Vlissingen 18 – 12 - 2008
Dear Frigg and fellow E.C.
On behalf of AECO I had a meeting with Elmer Topp – Jørgensen ( Miljø- og Naturstyrelsen –
Grønlands Hjemmestyre ) on 5 Dec 2008 at the Greenlandic Representation in Copenhagen.
We discussed a possible zonation of the National Park in Northeast Greenland, which is initiated by
Grønlands Hjemmestyre. AECO had been asked to have some input in this discussion (see document
at the end of this letter ).
We had a friendly discussion about the zonation in the Northeast Greenland National Park, where
Elmer explained some points of the document. Elmer had highlighted quite some issues at the last
AECO meeting in Oslo, where I was not present and he showed me again his presentation from Oslo. I
elaborated mostly on some general principles which are important for AECO.
1
AECO appreciates that it becomes involved in the very first stages of the discussion about the tentative
zonation of the Northeast Greenland National Park and can give its input before any preliminary
decision has been made. We would be glad if we could prevent a situation like with the East
Spitsbergen Nature Reserves, where we have been asked to give some input after the decision making
was already well underway.
2
AECO is in favor of any measure which can help to safe-guard the untouched wilderness in any area
where we have our activities, because the experience of being in an untouched wilderness without any
impact of man is our trade-mark. This is what we try to market and sell to our customers. And this is
the reason that we mostly have had a good cooperation with nature protection activities and
organizations.
3
AECO realizes that some measures may have to be taken in order to protect the untouched wilderness
in the National Park and to protect the interest of other stake holders, but is against the idea that
Tourism should be singled out as the one stake-holder for applying more restrictions and bureaucracy,
while the other stake holders (locals, scientists, Sirius/weather station, mining industry, etc ) in
principle just can continue and/or expand their activities.
4
AECO proposes that the whole of the National Park would in principle be open for tourism, with the
possibility that some specific spots could be closed for tourism but with a well defined argumentation
what harm we could do to other stake holders (e.g. no tourism in large concentrations of moulting
geese, not disturbing stations like Zackenberg research station, Sirius / weather stations, mining
industry, not interfering with the activities of the local people (Ittoqqortoormiit), not visiting
extremely vulnerable archeological sites but with an observer authorized by the Nuuk Museum or an
other Greenlandic governmental body ).
This would be contrary to the principle in East Spitsbergen, where the whole area would be closed,
and where we would be allowed to use some landing spots here and there, but with no clear
motivation.
5
AECO wants to show their passengers a good representation of all types of landscapes, fjords,
glaciers, vegetations, wildlife, archeological sites, etc.
We would like to have the possibility to choose from different alternatives for the same types
of landscapes, ....., archeological sites, etc. Because if ice or weather or the presence of another ship
mean that we can not visit a certain type in a certain area, we would like to have the possibility to get
to a similar type in an other nearby area. For instance the complete system of the Kaiser Franz Josef
Fjord + Kong Oscar Fjord should preferably be accessible for us.
6
AECO would like to have access to the National Park as far north as the sea-ice retreats in September.
Coming from Spitsbergen we need the shortest crossing to Greenland in order to have our first landfall
as early as possible. From there, sailing south, we would again like to have that fair representation of
all phenomena at short distances from each other. The area north of Hold with Hope is not less
interesting for tourists. Indeed the landscape is less spectacular Alpine going north, but it is great
to come also to that real High-Arctic area, with its rich history of consecutive cultures, and history of
exploration, which especially attracts Danes, Frenchmen and Germans to specific areas used by
expeditions of their own nationality. On voyages LYR - Northeast Greenland - LYR it is essential that
a ship can spend the whole travelling period in the area near Dove Bugt and just south of it and realize
a full programme there (always ice-permitting ).
7
Re. Management zones
In addition to the conservation zoning, the area may also be divided into different
management zones with specific access regulations for each zone.
AECO worries that we will get into a wood of different rules and regulations for any landing area, and
a bureaucracy without end. We plead for uniform rules and regulations which are applicable for any
area where we sail and land in the National Park.

Tourism and local recreational interests increases towards the south
This may be true for adventure tourism originating from Ittoqqortoormiit and Mestersvig, but not for
expedition cruising. The ships hit the coast of Northeast Greenland as far north as the sea-ice allows

Cultural remains are particular sensitive north of 77oN
Elmer explained that Independent culture remains were laying open on the bare high-arctic bottom,
and were not covered by protective vegetation, like remains, mostly of Thule, more to the south.
However the vegetation which is covering the nutrient-rich sites is often an indication for a Thule or
other site and makes these sites maybe more conspicuous than the sites north of 77 Degrees.

Search and rescue operations are problematic, especially towards the north.
Search and Rescue is always problematic, but the distances between the tourist ships and rescue
infrastructure is less than at most destinations in Antarctica. Moreover in the north of the National
Park we are closer to rescue infrastructure in Spitsbergen than to Greenland infrastructure at Constable
Pynt.

Possibilities for monitoring and control decreases towards the north
Once in the National Park there is not much difference, the distances between the Sirius stations are of
the same order of magnitude in the north and in the south.

Long term environmental monitoring should not be compromised
Agreed, cf Zackenberg
8
Access regulations
Access regulations developed for specific areas will be based on scientific knowledge and can include:
Who will provide the scientific knowledge ?
Nature: National Environmental Research Institute, Denmark
Zackenberg Research Station: Danish Polar Centre, Denmark
Cultural/historical sites: Greenland National Museum and Archives, Greenland
Geology: Denmark and Greenland Geological Surveys, GEUS, Denmark
- No access due to conservation or research interests. p.m.
- Regulated access in sensitive period (e.g. birth season, moulting and breeding periods). p.m.
- Limitation on number of visits/visitors per year p.m.
- Maximum number of tourists per guide when visiting certain localities
1 guide per 20 passengers, like the AECO norm
-
Guide from Greenland National Museum and Archives to join expedition
AECO is much interested to have guides/lecturers from Greenland on the ships, which sail in
Greenland waters
-
Regulations on means of transport and establishment of tourism infrastructure. p.m.
9
Several members of AECO will offer some berths on their ships in the National Park in autumn 2009
to a representation of Greenlandic officials, if they want to witness how we carry out our programmes
in the National Park.
10
Our passengers mostly come on a Northeast Greenland voyage to experience the scenery and for the
history of people and exploration. Wildlife viewing in Greenland can not be guaranteed because
accessible wildlife is generally much more rare than in Spitsbergen. That is a reason that marketing
and selling Northeast Greenland in our market is more difficult than Spitsbergen.
To be in the biggest National Park of the World does not draw the people to a Northeast Greenland
voyage, especially not when they will be confronted with all kind of limitations for visiting some parts
of the Park.
It was reassuring that Elmer indicated that the contributions of AECO would play a role in the
discussion of the zonation right from the beginning of the process.
This report has been approved by Elmer
Ko de Korte
E.C. AECO
To: AECO/Frigg Jørgensen
Cc: GTE, Erhverv
AECO input to zonation of the National Park in Northeast Greenland.
Dear AECO,
The Environment and Nature Agency under Greenland Home Rule is in the process of
developing a Strategy Plan for the National Park area in Northeast Greenland. The Plan
shall ensure a gradual protection of the area that preserves an intact ecosystem, provide a
frame for sustainable development and fulfil international obligations.
Dato 5. nov.
2008
Postboks 1614
3900 Nuuk
Oq/tel +299 34
50 00
Fax +299 32 52
Conservation zones
86
As part of the Strategy Plan, a working group is developing zonation of the area to address apa@gh.gl
www.nanoq.gl/
conservation and development interests. The working group will identify priority areas
(core areas) for conservation of nature, cultural sites and geological locations of scientific aan
interests. The zonation system includes core areas, bufferzones and remaining area is termed transition
zone (in accordance with UNESCO Man and Biosphere Programme). Identification of core areas and
regulation of access is data based and provided by relevant scientific institutions from Greenland and
Denmark.
Management zones
I addition to the conservation zoning, the area may also be divided into different management zones
with specific access regulations for each zone. Establishment of management zones are justified by:





Tourism and local recreational interests increases towards the south
Cultural remains are particular sensitive north of 77oN
Search and rescue operations are problematic, especially towards the north
Possibilities for monitoring and control decreases towards the north
Long term environmental monitoring should not be compromised
Access regulations
Access regulations developed for specific areas will be based on scientific knowledge and can include:
- No access due to conservation or research interests
- Regulated access in sensitive period (e.g. birth season, moulting and breeding periods)
- Limitation on number of visits/visitors per year
- Maximum number of tourists per guide when visiting certain localities
- Guide from Greenland National Museum and Archives to join expedition
- Regulations on means of transport and establishment of tourism infrastructure
Stakeholder input
The aim of the zonation is to ensure conservation interests and at the same time provide for
development of tourism and other interests in the area. The Environment and Nature Agency is
interested in obtaining information on stakeholder interests to be included in the zonation effort.
As an organisation representing cruise based tourism activities in the area, AECO is requested to
gather information from its members on following subjects:





Important locations on land for cruise based tourism
Important period for cruise based tourism for individual locations
Important routes of travel
Projected changes in routes of travel
Projected changes in number of cruises/passengers per year
Should AECO and its members have other issues that they feel are relevant for the zonation work, this
can be added.
The Environment and Nature Agency would like to receive input before 8. December 2008. Should
you have any questions regarding the requested info, please feel free to contact me via e-mail or phone
(+299 34 67 16).
Ikinngutinnersumik inuulluaqqusillunga
Med venlig hilsen
Kind regards
Elmer Topp-Jørgensen
Head of Section
Environment and Nature Agency