Nattura.info is a desire for a renewal in discussion and debate on Icelandic resources; a desire for bridges between different spheres of knowledge, news, composition and productive ideas on self-sustainable evolution, on cluster of start-up companies and other ways than heavy industry
the research center is specialised in limnology
The University of Iceland Research Station in Hveragerdi, which has now recently been closed, has published great stuff on water researches and environmental researches, see for example, a report on the Aquatic fauna in Iceland, and pictures archives on the river Varma, which is a unique river of hot spring water and cold water.
Sustainable Hunting Tourism – Business Opportunity in Northern Areas?
Overview of Hunting and Hunting Tourism in Four Northern Countries: Finland, Sweden, Iceland and Canada
Anne Matilainen (Ed.)
Fragment from the Document:
HUNTING AND HUNTING TOURISM IN ICELAND –
COUNTRY OVERVIEW
Hjördís Sigursteinsdóttir, Edward H. Huijbens, Áki Ármann Jónsson, Ólöf
Harpa Jósefsdóttir, Emil Björnsson.
1. Background information
1.1 The role of hunting in the society
Hunting is generally seen as a common right, available to everyone interested in hunting. Hunting
does not have a significant role in Icelandic society. Traditionally it is seen more as a hobby than an
business opportunity. Throughout history hunting has not been a big boon for Icelandic farmers, but
Iceland was predominantly a farming community well into the twentieth century. With the advent of
urbanisation in the mid-twentieth century, city dwellers with roots in the countryside started hunting
for leisure.
Hunting in Iceland takes place both on private land, with the landowners permission, and in common
land areas. There are some species which are only hunted in special parts of the country duo to the
occurrence of the species. E.g. reindeers are only hunted in East Iceland as well as some birds are only
found in some special areas.
Iceland has a short history of hunting tourism. The activities associated with hunting are not really ac-
tual business activities and the activities that are related to the sector are scattered. There have been,
however, few experimental projects done mainly as subsidiary to nature tourism in general.
Generally the role played by hunting in rural development is slim to none, but citing the experiments
cited in 1.4. these could be monitored further in order to give an idea where hunting in Iceland might
lead.
Svartárkot (Black River Cottage), hitherto known as a sheep farm in Bárðardalur, NE Iceland, is shortly to become renowned as the site of an international centre for research and education on Icelandic culture and nature. Three courses will be run here, on the model of a general course that was successfully piloted nearby in Kiðagil in a conference in the summer of 2007. This had some 25 participants from universities worldwide who explored Icelandic nature, listened to lectures on Icelandic nature, history and culture and also enjoyed such activities as whale-watching at the summer solstice out of Húsavík under the midnight sun, as well as eating and drinking at white-night barbecues in the wilds of Svartárkot and Mývatn. The three courses of Svartárkot will be taught in the fields of cultural history, geography, and environmental studies. (more…)
CADIA, based in the University of Reykjavik, is the first artificial intelligence (A.I.) laboratory in Iceland. They conduct research in various areas of intelligent agents, with a strong emphasis on interaction an
d real-time performance. Their past and present projects include topics such as planning, games, large-scale A.I. systems, robots, humanoids and agent-based modeling. Saturday, the 15th of November, there is an Artificial Intelligence Party at the University, Ofanleiti 2, starting at 13.00, open to everyone, free entry.
Seminar on Gender and Regional Developments – Thursday, 13th of November, Háskólatorg, room XXX.
Rasmus Ole Rasmussen, director of NORS – North Atlantic Regional Studies: Re-structuring the regional perspectives: Why gender, life cycles, and global mobility matters!
Vífill Karlsson, assistant professor at the University of Akureyri. The importance of women for economic growth
Magnfríður Júlíusdóttir, assistant professor at the University of Iceland: Equality on the margins. Gender in regional policy and practice. .
Anna Karlsdóttir, assistant professor at the University of Iceland: Women and the utilization of resources. (more…)
The idea of the “cluster” is not new. But as many old ideas, it has come back, and now it seems to fertilize the dialogue on the Icelandic situation considering the possible ground for more start-up and spin-off companies. Here are few words on italian clusters from http://www.unido.org/index.php?id=o4310
The apparent vitality of small and medium size (SME) clusters in Italy led to a considerable interest in the bases of their success. The concept of industrial districts was used to capture the success of agglomerations of small firms in these areas of this country. This Italian experience gave impetus to research on industrial districts in a number of advanced country regions. From this international debate the following have emerged as the main attributes of industrial districts:
Auðlind is selling shares in Iceland’s natural resources! This year’s Christmas gift!
Enthusiasts of Iceland’s natural treasures have worked for years to establish a fund dedicated to supporting the reclamation and maintenance of the country’s natural resources.
(more…)
by Arni Einarsson