No conditions are listed either in the Resolution CM/ResDip(2012)3 on the renewal of the European Diploma, nor in the Resolution Res(67)23 on the award of the European Diploma. Hence, no conditions to be explained.

1. consider merging the Muddus National Park and the Sarek and Padjelanta National Parks into a larger site, including the whole territory of the Laponian Area World Heritage site:

This is a question to consider and discuss for the board of Laponiatjuottjudus and the Swedish Environmental protection agency (SEPA). No decision taken in 2024.

2. set up a co-ordination mechanism that covers all the national and international designations (European Diploma, World Heritage, Ramsar, Natura 2000, national parks and reserves); organize a joint international workshop with the participation of UNESCO and the Council of Europe, as appropriate:

Organizing workshops lifting these questions should be addressed to owners of the concepts: World heritage (RAÄ) and the Swedish Environmental protection agency (SEPA).

3. finalize and adopt the new management plan of the Laponian Area World Heritage site and take a rapid decision regarding the future of the Laponiatjuttjudus management organization; consider extending, without a time limit, the special government regulation on Laponiatjuttjudus:

Today Laponiatjuottjudus has six full time and two part time employees. Laponiatjuottjudus as an organization is well equipped to implement the management plan since we consist of a wide range of competence within the field staff. The future challenge is to continue the work of creating a steady platform to develop and maintain management work required to preserve and develop the Laponia World Heritage site.

The board of Laponiatjuottjudus holds regular meetings throughout the year where all parties attend, and all their decisions are made in consensus. This gives a guarantee that the work performed by the management employees is established from the joint cooperative effort of the board. Laponiatjuottjudus has been granted a new extended trial period from the Swedish Government to manage the Laponia World Heritage site until 30 June 2025. Before the end of the trial period a decision will be made by the Swedish Government if they will prolong the management of the World Heritage site in the care of Laponiatjuottjudus.

4.      continue and possibly intensify research on the impact of climate change on food availability for reindeers, reindeer herding and predator populations, and regulate the grazing intensity as appropriate:

In 2013 the Norrbotten County Administrative Board summarized the studies, which have been conducted in the forest fire area, into a report. The Muddus/Muttos ecology and fire history is well documented.

The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences continuously preform research in the fire areas. It is important to encourage people to visit the park and give the visitors a broad range of information about the whole Muddus/Muttos area, including the benefit that forest fires pose to biodiversity.

Muddus/Muttos is one of the large untouched wetlands areas in Sweden, hence it´s also represented in the NMÖV program for aquatic environments (long term environmental survey, with multiple assessment objects), owned by SLU Aqua but in close collaboration with SEPA, where climate change is one of the main issues.

Laponiatjuottjudus supports and encourages continued research into the above-mentioned issues.

5. continue compiling inventories of predators and use the results to help conserve the exceptional predator populations; monitor illegal hunting and increase the number of field staff for this purpose; accordingly, stop issuing new hunting licenses for the Wolverine and the Eurasian lynx; take appropriate measures to stop the decline of the Eurasian lynx and Wolverine populations:

Norrbotten County Administrative Board (CAB) is the Government Agency responsible for the predator’s inventories in Sweden. In the management task concerning the predator’s inventories in Laponia we are continuously working with the Sami communities and CAB.

Further, Laponiatjuottjudus have an ongoing dialogue with the Norrbotten County Ornithological association regarding inventories of different birds of prey.

Controls and exercise of authority in Sarek and Badjelánnda is performed by the police and Norrbotten County Administrative Board. Laponiatjuottjudus is cooperating with the authorities, working to maintain that visitors and inhabitants in the parks are following existing laws and regulations. We provide accessible and updated information on our website about the regulations for the National Parks. We also keep in contact with the local inhabitants as well as local tourist organizations. We work continuously providing information structure at strategical locations within the Word Heritage.

6. reconsider the mechanism of compensation paid for reindeer losses caused by large carnivores; increase compensation according to the inflation rate and increases in meat prices, as stated in the reindeer herding law:

These are issues that should be addressed to the Swedish government and the Swedish Environmental protection agency.

7. encourage research on the use of helicopters and drones, and their impact on reindeers and wildlife, and set restrictions if appropriate; reconsider the frequency of the use of six- and four-wheel drive all-terrain vehicles:

Laponiatjuottjudus supports and encourages continued research into the above-mentioned issues and have an ongoing dialogue with the decision-making authority (CAB) regarding permit licenses relating to the use of six- and four-wheel drive all-terrain vehicles.

The use of ATV (4WD and 6WD) has increased in recent years. Previously, 2-wheel offroad vehicles were used to gather reindeer, which caused minor damage compared to ATV. Laponiatjuottjudus is monitoring the effects on the nature values connected to the use of ATV in reindeer hearding, to further analyze if it is possible to prevent damage in vulnerable areas.

8. continue the survey of visitors and consider possibilities for new tourism activities, such as paragliding, base jumping, ice climbing and heli-skiing; explore ways of improving the public transportation service to the three national parks to decrease the carbon footprint of visitors:

Laponiatjuottjudus continuously maintain the boardwalks, trails, bridges, cabins and information signs. Keeping the trails accessible is important to canalize visitors and support them to visit the park in a safe way.

Laponiatjuottjudus has an ongoing dialogue with relevant authorities, such as CAB, SEPA, the Sami communities and tourism companies about the above-mentioned tourism activities. So far, no new activities have increased significantly.

9. continue to develop a centralized database of research results for the whole area or, at least, ensure easy access to the different databases that exist:

Laponiatjuottjudus have developed a basic GIS system that is available for the management to use within the organization. The development of our GIS system is a long-term work in progress that will continue during the following years. The management have not been granted access to existing systems used by the former county management. SEPA is responsible for the national environmental survey program, data holder for the different topic areas which also includes the Laponia area. Swedish University of Agricultural Science is responsible for landscape, species, fish and aquatic biota (including endangered and invasive species). Lund University is responsible for birds and butterflies. These data are both open access data and non-public data (endangered species). This way open data sources are available for everyone, and data that for some reason must be protected is closed for unauthorized access. However, certain employees at Laponiatjuottjudus have been granted access and can monitor the Laponia area.

10.  pay special attention and, if appropriate, set restrictions to the construction of technology or energy infrastructures outside of the protected areas that may have a negative impact on the reindeer herding system and the fauna, including birds, for example planned mining, existing hydro power plants, housing or wind turbines:

Laponiatjuottjudus has an ongoing dialogue with relevant authorities and stakeholders, participates in consultation meetings and provides private companies and decision-making authority with data, information and consultation statements.

11. promote the European Diploma in the information material and (particularly) in the Naturum exhibition and Ajtte Sami culture Museum in Jokkmokk; improve communication to visitors to deter them from camping at reindeer herding sites and from disturbing grazing reindeer herds:

All the cabins include signs over the European Diploma for Protected Area.

              During 2023 we resumed the education in ethical guidelines and sustainable    

              tourism, which is communicated to private individuals and companies who intend

              conduct activities in the area.

Laponiatjuottjudus allocated budget was lower in 2024 compared to 2023, due to limited governmental funding for Swedish EPA. A lower budget has meant carefully considered priorities and Laponiatjuottjudus have limited authority due to regulations.

During some periods of 2024 we have been two full-time employees short. Staff shortage has required flexibility. It has sometimes been sapping but strengthened our cohesion. We have recruited new employees and will be a full workforce from January 2025.

The trails and cabins in Muddus/Muttos is not in the “national mountain trail network”, which means no designated funding for maintenance. Funding for the trails and cabins must be financed by “the general funding for protected areas” or we need to apply separately for other funding.

The future funding is still very uncertain and varies from one year to another. The uncertainty affects the opportunities for the management and complicates the long-term perspective.

No changes of boundaries to report.

During 2024 a full-scale re-inventory has been made of all infrastructure in the park to harmonize the status and labeling systems for maintenance with CAB.

Further, the platform that constitutes the birdwatching tower was replaced with a new one.

2023 we did a pilot project which aimed to add woodchips to wearied parts of a trail, caused by using ATV. The measure is cost-effective and ecologically defensible, due to the local woodchips and because snowmobiles could deploy the material, which means minimum impact. The project has been evaluated for 2024 but needs further evaluation in the coming years.

Result of the inventories of predators performed by Norrbotten County Administrative Board and Ornithological Association in 2024:

Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus): two successful breeding’s, with four chicks in total.

Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos): no observation or successful breeding.

Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx): no observation or successful breeding.

Wolwerine (Gulo gulo): one individual tracked. No observation or successful breeding.

Brown Bear (Ursus arctos): no observation or successful breeding.

Wolf (Canis lupus): one individual tracked. No observation or successful breeding.