Access Nationalpark

Executive Order & Access , NationalPark of North and Northeast Greenland.

Most passenger traffic to and from North and Northeast Greenland today goes by air .There are two actual gateways , both near the National Park . One is the airport at Constable Point , situated at Jameson Land , municipality of Ittoqqortoormiit and the other is Pituffik ( Thule Air Base) in the North Western part of Greenland .
There are regular air services to both airports , but from this point the traveller must charter his own air craft or – if the starting point is Constable Point in the summertime – a boat from the Tourist Office in Ittoqqortoormiit .
With a written permission from the Greenlandic and the Danish authorities it might be possible to use the sea ice , a few natural gravel strips and the airstrips of Mestersvig , Zackenberg and Daneborg for landing sites at certain seasons of the year .
The National Park is administered by the Home Rule Authorities of Greenland , who deals with the applications for the coming summer season . Those who wants to visit the National Park must write for a special application form from the Greenlandic department for nature & environment , link to website HERE.
The National Park is under Greenlandic jurisdiction and this is being maintained by the Sirius Sledge Patrol.

Executive order National Park :

Executive Order no. 7 of 17 June 1992 from the Greenland Home Rule Authority concerning the National Park in North and East Greenland, as amended by Executive Order no. 16 of 5 October 1999
In accordance with § 16, Sec. 2, in Act of Landsting no. 11 of November 12th 1980 concerning Nature Preservation the following is established:

Chapter I

General regulations
§ 1
The purpose of the National Park is to conserve the wilderness of the region and at the same time allow research and public admission. Protection of landscapes, flora, wildlife, prehistoric remains and other cultural relics of the past is the overall objective.
Sec. 2 The public is granted admission provided that there is compliance with the interests as mentioned in Sec. 1 or with other special considerations.

Chapter II

Fishing and hunting
§ 2
All hunting is forbidden, cf. however §§ 4 and 22.
Sec. 2 Sport fishing with rod or jig is the only legal means of fishing.
§ 3
Spring-guns and traps of any kind can not legally be taken into or possessed inside the National Park. Firearms and other kinds of weapons may be imported or possessed only with individual permission to do so from the Chief Constable. Stipulations in the second paragraph do not apply to persons on traditional hunting trips in the area (cf. § 22) or to personnel stationed in the National Park.
§ 4
Personnel at the stations mentioned in § 26, can - for their own consumption - legally fish as well as shoot seals, Arctic Hare, and Ptarmigan, though they must comply with the current wildlife conservation regulations for Ittoqqortoormiit (Scoresbysund) municipality.
Sec. 2. Personnel at Mesters Vig is allowed to fish only.
Sec. 3. In accordance with Sec. 1 and 2, the Greenland Home Rule Authority can require reports on the hunt(s) as well as specimens for scientific purposes. The skins of legally killed seals can be exported from Greenland.
§ 5
In case a protected species is killed in alleged self-defence, the skin and the skull must be thoroughly prepared and submitted to the Greenland Home Rule Authority together with a report of the incident to be submitted to the Chief Constable for evaluation.

Chapter III

Visits, travels etc.
§ 6
Mammals and birds, their breeding sites and nests must not be disturbed, harassed, or provoked, and eggs must not be removed. New species, including domestic animals, must not be introduced.
Sec. 2. In spite of the stipulations outlined in Sec. 1 sledge dogs for the use of personnel at the stations mentioned in § 26 can be imported.
§ 7
It is illegal to camp at or near the natural breeding, foraging, moulting, or resting sites of mammals and birds, or near their migration routes.
§ 8
The Greenland Home Rule Authority can, for scientific purposes, grant permission to band or tag birds and mammals.
§ 9
Collection of plants, berries, insects, and other invertebrates as well as minerals is permitted if resale is not intended. Plants with roots must not be collected without special permission from the Greenland Home Rule Authority. New plant species must not be imported.
§ 10
Drift wood or other non-fossilised plant or animal material, e.g. skulls, antlers, horns, and bones, must not be removed from the site without special permission from the Greenland Home Rule Authority.
§ 11
Outside the permanent stations the use of off-road motorised vehicles is illegal. Motorised vehicles may, however, be used on ice or on a firm snow cover. All use of motorised vehicles is prohibited in areas dedicated as special conservation zones.
Sec. 2. At Mesters Vig the use of motorised vehicles, as mentioned in Sec. 1, is permitted only in the area between Antarctic Havn, Kap Petersén, Haslum Øer, and Drømmebugten.
§ 12
It is illegal to leave waste or contaminating products on land, in lakes, rivers, the ocean, or on the lake ice, sea ice, or glacier ice. Waste or contaminat- ing products must be brought back to the permanent stations or ships for destruction or removal.
§ 13
Flying over land, fjords, or the ocean at an altitude of less than 500 m above surface is allowed only if previously arranged with the Greenland Home Rule Authority. Landing by aircraft or by boat and air drops of depots are illegal without specific permission from the Greenland Home Rule Authority.
Sec. 2. Low level flying, landing by aircraft or boat, or air dropping of depots will not require a permission (cf. sec. 1) if the activities are necessary for the operation of the permanent stations (cf. § 26), or are essential in other respects to the tasks of public authorities.

§ 14
Establishment of new stations and cabins or other installations is allowed only if previously arranged with the Greenland Home Rule Authority.

Chapter IV

Protection of fresh water
§ 15
Stream beds must not be altered.
Sec. 2. Lakes, ponds or parts thereof must not be filled up. The banks must not be damaged and the water level must not be altered, cf. however § 28.

Chapter V

Prehistoric and historic remains
§ 16
Prehistoric and historic monuments and discoveries of cultural or historical interest are protected in accordance with "Greenland Parliament Ordinance no. 4 of 18 May 1990 on the Museum and Archive Department".
Sec. 2. For the National Park, the following additional rules apply:
a. All cairns and cairn messages, regardless of age and origin, are protected.
b. All monuments have a protected zone of 100 m around them. Neither the remains nor the surroundings may be altered without permission.
c. The conservation stipulations also include all buildings from this century which are not being used.
§ 17
Discoveries of any kind, whether adjacent to a visible monument or not, must be left intact, cf. "Greenland Parliament Ordinance no. 4 of 18 May 1990 on the Museum and Archive Department".
Sec. 2. In spite of the regulation in Sec. 1, objects can be removed if there is an impending risk that these objects will be completely or partially damaged. The scene of the find must be carefully documented, and the documentation together with the object must be delivered no later than one month after leaving the National Park. Information on the removal of discoveries must be reported to the Greenland National Museum & Archive before leaving the National Park.
§ 18
As per 'Greenland Parliament Ordinance no. 4 of 18 May 1990 on the Museum and Archive Department', cf. § 16, permission is required to export from Greenland objects originating prior to 1945, and which are of Greenlandic origin or of special importance in enlightening the Greenlandic cultural history. This prohibition is in effect in the National Park covering all objects regardless of their age, cf. however § 17.
§ 19
Natural objects which because of their age, scientific value, or rarity, represent a particular value to the Greenland society, must not be exported from Greenland without a permit from the Greenland Home Rule Authority.
Sec. 2. Regulations in Sec. 1 do not apply to 1) institutions officially co-operating and collaborating with the Greenland National Museum & Archive as well as 2) scientific projects approved by the Greenland Home Rule Authority.

Chapter VI

Zoning
§ 20
In the National Park special protection zones are designated. Within these zones access and activities will be regulated using the criteria below:
a. Zone 1: Valuable and especially vulnerable area.
b. Zone 2: Important and vulnerable area.
c. Zone 3: Interesting locality.
d. Zone 4: Ecologically important open water area, incl. polynia.
Sec. 2. The Greenland Home Rule Authority has established definite demarcation of, and rules for, admission to the zones and sectors mentioned in Sec. 1.
[Danish Polar Center's note:
A zone is an area holding exceptional natural values, prehistoric remains, living resources, or other resources and structures that require special precautions taken by visitors to the given area in order to safeguard the protective status]

Chapter VII

Admission and control arrangements
§ 21
Persons permitted to enter the National Park are:
a. persons with permanent residence in Avanersuaq (Thule) and Ittoqqortoormiit (Scoresbysund) municipalities and with close connection to the Greenlandic society,
b. persons performing duties for public authorities, and
c. persons who work at the stations.
Sec. 2. Persons who are not mentioned in Sec. 1 a-c must obtain a permit from the Greenland Home Rule Authority for admission to the National Park, cf. § 23.
§ 22
The persons mentioned in § 21, Sec. 1a are authorised to conduct traditional hunting in the National Park, under compliance with wildlife conservation regulations for the municipality of Ittoqqortoormiit, and pending that they possess a valid certificate stating that hunting is their primary livelihood.
Sec. 2. Traditional hunting is defined as hunting on the sea ice and at sea by dog sledge, kayak, or motor boat, leaving from and returning to the home municipality. Muskox hunting is not allowed, but if there is a need to supply dog food a maximum of 1 Muskox per sledge team can be legally killed. The harvested animal(s) shall preferably be a male. The hunter's stay in the Park must not be of a permanent or semi-permanent character, he cannot seek support from the stations or from any expeditions, and he must not be paid to accompany anybody or be transported by anybody who does not fulfil the stipulations in § 21, Sec. 1a.
Sec. 3. Persons who fall with the category mentioned in Sec. 1 and who are permanent residents in Ittoqqortoormiit municipality, must – prior to the initiation of a hunting trip into the National Park – inform the Municipal Board of their name, date for the start of the trip, planned routes of travelling, and anticipated date of return. Following the return the Municipal Board shall further be informed of the actual date of the termination of the trip, exact routes of travelling, and the hunting success, incl. number and sex of killed Muskoxen, if any, and the details relating to the killing. The Municipal Board can decide to refuse hunters the permit to conduct traditional hunting trips in the National Park.
§ 23
Application for admission to the National Park as per § 21, Sec. 2, must contain information on the purpose of the visit, intended activity area, a list of participants, expected duration of the visit, as well as other information the Greenland Home Rule Authority may deem pertinent. One must comply with the stipulations in § 4 in the "Ministry for Greenland Order of 22 February 1967, as altered by Order of 21 May 1976, Concerning Travels to and in Greenland".
Sec. 2. The Greenland Home Rule Authority can impose any appropriate stipulations for admission to the National Park.
§ 24
The National Park is administered by the Greenland Government (Landsstyret).
§ 25
A permit to preliminary investigation, exploration, and exploitation of mineral resources in the National Park can be granted in accordance with the stipulations mentioned in the "Law of Mineral Resources in Greenland", pending comments from the "Directorate for the Environment and Nature" concerning special stipulations relating to the individual permit. For the "Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland" and any other publicly authorized institution operating within the National Park, stipulations are issued in a similar way.

Chapter VIII

Permanent stations
§ 26
The following stations are included under permanent stations:
Mesters Vig Airport
Ella Ø
Daneborg
Danmarkshavn
Station Nord
Kap Moltke
Brønlundhus.
Sec. 2. A permanent station includes all buildings and facilities necessary for its operation, incl. lakes and rivers for drinking water supply, harbour, approach zones and air strips on land, lake ice and sea ice, dumps, and the commonly used roads or tracks to the above mentioned localities.
§ 27
Building of new runways or other large installations that may signifi- cantly change the topography or the ecological balance in the local area must be approved by the Greenland Home Rule Authority.
§ 28
The stipulations in § 15 concerning protection of fresh water, can be overridden so far as the operation of the station makes it necessary.
§ 29
Garbage and waste products from the station areas which are not disposed of or removed must be stored at special dumps that will prevent the disposed material from being scattered.
Sec. 2. New dumps must be approved by the Greenland Home Rule Authority.

Chapter IX

Sanctions and Implementation
§ 30
Violators of the stipulations in § 2, § 3, 1st and 2nd paragraph, § 5, sec. 1, § 6, § 9, 2nd and 3rd paragraph, §§ 10-15, § 16, sec. 2, §§ 17-18, § 19, sec. 1 and 2, § 21, sec. 2, and § 22, sec. 2 and 3 may be fined.
§ 31
This order takes effect at 1 July 1992 rescinding "Order no. 16 of 16 June 1987, as altered by Order of 30 September 1989, Concerning the National Park in North and East Greenland".

The Greenland Home Rule Authority, 17 June 1992.
Ove Rosing Olsen / Torben Cordtz
Amended by Executive Order no. 16 of 5 October 1999, taking effect at 1 December 1999.
Alfred Jakobsen / Søren Hald Møller