The case in summary A construction project in Porsgrunn has led to the destruction of the habitat of several endangered insect species, including the highly endangered June sand bee. Porsgrunn municipality has issued a stop order and reported the developer, Eidanger Boligutvikling, to the police after discovering that large quantities of material had been dumped in the area. The developer calls the mass storage a deviation and is working to map the cause and responsibility for the deviation. Biologists and environmental consultants have found large amounts of rubbish, including scrap metal, plastic, asphalt, concrete and iron, in the masses that were dumped at the site. It is uncertain whether any of the insects have survived the massive intervention, and it will take several years before it can be concluded whether the threatened species have survived. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – It breaks my heart to see such a beautiful area 80 to 90 percent completely destroyed. There is only a small fragment left that we can try to restore and do the best we can. That’s what Frode Ødegaard, an insect researcher at NTNU, says. He is visiting as an expert for Porsgrunn municipality on the sand roof at Eidanger. Insect researcher Frode Ødegaard inspecting the Eidanger sand roof. He is an associate professor at the Department of Natural History at NTNU. Photo: Gry Eirin Skjelbred / news At least 15 red-listed insect species lived in the sand there. The area is described as “a hotspot” for rare and red-listed insects. The reason why Ødegaard is standing on the huge sandy area and looking towards the green slopes is a construction project that has been underway for many years. Porsgrunns Dagblad has written a number of articles about the project. Both housing and protected species Eidanger Boligutvikling was to build 250 new homes. At the same time, an area equivalent to five football pitches was to be protected as a natural area for rare plants and insects. This compiled image from the Species Data Bank shows a June sand bee on the left and a tush earth ant on the right. Both of these have lived in the sand roof at Eidanger and are respectively a highly threatened and a vulnerable species. Photo: Arnstein Staverløkk / NINA/Artsdatabanken Environmental experts were involved early on. The municipality and the developer agreed. But this spring it was discovered that something had gone wrong. Tens of thousands of cubic meters of pulp had been dumped on top of the areas where several endangered insect species live. Porsgrunn municipality investigated the area. Then they issued a stop order and reported the developer to the police. – Unfortunately, a mistake happened – We had obviously hoped to avoid a report for the discrepancy, but we deal with this professionally. This is stated by board member of Eidanger Boligutvikling Terje Kaasa Larsen. He is the managing director of Heimgard Bolig, which owns half of Eidanger Boligutvikling. This photo is by Terje Kaasa Larsen and is taken from the website of Heimgard Bolig. Larsen states that the work with the masses took place in 2023. Photo: Heimgard Bolig Larsen calls the mass storage a deviation. When asked how this happened, he replies by e-mail: – The work to map the cause of, and responsibility for, the deviation is still ongoing. We cannot therefore comment on this at the present time. “Despite a thorough and clearly communicated plan, unfortunately there was still an error in the executive branch when it comes to intermediate storage of masses,” he also writes. Vegetation and litter Kjell-Henrik Semb, environmental advisor in Porsgrunn municipality, says that the surface where it was to be built first had to be raised and shaped. Environmental adviser Kjell-Henrik Semb in Porsgrunn municipality inspecting a dam in connection with another matter. Photo: Per Arne Rennestraum In the planning proposal it is stated that around 650,000 cubic meters of filling material should raise the terrain. According to Semb, stone from the tunnels in the E18 project was used for this. But before the rock could be filled, vegetation had to be removed. For rotting material under stone, the layer will move. – Therefore all roots, trees and soil were removed. That was what was temporarily stored in the natural area. And then the intention was to move it and use it afterwards, says Semb. It is on the slopes of the excavated sand roof that the nature area with threatened species is located. Photo: Gry Eirin Skjelbreid / news But the damage may have already happened. Following tips from the public in March, the municipality investigated the area. – When we received the inspection report, it was clear and obvious that serious things had been done here that should not have been done, says the environmental adviser. Unclean masses The municipality contacted biologist Sigve Reiso from Biofokus as an expert in mapping nature. This photo of Sigve Reiso was taken in 2022 in a different context. Here he sits by the tracks of logging machines in Ongelåsen Follsjå. Photo: André Fagernæs-Håker / news Now he works for Eidanger Boligutvikling to ensure that everything goes right. – From my point of view, my first impression was that these were very nutritious masses. There is a bit of a crisis compared to what was there before, dominated by nutrient-poor sand. That’s why insects like sandy slopes It is no coincidence that many insects thrive in sandy slopes. But according to the experts, there are few natural sand roofs left in Norway. On the Eidanger sand roof, the development was to take place on a flat surface, while the sand cliffs were to be protected as a natural area. There are several factors that make sandy slopes good habitats for insects: The heat on the south- and south-west-facing slopes is good for larval development in many insects that need heat to develop. Eidanger is also located in a warm place in Norway. The type of sand and its composition are also important. Has it been both correct and not too compact sand. The nutrient-poor sand was also good breeding ground for plants that the insects directly or indirectly need to live. When nutrient-rich, compact masses are added on top of this, it is both not suitable for the insects and creates a breeding ground for weeds and alien species. Sources: Biologist Sigve Reiso, insect researcher Frode Ødegaard and environmental advisor Kjell-Henrik Semb. Analyzes will show exactly what the masses consist of, but something could also be observed: – We saw that there was a lot of rubbish. There were both metal scraps and plastic in the masses that had been dumped here, Reiso describes. This photo collage is taken with permission from the report Sigve Reiso in Biofokus made on behalf of Eidanger Boligutvikling. The four pictures show different types of rubbish in the masses at Eidanger sand roof. Facsimile: Biofocus – Scandal Reiso has no opinion as to why the dumping of masses occurred in the natural area. – But there are thousands of lorry loads, so this was not a convenient accident, says the biologist. This map shows the natural area in green with the approximate extent of the masses outlined in blue. The map is taken from a report from Biofokus commissioned by the developer. Illustration: Biofocus – There are huge amounts. It is almost unbelievable that so much has been dumped into a valuable natural area, he adds. In addition to red-listed vascular plants, several endangered insects lived in the sandy slopes, which have now been covered by ten meters of compact, unclean masses. In this picture from the report Sigve Reiso made from Biofokus, he has marked with a blue line where the original sand cliff was. Illustration: Biofokus – The June sand bee in particular is highly threatened and used to roost in the sand roof. It was much of the reason why this consideration area was set. And now we don’t know if it has survived this scandal, says Reiso. Takes time to find out The Junisandbia lives in only three places in the country and is highly endangered. The June sand bee is a very rare species that has recently been found in Norway in only three places: Nedre Eiker, Porsgrunn and Luster. Photo: Arnstein Staverløkk / NINA/Artsdatabanken The NTNU researcher also emphasizes the seriousness: – Large parts of the June sand bee population in the area are now buried 10 meters under deposited fill masses. It is uncertain whether anyone has survived the massive operation, Ødegaard points out. None of us will get the answer for quite some time. This continues Eidanger Boligutvikling has engaged people to remove the dumped masses in the natural area. The aim is to finish it before mid-December. The municipality says there is a temporary stop to construction while this happens. The stop order applies to the natural area. The company writes that “Our main focus now is to return the affected part of the natural area in Eidanger Sandtak to the condition that was originally planned.” The company states that they are planning to start construction on the site next year. With the help of experts, the municipality is trying to limit the damage and secure sand for restoration. In the spring, they will try to restore the insects’ habitats, their biotopes, as best they can. The probability of success depends on the size of the area, management of the area and how much of the population has possibly survived. Source: Porsgrunn municipality and Eidanger Boligutvikling – Eidanger Boligutvikling AS has from day one taken this case of non-conformance very seriously and of course finds it very sad that such a non-conformity has occurred, writes board member Terje Kaasa Larsen. Both the developer and the municipality emphasize that they cooperate well. Sigve Reiso took this picture of dumped masses on top of the sand slope in connection with the mapping. Photo: Sigve Reiso / Biofokus In the spring, the experts will attempt to restore the sandy slopes. Only the year after that, can one conclude whether the June sand bee and its threatened relatives have survived. Published 03.11.2024, at 13.49
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Endangered bee stopped development on Eidanger sand roof in Porsgrunn – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
