In September 2022, a group of experts with diverse backgrounds got together to share their knowledge and insights in co-creation of Wildfire Shared Arctic Variable (SAV). This first expert panel meeting took place in Arctic Space Centre in Sodankylä, Finland with workshop participants Janne Näkkäläjärvi , Jussi Hannukari, Mika Aromäki, Timo Ryyppö, Anni Kröger, Mikko Strahlendorff and Saara Lilja. The main goal of the meeting was to initiate the discussion about the theme Wildfire SAV with indigenous and local points of views. Wildfire SAV is being developed in Arctic PASSION together with Arctic wildfire preparedness project which supports the local efforts in Finland.
Janne Näkkäläjärvi: Reindeer herder, Sámi Development manager in Sámi Education Institute, Enontekiö)
Saara Lilja: PhD. expert in arctic resilience cocreation and networking, Emergenssi Ltd.)
Mika Aromäki: Expert in reindeer husbandry and the Sámi people, teacher, forester, in Sámi Education Institute
Timo Ryyppö: PhD. Satellite data Group leader, Finnish Meteorological Institute
Jussi Hannukari: Fire chief of Eastern rescue area, health and safety representative, Lapland rescue service
Anni Kröger: Early Career Researcher, Finnish Meteorological Institute
Mikko Strahlendorff: Space Adviser, Finnish Meteorological Institute
Shared Arctic Variables are co-defined taking into account global, regional, indigenous and local voices and interests, hence the ”shared” in their name. Ideally the point is to share knowledge and identify gaps and needs, from all mentioned perspectives, to better our understanding of variety of Arctic themes ranging f.ex. from Wildfire to Sea Ice and Permafrost. The figure below illustrates the guiding principles for SAV, highlighting the equal input of Arctic Indigenous communities (red), regional and local stakeholders (blue), and global networks (green).
In Finland’s two-day SAV workshop, to kick-off discussion, every panelist answered the key question from their standpoint: Where does the Sàmi community/Sodankylä municipality/Climate change modelling collide with wildfire? Based on that, the SAV process was continued with determining the main themes under Wildfire SAV. The key issues were where wildfire occurs and what kind of knowledge is important about the fuel: ignition place, soil moisture, prescribed burning and important infrastructure or nature that is not allowed to burn (”where burning is forbidden”).
During the SAV process, trust, dialogue and common language were raised as important starting points and pillars of successful discussion. Finland’s SAV meeting was held in Finnish, a common language to all the participants. Many interesting related topics were talked about, including for example a project led by the Sámi Education Institute called Dialogues and Encounters in the Arctic which purpose is to initiate dialogue between the Arctic Indigenous peoples and researchers on challenges affecting the Arctic. The first expert panel meeting was inspiring and we are looking forward to continuing this work in the future meetings!
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