In December it emerged that the Norwegian government has plans to nominate the Spitsbergen archipelago (at least partly) for the UNESCO world heritage list. Political parties and representatives of the local populations are spectical. Local politicians in Longyearbyen said they would prefer such initiatives to come from the local population, rather than the government in Oslo, which is often too far away from real life in the arctic.
It is also believed that a nomination for the UNESCO world heritage list is seen as a political exchange for a new mine, which has recently been announced to be permitted. Politicians in Longyearbyen fear that the ministry of the environment is looking for a political balance for the new mine at the possible expense of locals and tourists, who may face new restrictions which are often beneficial for Oslo politicians rather than the environment.
Controversial: a nomination for the UENSCO world heritage list. The image shows a scene from Krossfjord.