To address these objectives, FACE-IT pursued research activities in a highly interdisciplinary and even transdisciplinary manner, so that insights from the natural and social sciences cross-fertilised each other and knowledge, perceptions and concerns of local stakeholders became embedded in the research efforts.
The work package on key drivers and data management (WP1) identified data on drivers of change in Arctic socio-ecological fjord systems. These datasets have been published in a FAIR repository, and a public user interface facilitates open data access to all interested parties after the end of the project.
For the first time, FACE-IT provided evidence on biodiversity changes in Arctic fjords (WP2). Borealization signals have been found in primary producers, fish, marine mammal and seabirds, with typical Arctic species generally declining in abundance and temperate species increasing, which will imply cascading effects along food webs and for coastal livelihoods.
Arctic fjords encompass a wide range of environmental conditions (WP3). We found that fjord pelagic production is also driven by processes on land, and results stress the importance of boundary conditions and offshore processes. Modelling efforts have comprised the implementation of a sea ice model into a regional fjord-based model. As boundaries govern ecosystem productivity in fjords, they also affect coastal fisheries, which is a major finding also from a socio-economic point of view.
Arctic fjords are changing rapidly, with consequences to society (WP4). We have engaged with Arctic stakeholders to define their data needs. Our findings show that climate change may only be one driver of societal change, when compared to pressures and opportunities from fishing, tourism, shipping, and changing socio-economic conditions. However, climate change exacerbates these challenges, and it is critical that we approach climate change as one of many pressures.
We co-developed projections of the relevance of changing coastal biodiversity and cryosphere for future tourism in Svalbard and West Greenland (WP5). Overall, tourism actors have a high adaptive capacity to said changes, taking advantage of increased access due to shrinking ice in the fjords and extending the summer season into autumn. Tourism activities and strategies need to be integrated into monitoring, governance, and management programs. Our results have been utilized in defining carrying capacity of cruise tourism in Longyearbyen.
The rate and magnitude of change in social-ecological systems require an inter- and transdisciplinary approach (WP6). We investigated how adaptive co-management (ACM) can support sustainability of food production and tourism in Arctic fjord systems. Field work and workshops in three case study sites have provided understanding of the multiple pressures. Overall, our findings show that there still is a need for data to address the impact of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystems. Furthermore, there are gaps between local knowledge needs and scientific interests. Hence, co-development of indicators for management actions and monitoring of key-species is required.
The project took great effort to enhance its long-term impact. WP 7 supported the dissemination of project results to local stakeholders and policy actors in the EU and in relevant national and international forums. An initial mapping of policy processes within the EU regarding the potential for adaptive co-management of future Arctic fjord systems was the basis of a policy dialogue and a policy brief. WP 7 organized outreach activities and distributed project news via the project homepage and social media channels as well as teaching activities of all project partners. Project flyers and brochures have been produced which have been utilized at international conferences and meetings. Conference sessions have been jointly organized between FACE-IT and its two partner projects, ECOTIP and CHARTER. The three projects identified five priority topics for future research, which have been disseminated at policy events in the last year of the project.
