This legislation aims to maintain the unique environment and its elements on Svalbard island, preserving flora, fauna, landscapes, cultural monuments, and wilderness. This act considers all aspects of human intervention in land use, from waste management to motorised transport and tourism.
The legislation comprises several regulations, covering topics like environmental pollution and waste control, wildlife reserves, and subsidies for nature conservation. There is also a regulation for mandatory dog restraint while on the island has been enacted. The Environmental Impact Assessment and the delimitation of planning areas also hold a vital place among the regulations.
One of the significant highlights is the utilisation of the natural resources in the region. The Svalbard Act affirms that the land and natural resources belong to the state and prohibits storing, inventorying, and disclosing information related to mineral deposits. The act requires those engaged in the exploration and extraction of minerals to carry out environmental impact assessments and obtain permits from the designated authorities.
It is a comprehensive framework guiding human intervention and activities on the island of Svalbard for sustainable tourism and responsible land use now and in the future.
