Over the past thirty years we have witnessed a demand for resources such as minerals, oil, and gas, which is only set to increase. This book examines the relationship between Arctic communities and extractive resource development. With insights from leading thinkers in the field, the book examines this relationship to better understand what, if anything, can be done in order for the development of non-renewable resources to be of benefit to the long-term sustainability of these communities. The contributions synthesize circumpolar research on the topic of resource extraction in the Arctic, and highlight areas that need further investigation, such as the ability of northern communities to properly use current regulatory processes, fiscal arrangements, and benefit agreements to ensure the long-term sustainability of their culture communities and to avoid a new path dependency This book provides an insightful summary of issues surrounding resource extraction in the Arctic, and will be essential reading for anyone interested in environmental impact assessments, globalization and Indigenous communities, and the future of the Arctic region.

Cruises are the primary form of tourism in the Polar Regions and cruise ship tourism in both the Arctic and Antarctic is expanding rapidly. The industry has moved beyond its infancy, and is now entering a maturing phase with increased numbers and types of vessels, more demanding routes, and more regular and predictable patterns of activity. The increase in cruise activities, and the associated risks of accidents, as well as the potential and actual impacts of the large numbers of tourists in the polar regions bring with it management challenges for sustainable use of these regions. This book discusses critically the issues around environmental and social sustainability of the cruise industry in Polar Regions. Authors from Canada, USA, Europe, Australia and New Zealand are experts in their respective fields and take an innovative, critical and at times controversial approach to the subject.

This problem analysis describes a variety of human-resource interaction issues & identifies related social science R&D needs that serve as the foundation for the Alaska Communities & Forest Environments Team within the Pacific Northwest Research Station. The document lays out a research agenda that focuses on understanding relations between human communities & natural resources. The agenda is divided into four sub-topics: (1) communities in transition; (2) collaborative planning & stewardship; (3) sustainable tourism & outdoor recreation; & (4) cultural orientations to & uses & values of natural resources, including traditional knowledge, indigenous property rights, & tenure systems. Illustrations.

In 1997, scientists at the Pacific Northwest Research Station initiated several social science studies in response to information gaps identified while developing the Tongass Land Management Plan. Results presented here summarize findings from studies of demographic trends and tourism trends in the region based on data available through 2002. Demographic trends suggest that despite having many unique geographic, climatic, and physical characteristics, southeast Alaska exhibits many social conditions and trends similar to those statewide, as well as in the greater United States and nonmetropolitan United States. Much variation exists at the community level, however, when measuring change in population and income in southeast Alaska. In the last decade, tourism has been one of the fastest growing components of Alaskas economy and an important source of export-based income. Natural resource management and use in Alaska will affect and will be affected by trends in tourism growth and activities.

"This report examines the growth and development of the tourism industry in Haines, Alaska, and its effects on community life and land use. It also describes the development of cruise-based tourism and its relation to shifts in local social and economic structures and patterns of land use, especially local recreation use trends. A multisited ethnographic approach was used featuring participant observation and in-depth interviews with local residents, cruise line industry personnel, and visitors to southeast Alaska. Results show that tourism brings both positive and negative changes to Alaska communities. Data from this report can assist Forest Service planners to identify factors involved in the relation between tourism growth and community well-being. It also may assist small southeast Alaska communities in decisionmaking related to tourism development