NORDMAB

Practical Information |Register for the NordMAB | 

The program may be subject to change. 

Dates: 26–28 May 2025
Location: Ballstad, Vestvågøy, Lofoten, Norway
Venue: Kræmmervika Havn
Note: For any sign-ups after May 10, please send us an email to check if there is still room at the venue.

Day 1: Arrival and Welcome (Monday, 26 May)

Midday
12:00–18:00: Participant Arrival
Check-in and welcome package, including program overview.

Evening
19:30–21:00: Welcome Dinner at Kræmmervika Havn (the venue)

Locally sourced, sustainable cuisine.

Day 2: Workshops and Excursion (Tuesday, 27 May)

Time Schedule: 08:45–17:00

Morning

08:45 Opening speech with Lofoten Youth Council (Ungdomsråd)

09:00–12:00: Workshops at Venue

09:00–10:00: Get to know each other session, with MUNN. 

10:15–12:30: Workshop 1: International collaborations within the NordMAB network, such as "Supported by Nature" and MAB-LABII. Led by project leader Johanna MacTaggart, Østersjøen, Sweden.

Interactive Sharing: Workshops include opportunities for participants to share regional experiences.

Lunch Break
12:30–13:30: Networking Lunch
Break with locally inspired dishes to encourage informal networking.

Afternoon
13:30–14:45: Workshop 2: Engaging with Youth Communities and Beyond. Contributions from Norwegian youth groups and the International Youth Forum in Sweden.

15:00–18:00: Excursion: Guided bus tour

Trip to Ballstad Væreiermuseum to hear about the rich history from the fishing village, and the history of cod and stock fish.

Visit a local wool farm, Lofoten Wool, and hear about their sustainable practices of bringing wool production back to a local level and using wild sheep wool, as well as hand color the wool with locally picked plants and flowers.

Evening
19:00–21:00: Dinner at Kræmmervika Havn (the venue)

Social dinner with interactive networking activities, including "superpower" name tags to highlight participant skills and expertise.

Day 3: Collaboration and Strategic Planning (Wednesday, 28 May)

Time Schedule: 09:00–13:00

Morning

09:00–10:00: Theme tables for discussion of different topics. Suggestions for topics will be gathered from participants earlier during the conference.

10:10–12:00: Workshop 3: Innovative Approaches to Sustainable Tourism in Biosphere Reserves: 

Closed for Maintenance: Lessons from the Faroe Islands by Alda Egilstrød, UNESCO Trails by Mads Wolff, Sustainable projects in Lofoten by Ørjan Arntzen, and Management Plan by Natasha Hutchison. Kjersti Isdal will host this workshop.

Final lunch and closing

12:00–13:00: Closing lunch for NordMAB with a speech by the Mayor of Vestvågøy kommune, Jonny Finstad

Afternoon
13:00–18:00: Departures from Leknes Airport. Organized transportation from Ballstad to the airport.

Alternative Activities:

See other column on webpage for more info, we have added suggestions for activities for those who will be staying longer in Lofoten.

Thank you to our sponsors