throw water on the flames of a local conflict. HOW WILL WE KNOW THAT WE’VE SUCCEEDED? The goal is clear: by the end of the three-year funding period, we aim to show that most northern lights hunters leave their campsites without leaving a trace of their passage. We will achieve this goal by cooperating closely with actors of the tourism industry, and by involving them in the transition process. After all, we all care about nature, and awareness paired with practical solutions can produce outstanding results. Besides, there are practical solutions to make campfires without impacting the local environment. This project focuses on the northern lights industry, and when it has accomplished its goal, the tourism industry will set an inspiring example for others to follow.
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Our partners and supporters
Our direct partner is the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), with collaborating scientists based in Tromsø, Lillehammer, and Trondheim. Additionally, we are working with the nonprofit organization Leave No Trace (LNT). This project is partly funded by Forskningsrådet, the Research Council of Norway.


