On October 13th, Alanna and I set off to Bergen, Norway to partake in a preliminary workshop for the project, ‘ACTIONABLE: Adaptive Co-Management to Enhance Biocultural Diversity and Sustainable Development in Coastal Communities’, funded by the Research Council of Norway. About twenty participants met from places including Sami University of Applied Sciences, the University of Saskatchewan, a local studio collective, and SINTEF Ocean- a marine research institute based in Trondheim, Norway. One aim of ACTIONABLE is to localize global agendas and sustainability priorities within three coastal regions in Norway, including Nordhordland, the first biosphere region in Norway, which was designated in 2019.
Upon landing, Alanna and I had about 24 hours to take in Bergen prior to being transported to Nordhordland UNESCO biosphere, which was about an hour’s drive away. In our free time, we took the opportunity to explore the old town and UNESCO world heritage site, Bryggen, with Maureen Reed, UNESCO Co-Chair in Biocultural Diversity, Reconciliation and Renewal, and University of Saskatchewan Distinguished Professor. Bryggen has been a trading place for about a thousand years, and was a significant stockfish trading post. Maureen, Alanna and I were lucky enough to visit Bryggen Tracteursted, a restaurant serving traditional dishes in a building dating back to the 1700’s, where we enjoyed an array of delicious regional fishy delicacies.
In Nordhordland, it was great to be able to collaborate with a diverse, knowledgeable, and passionate group of individuals with unique skill sets. In a facilitated environment, we were able to workshop the project and determine ways in which each of our strengths could play a role in the project’s success. As this project progresses, MABRRI will provide information about the MABR’s own governance structure and reporting methods, as well as that of other coastal biosphere regions in BC, to help shape a governance and reporting structure that best suits the unique needs of Nordhordland.
As an added bonus, we were able to embark on a quick field trip to Osterøy, which included a visit to Norlender Knitwear, a wool factory along the Wool Heritage Route that has been within the same family for a century, and a wooden shoe factory and cafe in Hosanger. Alanna and I also spent our free time exploring the area around Fjordslottet, the wonderful hotel in which we were staying in the Nordhordland UNESCO biosphere region. Though it was characteristically cool and rainy, we were greeted by endless views of beautiful fjords, mountains, and of course, sheep.
Our visit to Norway was short and sweet, but it was made incredibly rich through the company of our partners, the time we spent together in workshops and mealtimes, and the traditional, homemade Norwegian food that we were served at Fjordslottet. We returned to Canada energized and excited for the future of our partnerships in the ACTIONABLE project.
