Date:    Thu, 3 May 2001 21:27:02 +0200
From:    Brian Lucas 
Subject: Interactive map server models human impacts on wilderness in the
         Barents Region

Press release Barents Interactive Map Server:
http://maps.grida.no/barents

This interactive map server for the Euro-Arctic Barents Region displays
modeled human impact on wilderness. The model was based on maps of
railroads, roads, settlements and utilities and created in a radius out from
these features. In addition forested area was tested as a 'brake' for the
impact distance.

The GLOBIO method was implemented to set distance impacts and disturbances
generated by infrastructure development. The extent of the zone are based
upon several hundred field studies from international scientific journals.
Impacts include reduced accessibility to important grazing habitat, and
changes in predator-prey relationship as a result of infrastructure and
associated human activity.
In the advanced mode, an analysis of three different datasets was carried
out:

* DCW is an old, low-resolution global dataset
* B1000 is the result of a medium-resolution co-operation in the region
* N250 is a high-resolution Norwegian map dataset

The results exist to enable the assessment of wilderness quality in the
Barents Region and in a near future in the world. The database, and the maps
produced from it, can be used to influence environmental decision making
processes within the region. Perhaps more importantly, it can be used to
motivate decisions where the need to protect, or even recreate, pristine
areas is the prime issue.

The service has been developed by UNEP/GRID-Arendal, a United Nations
Environmental Programme (UNEP) affiliated environmental data and information
centre in Norway, which acts as the Arctic focus centre of UNEP and has
worked closely with several Arctic conservation and monitoring initiatives.

For more information, please contact:

Lars Kullerud (Polar Unit Coordinator)
Julien Rouaud (GIS Analyst)
UNEP/GRID-Arendal
Longum Park, Service Box 706
N-4808 Arendal
Phone: +47 370 35650
Fax: +47 370 35050
Mail to: kullerud@grida.no
Mail to: rouaud@grida.no