NATURE PROTECTION AND CULTURAL HISTORY
Nature Protection and Cultural History Announcement from The Ministry of Housing, Nature and Environment
The Arctic is fragile, vast and beautiful with pristine spaces and extreme climate, and a wealth of natural resources. It is the permanent home of both highly developed living organisms and, during the short summer, the temporary home for scores of migratory species of sea-mammals and birds.
At the same time all Arctic ecosystems are characterized by simple food chains and relatively slow ecological processes with limited resilience and very long recovery time from human disturbances.
Therefore it is extremely important to take precautions not to disturb unnecessarily or leave anything behind but footprints.
Among the most important legislation to be aware of is:
• Landsting Act no. 29 of 2003 on the Protection of Nature
• Executive order no. 8 of March 2 2009 on protection of birds
• Executive orders no. 7 of 1992 and no. 16 of 1999 on the National Park
• Executive order no. 10 of June 15 2007 on the protection of Ilulissat Icefjord
• Executive order no. 21 of May 17 1989 on the Sanctuary in Melville Bay.
• Executive order no. 4 of April 12 2010 on the preservation of an area at Ivittuut and Kangilinnguit
• Executive order no. 11 of April 19 2005 on preservation of parts of the Island
of Uunartoq, Nanortalik
• Executive order no. 11 of April 17 2008 on preservation of Kitsissunnguit
(Grønne Ejland)
• Executive order no. 19 of November 1 1998 on preservation of the island Aklia, Nuup Kommunia
Watch here the AECO Animated Visitors Guidelines from Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators(AECO) on Vimeo.
For whale watching, please following these guidelines.
Contact:
The Ministry of Housing, Nature and Environment
P.O. Box 1614, DK-3900 Nuuk, Greenland
Ph.: +299 345 000, Fax: +299 325286
NNPAN@gh.gl, http://naalakkersuisut.gl/en/Naalakkersuisut
Regarding birds:
Ministry of Fisheries, Hunting and Agriculture, Imaneq 1A, 701 Postboks 269, 3900 Nuuk, Tel: (+299) 34 50 00 Fax: (+299) 32 47 04 apnn@nanoq.gl
Announcement from The Greenland National Museum & Archives
The Greenlandic Act of Preservation of Cultural History severely forbids any kind of violation of man-made monuments such as graves, ruins, hunting structures as well as structures from recent times protected by preservation regulations. Collecting items from protected areas are under all circumstances prohibited. Furthermore, the Act underlines the fact that cemeteries in abandoned settlements are protected by law. Violation of graves by collection of souvenirs such as bones, part of headstones, whole headstones etc. is strictly prohibited. Violation of these acts is a criminal act and subject to penalty .
We strongly urge all cruise vessels to provide their passengers with guidelines and a code of conduct based on the above when visiting abandoned settlements and other historic sites in Greenland and help prevent any behaviour that harms the site. Help us preserve the unique cultural history of Greenland.
Contact:
Greenland National Museum and Archives
P.O. Box 145, DK-3900 Nuuk, Greenland
Ph.: +299 322611, Fax: +299 322622
E-mail: nka@natmus.gl, www.natmus.gl