Arctic Biodiversity Congress 2018 Preliminary Program
Plenary program subject to change. Rooms have yet to be assigned.
Six main themes guide the flow and organization of the Congress. These overarching themes will run concurrently throughout the Congress and will form the backbone for the Congress. These themes were identified in the Arctic Biodiversity Assessment recommendations for policy.
Visa requirements
Please note that foreign nationals who wish to travel to Norway must, as a rule, have a visa.
Nationals from countries with exemption agreements can stay in Norway for up to 90 days without a visa. Norway has visa exemption agreements with some countries, including the following Arctic Council members and observers: Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and the USA. Some diplomatic, service and special passports also give exemptions from the visa requirement for official assignments.
The type of visa you require depends on the purpose of your visit. The conditions for obtaining a visa vary depending on the type of visa and the applicant. General information is provided by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration. More detailed information on visa requirements can be obtained from the nearest Norwegian foreign service mission.
The process of obtaining visa documents may take 4-6 weeks, so please start the visa application process early!
Any person who applies for a SCHENGEN-visa must present proof of a valid travel and sickness insurance. The insurance must be valid in all the Schengen countries, and the minimum coverage must be EUR 30 000. Documentation of the insurance must be presented once the applicant is informed that a visa will be granted. A visa cannot not be issued without such an insurance.
Please contact the Congress Secretariat if you need an official letter of participation at the Arctic Biodiversity Congress. Such a letter may be of help in your preparations to obtain visa documents.
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LAVVU1: Nomadic herders lavvu dialogue
Join Arctic youth and Indigenous leaders in the lavvu as they discuss observations of change and solutions for sustainable use of Arctic resources. LEARN MORE
Chairs: Svein Mathiesen, International Centre for Reindeer Husbandry; Katherine Johnsen, GRID Arendal; Gunn-Britt Retter, Saami Council
Location: Outside Lappia Hall
Date: Thursday October 11, 2018
Time: 10:30-12:30
Activity: Bird nesting boxes and insect hotels
Join staff from Metsähallitus, Metsähallitus Forestry Ltd and Science centre Pilke to construct bird boxes and insect hotels. Participants can take their boxes and hotels home with them, or they can donate them local schools, who will take them into the forests and monitor their use. LEARN MORE.
Chairs: Timo Tahvonen with Science centre Pilke inspirers, Metsähallitus
Location: Outside Lappia Hall
Date: Tuesday October 9-Thursday October 11, 2018
Time: 12:00-15:00, while supplies last
The form and content of the Congress program is under development, with guidance from the Program Advisory Committee, but is expected to include the above elements. In order to allow for some adjustments, including further input from the Program Advisory Committee, Congress organizers reserve the right to make changes to the preliminary program. Such changes will be posted on this Congress website.