How is the moose, living in the mountains in Arctic Sweden, affected by climate change and tourism? And how can we cultivate different forms of interaction between scientific research and community? These are the questions researchers in the ICEMOOSE project are trying to answer with the long-term study of moose’s living conditions in Arctic Sweden.
The ongoing climate change affects the Swedish mountain range. Changes in temperature and precipitation implicate that animals and plants may be facing new challenges. Several of the species in northern Sweden have adapted to a life with low winter temperatures, snow and short periods with vegetation. A recurring phenomenon is that animals up north tend to have larger body sizes. The moose is a typical example of a species that has adapted to the harsh daily life in northern Sweden. For example, a northern moose is about 15-20% larger than a moose living in southern Sweden.
ICEMOOSE is a joint initiative by ICEHOTEL, Sveaskog and the Swedish Hunters’ Association with the aim to unreservedly support SLU's research on climate, moose and man. The moose is a vital symbol for our operations, the mountain ranges and the people living up north. An important part of ICEMOOSE is to develop methods for collaboration between the university and local communities.
- Moose, ice and snow are exclusive trademarks of Arctic Sweden. ICEMOOSE gives us unique knowledge of a fascinating environment in which animals and humans live side by side. We are financing ICEMOOSE in order to, with local ties, develop sustainable nature tourism in the north, says Yngve Bergqvist, CEO and founder of ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi.
- The Moose is an unparalleled symbol of Swedish nature and the Swedish hunting tradition. ICEMOOSE will lay the foundation of knowledge about how man in the future can coexists with the arctic environment, says Håkan Weberyd, Secretary General of the Swedish Hunters’ Association.
- For us it is important to support SLU’s internationally renowned team within moose research, climate, tourism and man, says Jimmy Pettersson, President of Sveaskog Naturupplevelser AB.
- I am very grateful that we at SLU has gotten this unique opportunity to study the moose, a symbol for the northern Swedens’ wilderness, nature and tourism, thanks to the investment in ICEMOOSE and Professor Göran Ericsson’s research team, says Professor Tomas Lundmark, Dean at SLU’s Faculty of Forest Sciences.
For more information, contact:
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)
Professor Göran Ericsson
070-676 5012
www.alg-forskning.se
www.moose-research.se
ICEHOTEL
Roger Jacobsson
070-657 1388
Swedish Hunters Association
Åke Granström
070-330 0642
Sveaskog Naturupplevelser AB
Jimmy Pettersson
070-601 4661