Development of participatory land-use mapping system (PPGIS) for local communities and other land users is the main focus in BuSK project. Two of such PPGIS surveys have been now launched for public and for stakeholders.
Many land-use modes have conflictual relations in the northernmost parts of Finland. A map-based inquiry is performed in the northern areas of three countries, Finland, Sweden and Norway with the aim to get localized knowledge of the meanings and modes of the use of different areas. The query extends to Enontekiö in Finland, Kiruna in Sweden and Reisa area in Norway and transboundary activities are of special interest.
The aim is to collect and locate local residents’ as well as other users’ knowledge and practices, and make this information usable in land-use management and planning.
The survey is planned together with the University of Tromsø, Reisa national park, Umeå University and Natural Resources Institute Finland, Luke. Luke will take care of the concrete execution of the survey.
In addition to map-based inquiry, Minna Turunen and Inkeri Markkula of the University of Lapland have conducted interviews in Enontekiö among local authorities. They have examined how local and indigenous knowledge has been applied in land-use planning.
The interviews revealed that local and indigenous knowledge is collected as part of land-use planning already since 1990’s by Metsähallitus, and that there has been improvement after the new Land Use and Building Act in 2000. Also the legislation regarding the rights of the Sámi has improved the situation. Recently the Akwé: Kon guidelines have improved the participation of Saami
Rovaniemi seeks new directions for tourism
Tourism in Rovaniemi has grown fairly rapidly and especially the Arctic Circle area and Santa Claus village are beginning to be crowded. In addition, the expectations show that tourist numbers are going to increase even more in near future. The number of registered and non-registered bednights in Rovaniemi area is expected to grow from that of 900 000 in 2017 to more than 1,6 million in 2023.
The routes for different activities such as reindeer, husky and snow mobile safaris were planned for few entrepreneurs at the beginning but now they are utilized by more than 20 enterprises.
In order to solve the crowding problem and to map the possible new areas for tourism business, the other PPGIS is targeted especially for tourism entrepreneurs in Rovaniemi region. The needs and plans of tourism industry are, thus, examined. The City of Rovaniemi together with Luke is the realizer of this task.