The challenge of fragmented resource management in the UNESCO Site West Norwegian Fjords

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1 The challenge of fragmented resource management in the UNESCO Site West Norwegian Fjords A project in the programme Environment 2015, Norway Research Council

2 Aurland municipality & NærøyFjord area Tourism is the main businesses sector in the municipality. Attraction as the Flåm railway and valley, The Nærøyfjord Word Heritage Area and Aurland valley Flåm as a traffic node point between Bergen and Ålesund Umeå Ålesund Bergen Aurland & NærøyFjord FLÅM

3 Tourism in Aurland Tourist streams to Flåm: International cruise ships Busses and train Boat Cars Less than 20% stay overnight in the municipality Municipality with app inhabitants where more than 20 percentage with income from tourist sector Protected area designated in 2002 & World Heritage site in 2005 The problem statement: What kind of tourism development is desirable and how do the current policy and management influence tourism develpment?

4 Previous research Resource regimes (management system) are typically not able to motivate coordinated action among the different users involved (Vatn 2005) Both local community- and state-managed conservation ignore the multilevel nature of linkages and multiple partners required for any biodiversity conservation project to be successful (Berkes, 2007, p ). Neither centralised state management nor local community management are understood as panaceas (Ostrom, Janssen & Anderies, 2007). Co-management understood as the sharing of power and responsibility between government and local resource users is seen as the relevant strategy to resolve the complex management challenges by creating networks for learning and joint problem solving (Berkes, 2007, p ). But, is anybody in power willing to give it away? Since those who have power nomally want to hang on to it, historically it has had to be wrested by the powerless rather than proffered by the powerful (Arnstein, 1969, p. 10). Institutions protect interests and values, and also reinforce and influence them. The basic issue is which interests and values are to be defined that is, what kind of a society we want to develop through the regimes we set up (Vatn, 2005, pp ).

5 Research focus Research question: How do the resource management in the fjord area influence the development and governance of tourism? Study of: Management laws and regulations, both land and fjord areas Organisation model of authorities My thesis: The national state sector organisation of policy makes two very different management models; one at land and one at fjord areas creating different opportunities for tourism development When the municipality assembly transferred the management of harbour and seaways to a municipality enterprise they changed the governance: From holistic planning to marked thinking From community to association decisions

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7 Political areas, laws and authorities Geografical level/ law & authority Landscape protected World Heritage Rest of municipality Plan and Building Act Municipality Infrastructure development: roads, harbour buildings etc. in municipality plan Harbour & Seaways Act Municipality Enterprise Consent licence to use harbours Secure traffic and seaways. Management practise: More traffic is desirable Professional Transport Act County adm. Consent operation licence to use the fjord Management practise: All ships get access Nature Diversity Act County Governor Limit infrastructure development on land areas Objection/protests to municipality plan Speed limitation on fjord

8 The management authority and geografic areas Harbour licence managed by Municipality Enterprise Nature Diversity Act managed by County Governor, year 2002 Landscape protected area Municipality Plan area Plan and Building Act managed by the municipality, year 2005 World Heritage Area Fjord traffic licence managed by County Adm.

9 Different understanding of the situation NGO leader: Several participants pinpoint the need to stop and debate the way forward for the area. We need to consider the regional park concept because it stimulates local anchoring and a holistic direction for business development and management of the area. The harbour manager: We operate commercially and the municipality need more jobs. Therefore we want the traffic to increase. The transport manager at the County administration: According to EU competition legislation the commercial activities are governed by the market. Nature guide: Our guests complain of the boat traffic noise some of them have dropped coming here County Governor management plan: Boat traffic gives tourist opportunities to explore the landscape without damage the nature

10 Management system for tourism activity on fjord Municipality enterprise All commercial traffic is allowed Traffic management Harbour management Management organisation model: Community: -public body dealing with a wide range of community issues Association: -Organisation dealing with some specific issues/interests Based on Tönnies (1955) concept gemeinschaft & gesellschaft. Mechanism to govern activity: Market Plan

11 Sector specific laws: Summary Nature diversity act and the management authority limited infrastructure development on land areas Laws regulating harbours and fjord areas aim to stimulate sea traffic EU law: marked competition regulate the amount of traffic Model of organisation: From holistic planning to marked thinking From community to association decisions Management practice: The organisational model chosen makes this lack of coordination worse The practical fjord traffic management has limited the freedom to govern The harbour and fjord management system is understood as technical and commercial operations. Vatn (2005): Open access is institutionalized cost shifting due to the interconnectedness of resources

12 Referances: Ostrom, E. (1990). Governing the commons: the evolution of institutions for collective action. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Tönnies, F. (1955). Community and Association. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. Vatn, A. (2005). Institutions and the environment. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar. Contactinformation: Eivind Brendehaug Phone: E-post: Vestlandsforsking Box Sogndal NORWAY