News on Kulspids April 2025

Svalbard – the property Søre Fagerfjord

The shareholders of AS Kulspids, the holding company owning the property Søre Fagerfjord on Svalbard, the last private land on the archipelago, 15,000 pristine acres of flatland, shoreline, glaciers and mountains, are in the process of selling their shares in the company.

Such sale is taking place by the establishing of a custodianship structure and a collaborative climate diplomacy around the High North. The shareholders are in the process of bringing in a strong and unique group of co-owners, including global environmental entities, youth organizations, indigenous groups and global foundations – to revert to the root principles of the Svalbard Treaty, uniting responsible and long term focused stakeholders to come together to increase the protection of one of our planet’s most critically vulnerable regions. The custodianship has attracted great interest and willingness to commit amongst the most powerful and influenced organizations worldwide.

In parallel with the process the owners are establishing a philanthropic foundation and a regenerative fund. Approximately half of the revenue of Euro 300 mill from the sale will go into this fund, a huge contribution by the sellers.

The philosophy of a seven-generation custodianship model forms the basis for the value based ownership on behalf of future generations of wildlife and humans. The initiative – named Guardians of the Arctic – will be a take on “reversed colonialism” to help protect the Arctic future – allocating ownership back to those best equipped to act as the “grownups in the room”, bringing long term-ism, wisdom and responsibility to the table in this rapidly melting geopolitical hotspot.

Birgit M. Liodden, a minority shareholder of AS Kulspids and a well known climate, ocean and arctic campaigner, has been an instigator, and the custodianship model has formed part of the sellers considerations from the very beginning. Liodden points out the unique opportunity for mobilizing global philanthropy and climate diplomacy lead from Svalbard anchored in the land custodianship.

“At some points in life you have the opportunity based on your assets and what you have inherited to make a difference. You can punch above your weight, be bold, trigger new mindsets and connect