The state believes that there are very important conservation values outside the boundaries of Jotunheimen and will involve the municipalities and landowners in voluntary protection. But the protection process got off to a heavy start. – We react to the fact that the governing authorities will decide in an area that we manage to manage well ourselves, says board chairman Harald Granrud. DOES NOT WANT PROTECTION: Harald Granrud, chairman of the board of Øvre Heidal co-ownership, says it is gratifying that the state administrator thinks the area has been so well managed that it can be incorporated into the national park. But he thinks they manage well to take care of the area themselves. Photo: Even Lusæter / news He represents around forty farmers who have rights of use in one of the areas the state administrator wishes to incorporate in Jotunheimen. Both private landowners and municipalities criticize the protection process for being hasty. Landscape conservation areas and national parks Photo: Simon Skjelvik Brandseth / news National parks are large nature areas with distinctive or representative ecosystems. They can also be landscapes without heavier encroachments on nature. The large protected areas ensure that the interaction in nature is not disturbed, and they are an important part of the work to prevent plants and animals from becoming extinct. Landscape conservation areas are natural or cultural landscapes with great ecological, cultural or experiential value. The landscape also includes cultural monuments that contribute to the landscape’s uniqueness. The form of protection is often used to preserve cultural landscapes in active use. Preservation of the landscape image and the landscape experience is a key objective when creating landscape conservation areas. In some landscape conservation areas, certain parts of animal or plant life are also protected. Source: The Norwegian Environmental Protection Agency Gamle rettar Much of Jotunheimen is a high-lying and barren area. The state administrator has now mapped the low-lying area around Jotunheimen, which they believe has interesting conservation values. HOW IT CAN BE: The map shows the boundaries of Jotunheimen National Park, and the shaded area is where the State Administrator thinks there are interesting conservation values that they want to become a national park. Photo: The State Administrator in the Interior But in these areas, farmers and permanent residents have had rights of use for several hundred years, and they have no interest in being subject to yet another new administrative body. – We have fishing arches and use rights in the area, and we naturally fear that this may have consequences for our future use of the area, says Granrud. The Ministry of Climate and the Environment says that today’s national parks do not ensure the great diversity of species and habitat types and want more protection. WILL NOT RUN OVER: State Secretary Aleksander Øren in the Ministry of Climate and Environment says they have taken over the work from the previous government and will not comment on the criticism of the process. But says that the government has no plan to drive over the municipalities. Photo: CECILIE BERGAN STUEDAL – We have a fairly good overview of the shortcomings in today’s protection and what should be protected in the future, says State Secretary in the Ministry of Climate and Environment, Aleksander Øren Heen. But without the consent of the municipalities, there will be no new protection area. The mayors are skeptical news has spoken to all six mayors in the municipalities involved, and all are waiting. The state administrator in the hinterland says the protection plans have received mixed reception. – The vast majority of landowners who are affected are very skeptical about the protection of their area, and the municipalities are clear that they will listen to the landowners, says Vebjørn Knarrum at the State Administrator in the Interior. LEADER: Vebjørn Knarrum is department director in the department for biodiversity and protected areas at the State Administrator in the Inland. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news Knarrum believes that both municipalities and landowners were surprised by short deadlines and little information when the process started in 2018. – There was a lot of noise when we started, and we agree that the process around possible expansion of the national parks could be better. We have also recorded this for both the directorate and the ministry, says Knarrum. The Norwegian Environment Agency has been in charge of the protection process, and Knarrum now believes it is important to start work again. – In a way, we have restarted the work, we are going broader, and we are currently conducting more meetings with those involved. WANTS TO PROTECT MORE: Large and barren mountain areas dominate what are today’s national parks. The goal of this national protection plan process is that the government wishes to protect more nutrient-rich areas in the lowlands. Photo: Torgeir Steine Can be zero The White Paper “Nature for life” says that the protection of private areas should be based on volunteering. This autumn, all the municipalities involved will say yes or no to a further protection plan process. If everyone answers no, the boundaries of Jotunheimen will be veranda as it is today. – It can end with zero. If the municipalities say no this autumn, there will be no expansion of the large national parks, says Vebjørn Knarrum at the State Administrator in the Inland. CAN BE CONFLICT: Refjellet in Sel municipality is one private law joint ownership of 30,000 acres. This is one of the large areas that the government wishes to incorporate into Jotunheimen. But by conducting conservation processes in the lowlands, one quickly comes into conflict with agricultural interests. Photo: Harald Granrud / private In Øvre Heidal joint ownership, they have all decided. – At the annual meeting, we decided that it is not relevant at all for us to be incorporated into a national park, says Granrud in Øvre Heidal co-ownership. State Secretary Aleksander Øren in the Ministry of Climate and the Environment says they have taken over the work from the previous government and will not comment on the criticism of the process. But says that the government has no plan to drive over the municipalities. – I am clear that the government should listen to the municipalities, and then listen it takes the time needed, says Øren Heen.
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The government will double the area of Jotunheimen National Park – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
