A new evaluation concludes that the nature restoration following coal mining in the Svalbard archipelago in the High Arctic has been highly successful. The project is considered the largest nature restoration effort ever undertaken in Norway.
The traces of more than 100 years of coal mining in Svalbard are gradually disappearing.
Between 2019 and 2023, the mining company Store Norske removed settlements, industrial facilities, mines and heavy infrastructure from the former mining areas in Svea and Lunckefjell. Following the restoration, only protected cultural heritage remains. The Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) contributed as a scientific advisor throughout the process.
Delivered ahead of schedule under Arctic conditions
The evaluation shows that the project was completed ahead of schedule, within budget and with a high level of quality. It is described as the most ambitious environmental project ever carried out in Norway.
– This demonstrates that even complex restoration projects can be implemented efficiently under demanding Arctic conditions, says Dagmar Hagen, Research Director at NINA.
The evaluation was carried out by Concept, a research programme at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). The programme assesses major public investment projects to support learning and improved future implementation.
Facilitating natural processes
The restoration in Svea was not designed to recreate a historical landscape. Instead, the objective was to enable natural processes to shape the landscape over time.
The project applied a principle of using the simplest possible measures to support natural processes. According to the evaluation, this approach is cost-effective compared to actively reconstructing former landscapes.
Long-term monitoring is essential
Nature restoration is a long-term process, and the final outcomes will only become visible over time. The restored areas will therefore be monitored for 20 years after project completion.
– Long-term and systematic monitoring is crucial to improve our understanding of what works under different conditions. This knowledge will strengthen future restoration efforts, says Hagen.
The project has been described as one of the most demanding environmental initiatives undertaken in Norway and serves as an example of how large-scale restoration can be achieved following industrial activity.