Forest hubs

Forestry has been a long-standing sector across large swathes of the Arctic and sub-Arctic region. Traditionally, management and revenues from forestry have come in the form of outtake of biomass for timber and fuel, with little consideration for other uses of the forest. However, the goals of forestry have diversified strongly in recent decades, emphasizing the whole spectrum of what are termed ‘ecosystem services’ provided by forests. Ecosystem services are …

Mining hubs

There is a rich history of mining in the Arctic stretching back to the early days of the industrial revolution. A diverse suite of mineral resources including iron ore, nickel, copper and quarried stone have been taken and continue to be extracted across the Arctic region. Climate changes have begun to significantly alter the familiar landscapes and backdrops to such extractive industries. The retreating ice-caps are starting to expose potentially …

Tourism hubs

Tourism has emerged as one of the most rapidly growing sectors in the Arctic region and one towards which many hubs are turning. For a great number of tourists and global tourism companies alike, the Arctic has evoked images of unspoilt wild landscapes, extreme climate and an ideal place to escape the pressures of everyday life! Often stimulated by news of retreating ice caps and diminishing populations of polar bear, …