Project Report
The Arctic Circle Trail (ACT), a popular hiking route between Sisimiut and Kangerlussuaq, West Greenland, is increasing in popularity each year. As the trail passes through a UNESCO World Heritage Site and culturally significant areas, there are concerns about the environmental and cultural impacts of increasing hiker presence across these sensitive areas.
To address these concerns and inform sustainable management and tourism practices, an environmental observing network is necessary to monitor terrestrial change along the trail.
Aiming to identify priorities relating to vegetation change along the ACT, the CONTACT team gathered in Sisimiut, the town at the western terminus of the ACT, and started activity with revisiting previously installed weather stations and community meetings. Led by Millicent Harding (Durham University, UK), the team hiked the peri-urban area of Sisimiut until the beginning of the ACT trail. An Arctic DTU (Danish Technical University, Arctic campus) weather station was visited along the way and dust sensors were collected. These sensors were set up through the previous Terrestrial and Atmospheric Working group funded project (UTILISE).
The team also visited the Sisimiut Museum and the opening of its exhibition on the Aasivissuit – Nipisat interactive map, the historical Inuit hunting area which the ACT partly overlaps with. During that meeting, the team had the chance to make connections with community members who are active in the ACT area during the hunting season. Local feedback related to the ACT and its frequentation by local hunters and international hikers was collected informally.
CONTACT’s visit occurred during Greenland Science Week 2025, which enabled the team to take part in a community workshop in Sarfannguit (a boat/helicopter access only settlement of approximately 90 people and the only currently inhabited settlement within the UNESCO area). During the meeting, CONTACT’s researchers learned about reindeer hunting in the UNESCO area of the ACT, which was raised as a topic of interest by the community. Participants raised concerns that animals seemed to appear slimmer this year with a heavy parasite burden noted by many hunters. Citizens also raised the topic of the development of the new ATV trail connecting Sisimiut and Kangerlussuaq, and which traverses the UNESCO area in a key hunting and foraging region. Concerns included that newly introduced traffic and noise could impact animals and plants key to traditional cultural harvesting. After the short trip to Sisimiut, part of the team reached Nuuk for the beginning of the main gathering of Greenland Science Conference 2025, while a small delegation went to Kangerlussuaq, aiming to reunite in Nuuk during the science conference. In Kangerlussuaq, meetings were held with Qeqqata Municipality officials and local project partners.
During the Greenland Science Conference in Nuuk, the CONTACT project was presented by project leader Millicent Harding to the assembly of attendees, and received interest by both local residents and visiting scientists.
A wrap-up workshop was organized by the CONTACT team at the Greenland University Ilisimatusarfik before leaving. The team had the chance to reflect on the information collected and collectively plan for next steps. This trip allowed team members to identify appropriate and feasible future directions. Those organising the new National Park have identified clear priorities and information gaps relating to monitoring vegetation baselines and change. TWG members will work towards addressing these gaps through collaborations with other TWG aligned projects including the Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Science Initiative.
Date and Location
Greenland
IASC Working Group funding the Project:
Project Leader:
Millicent Harding (Durham University, UK) (contact: millicent.v.harding@durham.ac.uk)
Year funded by IASC:
2025
Project Status
Completed