How Norwegian researchers are using satellite images to track tourism’s environmental impact
Summary
Norwegian researchers are using satellite images to study how tourism affects the environment in the Lofoten Islands. They track changes in plant health and new trails caused by visitors to better understand tourism’s impact without installing many physical counters.Key Facts
- The Lofoten Islands in Norway attract over 1 million tourists each year.
- Tourists are drawn by natural beauty and popular hiking spots like Kvalvika beach and Reinebringen.
- Norway’s “right to roam” law allows people to hike and camp nearly anywhere, making site management difficult.
- Researchers at SALT launched the SALT Trail 2.0 project, funded by the European Space Agency, to use satellite images for monitoring.
- Satellite photos show changes in vegetation and new informal trails caused by tourist visits.
- These images help measure environmental damage by comparing changes over time.
- The project aims to reduce the need for physical counters and improve understanding of visitor impact on nature.
- Data from apps like Strava do not fully explain how tourism affects the environment, so satellite monitoring offers new insights.
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