DNA analyses are becoming an increasingly important method in research and nature management. To meet an increased demand from government and industry, the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) today opened NINAGEN, a national centre for conservation and biodiversity genetics in Trondheim.

This year, a major campaign is being launched in northwest Russia aimed at preventing the spread of alien species to Russian parts of the Arctic. Scientists fear that seeds, insects and parasites will establish themselves in the vulnerable northern regions, and ask travelers to take action.

The Scandinavian and Finnish brown bear populations are among the largest in Europe but were until recently separated. A new study by Norwegian, Swedish, and Finnish researchers demonstrates that connectivity has been restored with decent exchange of individuals and genes between countries.