GRID-Arendal : State of the Environment Norway - Cultural and natural landscapes

Wilderness in Norway 1900-1994

Source : Brun M / SKMe: Norwegian Mapping Authority - Environmental Unit.

Wilderness territory is defined as areas lying more than 5 kilometres from roads, railways and regulated water-courses. In 1994 power lines and tractor tracks have been included.

The total area of wilderness territory in Norway has been greatly reduced over the past 100 years. The largest change has occurred in the lowlands of southern Norway, where larger areas of wilderness are virtually non-existent. The reduction and fragmentation of wilderness territory characterizes most mountainous areas as well. The wilderness area represents 12% of Norways total land area (not including Spitsbergen and Jan Mayen).

The largest undisturbed areas of wilderness territory outside of national parks are currently found north of Trøndelag and Finnmarksvidda along the border to our neighboring countries.

As more and more wilderness is lost to human expansion and development, the need to preserve representative areas for future generations becomes increasingly meaningful and important.

Wetlands in Norway

Source : SKMe: Norwegian Mapping Authority - Environmental Unit.

Area : 15537 km² (4.8 %)

In Norway, as much as 80 % of the original marshes, mires and bogs are still untouched. However, other important wetland areas, such as river deltas are seriously influenced by human activities.

Marshlands have many of the same qualities as river deltas. Marshlands and mires have been particularly vulnerable to drainage and ditching in connection with forestry and agriculture. Wetlands, mires and bogs are considered as important buffers against river flooding. Clear-cutting of forested areas, including forest close to rivers, cultivation all the way down to the river bed combined with ditching and drainage, may at least partly explain the serious river floodings that we have experienced during the recent years.

Areas | Freshwater | Glaciers | River delta