Increased tourism in the Arctic calls for more knowledge to meet management challenges. This paper reviews existing knowledge of the effects of human use on vegetation, fauna and cultural heritage in Svalbard, and it addresses the need for site-specific knowledge for improved management. This paper draws upon scientific studies, knowledge held by management authorities and local people, the Governor's database on visitors and visited sites and our own data from landing sites we visited. There is a certain level of basic knowledge available, allowing us to roughly grade the vulnerability of sites. However, there is a thorough lack of site-specific data related to the management of single locations or groups of similar locations. Future research needs to address specific on-site challenges in the management of visitor sites. Relevant management models and measures are discussed. We contend that a shift away from a blanket application of the precautionary principle and towards a more integrated, site-specific and evidence-based management plan will contribute to more trusted and reliable, and thereby acceptable among stakeholders, decisions in the management of growing tourism activity in Svalbard

The paper draws from the general literature on energy efficiency and historic buildings to explain the importance and potential of user-driven energy efficiency in historic buildings. It is the first review that places the user as a central object of study in the research field of historic buildings and energy Highlights:• State of the art review on user-driven energy efficiency in historic buildings.• Non-intrusive energy efficiency measures have significant impact and potential.• Integrated bottom-up refurbishment processes will provide for better management.

Hiorthhamn is an abandoned Norwegian coal mining settlement with a loading dock and a lot of industrial infrastructure left in the coastal zone. In this study, changes in the position of 1.3 km of the Hiorthhamn shoreline, which affect cultural heritage, is described for a time-period spanning 92 years . The shoreline positions were established based on a map (1927), orthophotos (2009) and a topographic survey with differential Global Positioning System (GPS) (summer 2019). Detailed geomorphological and surface sediment mapping was conducted to form a framework for understanding shoreline-landscape interaction. The shoreline was divided into three sectors to calculate the erosion/stability/accretion rates by using the DSAS (Digital Shoreline Analysis System) extension of ArcGIS. The DSAS analysis showed very high erosion in Sector 1, while Sectors 2 and 3 showed moderate accretion and moderate erosion, respectively. Sector 1 is geologically composed of easily erodible sorted beach sediments and protected remains from the mining industry such as wrecks of heavy machines, loading carts, wagons and rusty tracks that are directly exposed to coastal erosion. The all-sector average shoreline erosion rate (EPR parameter) for the 92 years period was −0.21 m/year. The high shoreline erosion rates in Sector 1, together with the high potential damage to cultural heritage, supports the urgent need of continued coastal monitoring and sustainable management of cultural heritage in Hiorthhamn.Sustainability 2020, 12, 2306 2 of 21 losses in the future. Arctic coastal areas can experience erosion rates similar to, or higher than, those in temperate regions due to the added influence of thawing permafrost and extreme temperatures.Coastal areas located at high latitudes are even more affected by the changes in the environment (e.g., air temperatures, major river discharges and open water season length have increased, and storm tracks and intensities are changing) [6]. The Arctic coastal zone is defined as the region both seaward and landward of the coastlines of the Arctic shelf areas, including all archipelagos and islands [7]. Arctic coastal areas can experience erosion rates similar to or higher than those in temperate regions due to the added influence of thawing permafrost and extreme temperatures, even though the erosional processes are usually still limited to a few months per year [6]. Arctic areas have become important hot spots for studying the effects of a changing climate [8], which is felt earlier there than elsewhere on Earth [9]. The present ongoing research focuses on modelling the velocity of glaciers and ice caps [10], land cover and ice-wedge polygon mapping [11,12], the surface morphology of fans [13], retrogressive thaw slumps triggering [14,15], coastal erosion [16], human impact [17], etc. One of the most exposed Arctic areas is Svalbard, which is experiencing amplified climate change when compared to the global average [18,19]. Svalbard's coastal area is under high pressure from natural [20] and in some area...

This paper emphasises on degradation of wood in cultural heritage structures at Svalbard. Nowhere else does global heating occur faster. Negative impacts of climate change will increase the strain on wooden structures and can daily be observed at Svalbard. The severe changes affect the degradation rate of wooden constructions, including cultural heritage. Certain microclimates, also in Polar areas, are favourable to fungal growth and decay. The probable enhancing effects climate change have on fungal degradation in wooden structures are however alarming. The paper displays findings of measurements from four different case study projects at Svalbard between 2009 and 2019. The results have been analysed separately, compiled and discussed in context, and towards relevant literature. We claim that impacts of climate change may not be generalized in order to predict effects in building materials. Further, that with extended knowledge on how climate change affects natural development of fungal decay, negative impacts may be reduced. Lessons learned from high Arctic areas might add longevity and sustainability to wooden cultural heritage constructions, also in different areas and environments. The paper is part of two of the authors' PhD work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.