Forests protected

Norway protects 40 additional forested areas in eight counties

Photo: Randi Hausken / Flickr
A forest in Feda, Norway. The country’s goal is to protect 10 percent of its forested areas.

Pieter Wijnen
Norway Today

The decision, announced Dec. 14, is a step toward the goal of protecting 10 percent of Norwegian forested areas. In total, 87 areas have been protected measuring 65 square miles of productive forests in 2018. The sanctuaries are habitats for a large number of endangered species.

“More than 1,100 endangered species and a number of endangered habitats are found in these woods. Hundreds of insect species, fungi, and some birds rely on dead woods and old forests. It is therefore important that we protect the most important forest areas so that we contribute to improving the situation for endangered species and habitats,” Climate and Environmental Minister, Ola Elvestuen (Liberal), explains.

The recent sanctuary decision includes about 35 square miles of protected areas containing approximately 23 square miles of productive forest.

The effort on forest protection has more than doubled from the previous government period. During the first six years, the government has allocated nearly NOK 2.4 billion to forest protection, according to the ministry.

Some conservation proposals must be postponed until next year. In 2019, the grant will be continued with NOK 444 million allocated. At the same time, the commitment appropriation is tripled from NOK 116 million to NOK 351 million.

This article was originally published on Norway Today.

This article originally appeared in the December 28, 2018, issue of The Norwegian American. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (206) 784-4617.