Municipal environmental management, 2005-2006

Motor traffic in uncultivated areas is banned in principle. However, under the Motor Traffic and Environment Act, local government authorities may grant exemptions from this rule and allow motor traffic for certain purposes. No data on actual traffic are available, but KOSTRA provides information on exemptions granted by local government authorities.

Despite the reduction in the number of exemptions granted, 92 per cent of applications were granted exemption in 2006, compared to 84 per cent in 2005.

Municipal land conservation

The conservation of areas for environmental purposes is generally regulated by legal acts administered by central government. But the Planning and Building Act gives municipalities the opportunity to protect areas of special value against development. In 2006, about 11 per cent of all plans adopted contained areas protected by the municipality. This is about the same level as in previous years.

For general information on KOSTRA, see http://www.ssb.no/english/subjects/00/00/20/kostra_en/ . More detailed tables on the subject will be available in English on 15 June.

See also: Land use planning in municipalities and counties, preliminary figures 2005 .

¹ Corrected 27.03.2007 at 13:00 p.m.)

Tables:

• Table 1 Processing of applications for exemptions under the Act relating to motor traffic on uncultivated land and in water courses [Corrected 27 March 2007 at 13:00 p.m.]
• Table 2 No. of plans relating to municipal preservation of cultural heritage and protection of nature
• Table 3 Recreational areas, tour and biking tracks
• Table 4 Municipal expenses, income and investments within recration in urban areas (function 335) and nature management and outdoor recreation (function 360). 1 000 NOK
• Table 5 Municipal expenses, revenues and investments within protection of cultural heritage (function 365). 1 000 kr
• Table 6 Gross operating expenses, operating revenues and investments in outdoor recreation (function 716). County authorities. 1 000 NOK
• Table 7 Gross operating expenses, operating revenues and investments in cultural heritage (function 750). County authorities. 1 000 NOK