Land use - National Responses (Norway)

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) encourages all countries to set aside at least 15 per cent of all types of habitats as protected areas. If Norway’s current conservation plans are implemented by 2010, more than 15 per cent of mainland Norway will be protected under the Nature Conservation Act. These are the current protection plans:

When the nationwide national park plan is fully implemented, the 15 per cent protection level will be achieved for mountain habitats, and a more representative selection of fjord and coastal areas will be protected.

In 2003, the Norwegian parliament gave its support to expand protection of forested areas. A long-term programme to encourage landowners to protect areas of forest on a voluntary basis is in progress. The first part of a protection plan for forests belonging to the state-owned enterprise Statskog was adopted in 2005. As a result, about 1.7 per cent of Norway’s area of productive forest is now protected.

Implementation of the county protection plans for mires, wetlands, deciduous broad-leaved forests, rich deciduous forests and important coastal sites for seabirds will result in the protection of more coastal and lowland areas. The implementation of the county protection plans were to be completed in 2007 and the national park plan by 2010.

Elsewhere, the most important tool for managing land use is the Planning and Building Act. It provides a framework for safeguarding the natural environment, landscapes and opportunities for outdoor recreation.