Cultural Heritage in Polar Regions (CULPOL) Natural and human impact on cultural heritage sites and environments Thuestad, A. 1 , Myrvoll, M. 1 , Flyen, A. C. 2 , Tømmervik, H. 3 , Barlindhaug, S. 1 & Myrvoll, E. R. 1 1 High North Department, Norwegian Instute of Cultural Heritage Research, 2 Buildings Department, Norwegian Instute of Cultural Heritage Research & 3 Arcc Ecology Department, Norwegian Instute for Nature Research Cultural heritage management in polar regions is a challenging endeavour as management authories face impacts from climate and environmental change as well as increasing human acvity. Cultural Heritage in Polar Regions (CULPOL) is a research project that addresses the challenges of safeguarding and managing World Heritage Sites in these areas. A focal research issue is to invesgate methodological approaches to monitoring cultural heritage sites and environments. The objecve is to strengthen the knowledge base for management and decision- making processes, thus contribung to a holisc approach to management and a progressive, knowledge-based cultural heritage management of World Heritage Sites in Polar Regions. World cultural heritage in a changing Polar landscape: future management As a potenal World Heritage Site, the Svalbard Archipelago is expected to be exposed to increasing human acvity and tourism. The central research issue is naonal management regimes concerning the safeguarding and management of the Archipelago. Project and WP leader: Marit Myrvoll [email protected] Vulnerability and indicators of change Cultural heritage sites and environments on Svalbard are vulnerable. Central research issues are: Why are they vulnerable and what are the threats? The aim is to idenfy indicators of change trough focusing on degradaon parameters like natural hazards, biological degradaon and human acvity/tourism. WP leader: Anne Cathrine Flyen anne.fl[email protected] Remote sensing in monitoring cultural heritage sites and environments Remote sensing is extensively used for surveying and monitoring purposes. The central research issue is to evaluate possibilies and limitaons of high-resoluon remote sensing as a tool for monitoring cultural heritage sites and environments in Polar Regions. WP leader: Hans Tømmervik [email protected] Single grave located at the burial ground at Likneset. Photo: Anne Cathrine Flyen Erosion edge at Hiorthhamn in Advenjorden. Photo: Anne Cathrine Flyen Aerial photography showing channels NIR-R-G (near infrared) from Ny London. Photo: Norwegian Polar Instute. In: Tømmervik, H. et al. 2012 References: Tømmervik, H., Johansen, B. & Karlsen S. R. 2012: Metodikk i forbindelse med flykartlegging av markslitasje på Svalbard. NINA Minirapport 385 For further informaon see niku.no/culpol