Peer-reviewed articles

Ecosystem services in the Arctic: a thematic review

The study presents the first systematic review of the existing literature on Arctic ES. Applying the Search, Appraisal, Synthesis and Analysis (SALSA) and snowballing methods and three selection criteria, 33 publications were sourced, including peer-reviewed articles, policy papers and scientific reports, and their content synthesized using the thematic analysis method. Five key themes were identified: (1) general discussion of Arctic ES, (2) Arctic social-ecological systems, (3) ES valuation, (4) ES synergies and / or trade-offs, and (5) integrating the ES perspective into management. The meta-synthesis of the literature reveals that the ES concept is increasingly being applied in the Arctic context in all five themes, but there remain large knowledge gaps concerning mapping, assessment, economic valuation, analysis of synergies, trade-offs, and underlying mechanisms , and the social effects of ES changes. Even though ES are discussed in most publications as being relevant to policy, there are few practical examples of its direct application to management. The study concludes that more primary studies of Arctic ES are needed on all of the main themes as well as governance initiatives to move Arctic ES research from theory to practice.

Link to article

Reports

Future Opportunities for Bioeconomy in the West Nordic Countries

Published:

01/12/2014

Authors:

Sigrún Elsa Smáradóttir, Lilja Magnúsdóttir, Birgir Örn Smárason, Gunnar Þórðarson, Birgit Johannessen, Elísabet Kemp Stefánsdóttir, Birgitte Jacobsen, Unn Laksá, Hrönn Ólína Jörundsdóttir, Svein Ø. Solberg, Rólvur Djurhuus, Sofie Erbs-Maibing, Bryndís Björnsdóttir, Ragnhildur Gunnarsdóttir, Kjartan Hoydal, Guðmundur Óli Hreggviðsson, Guðmundur Bjarki Ingvarsson, Amalie Jessen, Hörður G. Kristinsson, Daði Már Kristófersson, Nette Levermann, Nuka Møller Lund, Josephine Nymand, Ólafur Reykdal, Janus Vang, Helge Paulsen, Sveinn Margeirsson

Supported by:

The Nordic Council of Ministers Arctic Co-operation Program, NKJ (Nordic Joint Committee for Agricultural and Food Research), AG-Fisk (Working Group for Fisheries Co-operation), SNS (Nordic Forest Research), NordGen (the Nordic Genetic Resource Center ) and Matis.

Contact

Birgir Örn Smárason

Research Group Leader

birgir@matis.is

Future Opportunities for Bioeconomy in the West Nordic Countries

The report provides an overview of life resources in Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, their utilization and future opportunities based on green growth. The report is a good basis for purposeful policy-making and emphasis in innovation for future development in the area. On the basis of the project, an implementation plan has been formulated with four main emphases; 1. Establishment of a West Nordic Bioeconomy Panel, 2. Establishment of an interdisciplinary West Nordic Center of Excellence, 3. Arctic Bioeconomy II - a project focusing on the analysis of opportunities in the field of biotechnology and 4. A special program focusing on the “Blue the bioeconomy ”.

This final report provides an overview of bioresources in the West Nordic region focusing on Iceland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, their utilization and future opportunities based on green growth. The report provides good basis for strategic identification of beneficial projects in the region. Based on the results, a specific action plan has been formed consisting of four main actions; 1. Create a West Nordic Bioeconomy panel, 2. Establish an interdisciplinary Center of Excellence (CoE) for the West Nordic region, 3. Arctic bioeconomy II - Project focusing on opportunities in biotechnology and 4. Program focusing on “The Blue Bioeconomy”.

View report

Reports

Future Opportunities for Bioeconomy in the West Nordic Country Executive Executive Summary & Action Plan, Discussions and Conclusions, Overview of Opportunities Identified in the Report

Published:

01/12/2014

Authors:

Sigrún Elsa Smáradóttir, Lilja Magnúsdóttir, Birgir Örn Smárason, Gunnar Þórðarson, Birgit Johannessen, Elísabet Kemp Stefánsdóttir, Birgitte Jacobsen, Unn Laksá, Hrönn Ólína Jörundsdóttir, Svein Ø. Solberg, Rólvur Djurhuus, Sofie Erbs-Maibing, Bryndís Björnsdóttir, Ragnhildur Gunnarsdóttir, Kjartan Hoydal, Guðmundur Óli Hreggviðsson, Guðmundur Bjarki Ingvarsson, Amalie Jessen, Hörður G. Kristinsson, Daði Már Kristófersson, Nette Levermann, Nuka Møller Lund, Josephine Nymand, Ólafur Reykdal, Janus Vang, Helge Paulsen, Sveinn Margeirsson

Supported by:

The Nordic Council of Ministers Arctic Co-operation Program, NKJ (Nordic Joint Committee for Agricultural and Food Research), AG-Fisk (Working Group for Fisheries Co-operation), SNS (Nordic Forest Research), NordGen (the Nordic Genetic Resource Center ) and Matis.

Contact

Birgir Örn Smárason

Research Group Leader

birgir@matis.is

Future Opportunities for Bioeconomy in the West Nordic Countries

The report summarizes a summary section, action plan, discussions and conclusions, and an overview of opportunities from the final report of the Arctic Bioeconomy project.

The report contains the executive summary, action plan, discussions and conclusions and overview of opportunities identified in the final report of the project Arctic Bioeconomy.

View report
EN