誰買天涯海角一塊地？
「斯瓦巴條約」於1920年2月9日簽訂，在1925年6月14日生效。主要內容如下：
承認挪威主權對斯瓦巴群島及其領海的擁有權。
給予所有條約簽署國的公民、公司及其他團體在斯瓦爾巴特群島及其領海內享有平等的自由通航、通商及採礦的權利。
規定所有簽約國均可在群島內自由從事科學探索及研究活動。
確保群島內的居民及其財產受到平等的保護。
規定群島可用作航行、捕魚及礦業開採的用途，而不破壞自然環境。
這份條約確保了斯瓦巴群島的和平利用，並給予所有簽約國平等的權利。
北極圈私有地105億元找買家 資格限定 自由 20240514
挪威位於北極圈斯瓦巴群島的唯一一塊私人土地，將以3億歐元（台幣105億元）起標價售出。斯瓦巴是位於北極地區的群島，亦是挪威最北界的國土範圍。即將出售的是AS Kulspids 公司，該公司擁有斯瓦爾巴群島唯一的私人土地。
網路廣告中的簡短文字寫道：這是收購持有斯瓦爾巴群島最後剩餘私人土地的公司的獨特機會，該土地具有重大的環境、科學和經濟重要性。
這片土地在《斯瓦爾巴條約》中被命名為Søre Fagerfjord，位於斯匹次卑爾根島西南海岸，該群島最大的島嶼位於挪威大陸和北極之間。1920年《斯瓦爾巴條約》由46個國家簽署，包括中國、俄羅斯、印度、沙烏地阿拉伯和北韓。買方可以是批准《斯瓦爾巴條約》的國家或這些國家的公民，或在該國家合法設立的任何公司。
賣家代表律師Per Kyllingstad向彭博表示：這是買家在北極地區獲得一席之地並建立戰略立足點的唯一可能性。除了北極熊和北極狐外，沒有人居住在位於Recherchefjorden區內。1918年，AS Kulspids想要勘探煤炭和石棉，在此建造了一間小屋，卻沒有發現任何商業資源。該公司的所有者是挪威人，起標價為3億歐元。
“Foreign minister attempted to purchase land for $250million, claiming it would be a 'serious bit of real-estate' after Brexit” (The Telegraph 3 April 2021) •
“You can’t put a price on something that is unique,” said Mr.Ostreng, the polar research expert….but if you add in strategic value,” he said, “the price of this land is incalculable” (New York Times 27 September 2014 [on Svalbard property]) •
…although Svalbard has generally been an area of peaceful cooperation, its unique geographical and legal features still make it a zone of tension…of no lesser importance is Svalbard’s significant geostrategic location…(Arctic Review on Law and Politics vol.14, 2023, pp.76–82) •
The last private land at the 'gates to the Arctic' offered for sale Euronews 20240510
The 15,000 acre plot is halfway between Norway and the North Pole.It lies at the heart of a pristine wilderness which has provoked debate over climate change and is the focus of geopolitical tensions among global powers who are eager to exploit the natural resources of the Arctic region.
The last remaining privately owned land on the Svalbard archipelago in Norway, "with significant environmental, scientific and economic importance" is on sale, for €300 million.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire land on one of the world-famous Svalbard islands," Will Matthews, Head of Farms & Estates at Knight Frank told Euronews Business.
Global real estate consultancy Knight Frank, which is marketing the company holding 100% of the land, said that it is a "unique environmental, philanthropic and conservation opportunity."
The land has a strategic location and is of geopolitical interest
The geopolitical competition in the region between the United States, Russia, and China is tangible, there have been increased military operations in the region by Russia. There has also been a rise in commercial shipping through the Arctic. The diminishing sea ice, which has been attributed to climate change, opens up the possibility for exploiting more natural resources including oil, gas, and mineral deposits in the Arctic.
Svalbard has exceptional strategic importance because it is "essentially the gates to the Arctic," reads the brochure noting that the place is ideal for controlling navigation and air traffic in the Arctic Ocean, for instance.
Location, location, location
Svalbard, between mainland Norway and the North Pole, is one of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas.
Almost 3,000 people live on the nine main islands of Svalbard which has its own university (UNIS) and among other things is famous for the Svalbard Global Seed Vault.
In the past, the area depended mainly on the coal industry, but these days research, satellite data downloading and tourism have also become important supplementary industries.
- Where in Europe will the property market revive in 2024?
The land, called Søre Fagerfjord, which is up for sale now is 14,830 acres (approximately 60 sq.km), almost ten times the size of Gibraltar. It is at Wedel Jarlsberg in Western Svalbard, recognized in the Svalbard Treaty, signed in 1920. All other properties on Svalbard are owned or controlled by Norway or Russia.
Bloomberg, which reported the news first, noted that controversy erupted in 2014 when another privately owned property, holding coal mining land in the region got an offer from a Chinese buyer but the Norwegian state moved in to buy it up.
Why this is the place for 'conservation and philanthropy'
The plot offered for sale has a considerable amount of land which can be protected or developed, according to the new owner's interests.
Midway between the northern coast of Norway and the North Pole in the Arctic Ocean, approximately 60% of the archipelago is covered with glaciers. The islands feature many mountains and fjords. The archipelago has an Arctic climate, although with significantly higher temperatures than other areas at the same latitude.
Svalbard is a breeding ground for many seabirds, and is home to polar bears, reindeer, the Arctic fox, and certain marine mammals. The archipelago has 24-hour of sunlight between 20 April and 22 August.
Seven national parks and 23 nature reserves cover two-thirds of the archipelago.
"This is the ultimate investment of passion for a UHNWI with a genuine interest in conservation and future-proofing this diverse landscape,"
The temperatures in the Arctic continue to rise at three times the global annual average, and the sale comes as the Svalbard region has had less sea ice, more rain and higher temperatures,
Who can buy it?
"The sellers will sell to the highest bidder," Per Kyllingstad, a lawyer representing the sellers told Bloomberg.
The only restriction as to who can buy the private company, holding the ownership of the land is to originate from a country that ratified the Svalbard Treaty. There are almost 50 of these countries across the globe, according to Wikipedia, including Russia and China.
"We are currently speaking with a collection of ultra-high-net-worth individuals from across the globe who each have a passion for conservation and philanthropy," Will Matthews from Knight Frank told Euronews. "We are working hard to find the next custodians of this beautiful land, with the means to take action against the wider environmental factors at play, protecting the diverse flora and fauna that call these 14,800 acres of land home."
