Designated terrestrial protected areas

By the end of 2022, protected areas covered 17.7% of the Norwegian mainland. In addition, 68% and almost 100% of the land area on Svalbard and Jan Mayen, respectively, are protected. The protective coverage of the country’s ecoregions varies significantly. Mountain areas are largely protected, in contrast with only 5.3% of forests. The effective management of protected areas is a decisive factor in achieving conservation aims. Reducing the principal negative influencing factors, such as the effects of overgrowth, invasive alien species and human visitation, is challenging. National authorities implement comprehensive measures to reduce or remove conservation threats, and in many areas conditions have improved. Nature restoration, such as the removal of invasive alien species in forests, has produced good results. Other challenges include fostering sufficient local political support for conservation issues and prioritising other sectors’ interests above environmental considerations.