Rich local knowledge despite high transience in an Arctic community experiencing rapid environmental change

Environmental monitoring, while crucial for understanding environmental change, is often costly, limited in scope, and lacks the subjective understanding provided by local knowledge. Local ecological knowledge (LEK), gained through extensive personal interaction with the environment, offers a multifaceted and relational understanding of environmental changes. Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), a subset of LEK, is increasingly recognized in environmental monitoring and management, especially in the Arctic. However, the 'localness' of TEK has been debated, and LEK in non-Indigenous Arctic regions often remains ignored. The study addresses the challenge of gathering knowledge in increasingly transient societies, questioning whether high mobility undermines rich community knowledge generation. It explores whether place attachment can compensate for transience in fostering environmental knowledge and contributing to community science initiatives. The authors investigate if community science methods can effectively gather rich local knowledge in Svalbard, a climate change hotspot with a highly transient population, and to examine the role of place attachment in this process.

The literature review examines the limitations of traditional environmental monitoring and the potential of local and traditional ecological knowledge to supplement scientific data. It discusses the challenges of defining 'community' in a globally connected world characterized by high mobility and translocality. The review highlights the changing concept of place attachment, arguing that mobility can strengthen, rather than weaken, bonds with a place. The limitations of viewing community as solely based on residential location are discussed, advocating for a more geographically flexible understanding of community that incorporates place attachment and the experiences of transient populations. The review also highlights the importance of considering the emotional connections and shared responsibility within communities, as these can contribute significantly to community science initiatives. The authors discuss the concept of community science (or citizen science), its potential to bridge the gap between science and practice, and its ability to enrich scientific understanding by incorporating diverse perspectives.

The study employed a mixed-methods approach combining various community science tools to gather a comprehensive understanding of environmental changes in Svalbard. A Maptionnaire survey, a public participatory geographical information system (PPGIS), was used to collect location-specific observations of environmental changes from a broad range of participants, including current and former residents, and visitors. The platform allowed participants to map observations, connect text, stories, images, and files to specific points on a map. Nine broad categories, informed by Svalbard's existing environmental monitoring programs and the CLEO initiative, were used to guide participant contributions. The survey also included a brief questionnaire to capture the diverse relationships people have with Svalbard. Focus group interviews were conducted with long-term residents, returning residents, and veteran tourists/explorers to gather narrative-based observations and reflections on change. Cognitive mapping, a participatory modelling technique, was used to visually represent participants' understandings of complex ecosystem interactions and the relationships among environmental variables. Kumu software helped visualize the complex interconnections perceived by participants. The combination of these methods aimed to capture a wide range of perspectives and experiences related to environmental change in Svalbard. The research questions addressed were: (1) can rich local knowledge, using community science methodology, be gathered in a place characterized by a high level of transience? And (2) what is the role of place attachment therein?

The Maptionnaire survey yielded 460 observations from across a large area of Svalbard, despite the majority of participants residing in Longyearbyen. Observations covered various environmental aspects, with 'snow and ice' being the most frequently reported category. Changes included glacier retreat, permafrost thawing, increased landslides and avalanches, altered river courses, changes in vegetation and insect populations, and altered wildlife distribution (reindeer, polar bears, geese). Focus group interviews added 126 further accounts, largely corroborating the Maptionnaire findings and providing rich qualitative details. The demographic profile of participants (Table 1) showed a balance between genders, ages, and affiliations. The study showed that observations were frequently linked to participants' movements through the landscape, highlighting the importance of mobility in knowledge generation. Analysis revealed a mismatch between the locations of formal scientific monitoring and the areas frequently visited and observed by the community. The study showed a significant concern for safety and security due to environmental changes affecting mobility (less stable sea ice, crevasses, etc.). The cognitive maps effectively visualized the interconnectedness of observations and narratives, revealing a holistic understanding of the Svalbard ecosystem and demonstrating the role of place attachment in shaping this understanding. The study highlighted gaps in scientific monitoring, particularly regarding safety-relevant aspects in areas frequently traversed by the community. The findings also indicated societal interest in monitoring elements crucial for safety and security.

The study successfully demonstrated that community science methods can effectively gather rich local knowledge even in highly transient communities. The findings support the idea that place attachment plays a significant role in generating and sustaining environmental knowledge. The geographically dispersed observations from the Maptionnaire highlight the limitations of relying solely on geographically fixed monitoring sites. The integration of various community science methods proved crucial in capturing a rich and multifaceted understanding of environmental changes and their impacts on the community. The study emphasizes the need for a less localist approach to community science, recognizing the knowledge generated through diverse interactions with and attachments to the environment. The findings suggest that integrating local knowledge into scientific monitoring can enhance both the quantity and quality of data, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of environmental change.

This study confirms that rich local knowledge can be gathered in a transient community through the use of a combination of community science methods. The significant role of place attachment in knowledge generation was highlighted, indicating that mobility and transience do not necessarily hinder the development of valuable insights. The results call for incorporating local knowledge into environmental monitoring programs in Svalbard and other similar regions. Future research should focus on developing more integrated monitoring frameworks that incorporate both scientific and community-based data collection methods, enhancing data quality and facilitating community participation in decision-making regarding environmental management and risk mitigation.

The study's findings might not be fully generalizable to all transient communities. The specific methods used, and the strong engagement from participants in Svalbard might have influenced the results. The reliance on self-reported data, although enriching, could introduce bias or inaccuracies. The study primarily focused on a specific area in Svalbard and may not completely reflect the perspectives of all residents, visitors, or sub-groups within the community. Future research could explore further methodological enhancements to address these limitations.