Vatnajökull National ParkVatnajökull National Park

Nature Based Tourism

3. April 2003

Edda R.H. Waage

An overview of the presentationAn overview of the presentation

The ongoing preparation for the establishment of the proposed park

A cooperative research project– “Vatnajökull National Park:

Conservation and community development”

Results based on interviews with farmers south of the glacier

Vatnajökull National ParkVatnajökull National Park

First proposal in 1999 by the Minister for the environment

Establishment was to take place in 2000– Postponed to 2002– Now ... as soon as possible

The reason for delay– Mainly due to dispute about ownership of land

Vatnajökull

The research projectThe research project

A cooperative research project– “Vatnajökull National Park:

Conservation and community development”

Managed by dr. Karl Benediktsson

Started in 2001

The research project The research project (cont.)(cont.)

Questionnaire

Interviews with local politicians and business owners in tourism

Interviews with local inhabitants in rural areas

Local inhabitants in rural areasLocal inhabitants in rural areas

When: June 2002Where: Rural HornafjörðurWho: FarmersHow: Unstructured interviewsWhy: To explore their

expectations and possible reservationsTo understand how they form their

opinions towards the park

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Social construction of the parkSocial construction of the park

People’s background in Rural Hornafjörður– Agricultural society– Diminishing job opportunities– Depopulation

Something has to be done to change the course that is causing more and more

farms to be deserted

Social construction of the park Social construction of the park (cont.)(cont.)

Material used for the ongoing construction– Ideas of nature– Debates in newspapers– Information provided by the authorities– Conversations

Result in different views towards the project

People’s stand towards the parkPeople’s stand towards the park

Expectations

Increased employment

Personal gain

Nature conservation

Reservations

The state’s operating ability

Debate about ownership of land

Use of land

Harassment by tourists

An example of An example of positivepositive assessment assessment

Expectations

Increased employment

Personal gain

Nature conservation

Reservations

The state’s operating ability

Debate about ownership of land

Use of land

Harassment by tourists

“I think that if this will come true and

organized tourism will increase here within

the municipality, then that is the only hope

for continuing residence.”

An example of An example of negativenegative assessment assessment

Expectations

Increased employment

Personal gain

Nature conservation

Reservations

The state’s operating ability

Debate about ownership of land

Use of land

Harassment by tourists

“One is left to understand that this

land is to be expropriated for the sake of the national

park.”

An example of An example of mixed feelingsmixed feelings

Expectations

Increased employment

Personal gain

Nature conservation

Reservations

The state’s operating ability

Debate about ownership of land

Use of land

Harassment by tourists

“This beautiful nature has always been here and what difference does it make, I

mean, even though we label it as 'Vatnajökull National Park'? As if the

tourists would just pour in and we would do nothing else but to receive them and

become filthy rich!”

What about nature conservation?What about nature conservation?

Different understanding of the concept:– Forbidding people’s actions– Land set aside for pleasuring people

Different nature of Vatnajökull:– External nature

• “I find it odd to construct a national park out of snow”

– Intrinsic nature• “How on earth are they going to protect the glacier?

By forbidding volcanic eruptions, or the floods?”

Final commentsFinal comments

Vatnajökull National Park is first and foremost seen as measures to strengthen the local economy

Nature conservation plays a minor role in the ongoing the construction