10548_not-searchable
/en/natur-og-miljo/statistikker/arealvern/arkiv
10548
14 per cent of Norway’s mainland protected
statistikk
2009-01-30T10:00:00.000Z
Nature and the environment;Svalbard
en
arealvern, Protected areas, national parks, nature reserves, landscape preservation areas, conservation, biotope protection, cultural monuments, Cultural Heritage Act, Nature Diversity Act, Svalbard Environmental Protection ActArea , Nature and the environment, Nature and the environment, Svalbard
false

Protected areas, 31 December 2007

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14 per cent of Norway’s mainland protected

In 2007, there were few changes in total area protected. The national parks constitute more than half of Norway’s protected area, and 50 per cent of the national park area is wilderness-like.

During the last hundred years, an extensive development of infrastructure has resulted in an increased pressure on natural areas. The Nature Conservation Act is an important tool for the authorities in safeguarding a representative selection of habitats and landscapes for future generations.

Few changes in protected area

Protected areas#1 by conservation form. Km2. 31 December 2007

Percentage protected area by county. 31 December 2007

By the end of 2007, a total of 46 553 km2, or approximately 14 per cent of Norway’s mainland area, was protected. More than half of this was national parks. We find the largest change in area among nature reserves, with a total increase of 111 km2.

Areas without major infrastructure development

Areas which are:

< 1 km from major infrastructure are not defined as areas without major infrastructure development

> 1 km from major infrastructure are defined as areas without major infrastructure development

> 5 km from major infrastructure are defined as wilderness-like

Examples of major infrastructure development are roads, railroads, major power lines, etc. An increasing exploitation of natural resources due to population growth, more consumption, technology and commerce has lead to a gradual reduction of undisturbed areas.

The latest mapping of areas without major infrastructure development was carried out by the Directorate for Nature Management in 2003.

Source: www.environment.no

Much wilderness in national parks

Less than half of the total wilderness-like area was protected in 2007. Of the total national park area, about 95 per cent was without major infrastructure development, and about half of the area was wilderness-like.

Landscape protections are weaker protections than national parks, and wilderness-like areas make up 12 per cent of the landscape protected area. Nature reserves are strong protections, but usually consist of smaller areas. Wilderness-like areas constitute only nine per cent of the total area of nature reserves.

Norway's mainland area by distance to major infrastructure development, and the percentage protected areas. 31 December 2007
  Distance from major infrastructure development
  > 5 km 1 km-5 km < 1 km
Area of Norway (per cent) 12 33 55
Protected ratio (per cent) 43 21 4

See also:

State of the Environment in Norway: http://www.environment.no/

The Nature Conservation Act: http://www.lovdata.no/

The Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority: http://www.statkart.no/

The Directorate for Nature Management: http://www.dirnat.no/

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources: http://www.iucn.org/

Area - theme page: http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/01/01/areal_en/

Tables: