Summary Marshes and wetlands are among the most threatened nature types in Norway, and thousands of square kilometers have been degraded or destroyed in recent years due to changes in land use. The Mapping Authority will collaborate with several others to use artificial intelligence, satellite images and public map data to get a better overview of bogs and wetlands in Norway. Wetlands are the habitat for around 15 per cent of Norway’s threatened species and sequester over 300 per cent more carbon than forest and agricultural land. In December, the Norwegian Environment Agency proposed to protect all bogs in Norway in order to prevent the release of greenhouse gases, ensure future carbon sequestration and contribute to over 600 species on the red list being allowed to keep their homes. The Norwegian Environment Agency proposed in December to protect all bogs in Norway in order to prevent the release of greenhouse gases, ensure future carbon sequestration and contribute to over 600 species on the red list being allowed to keep their homes. The project starts on 1 April 2024 and will last for three years. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – The lack of knowledge creates challenges in connection with spatial planning and public administration, among other things. This is according to department director of the Mapping Authority’s research and development department, Astrid Marie Flattum Muggerud. Norwegian nature is being destroyed – and especially the very dangerous types of bogs and wetlands are exposed. Muggerud refers to studies which estimate that several thousand square kilometers of bogs and other wetlands have decreased or been destroyed in recent years. This is due to changes in land use. Astrid Marie Flattum Muggerud at the Mapping Authority. Photo: Kartverket Development continues. – Wetlands are probably one of the most important ecosystems in Norway, both for the climate and for species diversity, adds Carl William Lund, senior engineer in the Mapping Authority’s research and development department. – Can reduce the degradation of nature Now the Mapping Authority will collaborate with the Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy (NIBIO), the Norwegian Institute for Natural Research (NINA), the Norwegian Computing Center and the Environment Agency. By using, among other things, artificial intelligence (AI), information from satellite images and public map data, the hope is to get a better overview of bogs and wetlands throughout Norway. It is assumed that the wetlands are habitat for around 15 per cent of our threatened species. Carl William Lund at the Mapping Authority. Photo: Kartverket In addition, they sequester over 300 per cent more carbon than forest and agricultural land – combined. – Nevertheless, we know little about where our wetlands are located, especially above the tree line. The project “Country-wide wetland data set” will try to do something about that, says Lund. Nationwide wetland data set A collaboration between the Mapping Authority (project manager), Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Norwegian Computing Center and the Environment Agency. The project has a total cost framework of NOK 14 million over three years, from 1 April 2024–31. March 2027. The Research Council supports the project with NOK 7 million. The Norwegian Environment Agency contributes NOK 3 million. The rest of the costs are covered by the parties themselves. The objective is to improve the map base for bogs and wetlands on a nationwide basis in Norway. In NIBIO’s area survey, it is calculated that around 10,000 square kilometers of wetlands are missing from the national maps. – That is why it is central and essential to get mapping done, says Muggerud. Around 10,000 square kilometers of wetlands are missing from our national maps. Photo: Cecilie Valentine Brekke / news We who built down the country The destruction of Norwegian nature continued at a furious pace, something that was grimly documented in the news case “Norway in red, white and grey”. The mapping showed that we sacrifice a total of at least 79 square meters per minute. A NINA report from 2023 could tell that the municipalities have set aside 164 square kilometers for development purposes. NIBIO has also investigated actual decommissioning in the period 2013–2018. Swamp or highway? That is often the question. Photo: Cecilie Valentine Brekke / news The Norwegian Environment Agency has calculated: If 164 square kilometers are built down, it will produce a total greenhouse gas emission of between 19 and 55 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, depending on the depth of the bog. By comparison, the total Norwegian greenhouse gas emissions in 2022 were 48.9 million tonnes of CO2 equivalents. Not perfect, but welcome In December, the Norwegian Environment Agency proposed to protect all bogs in Norway. – A ban on the construction of bogs will prevent the release of greenhouse gases that have been stored for thousands of years, ensure future carbon sequestration and at the same time contribute to more than 600 species on the red list being able to keep their homes, said Ellen Hambro, director of the Norwegian Environment Agency. Ellen Hambro, Director of the Norwegian Environment Agency. Photo: Norwegian Environment Agency NIBIO’s area statistics show that when swamp forest and woody bogs are also taken into account, this covers just under 30,000 square kilometres. This corresponds to roughly 9 percent of Norway’s land area. If the Norwegian Environment Agency’s proposal to protect bogs is to be implemented, an accurate overview of which bogs and wetlands are still needed. It is still uncertain exactly what is possible to identify with AI and remote sensing data. The project partners nevertheless state in the press release that in a situation where “35 percent of the wetland is missing from the map, there is reason to welcome an improved map basis, even if it is not perfect”. In the proposal, it will only be possible to grant permission for construction in bogs if the measure is absolutely necessary out of consideration for essential societal interests. – Such as the construction of socially critical infrastructure, or in other special cases when it is necessary for regional or important local infrastructure, explains environment director Hambro. – Large emissions, says the climate and environment minister news presents the speech for greenhouse gas emissions for climate and environment minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen (Ap). He says this: – There are large emissions, and that is one of the main reasons behind the government’s desire to ban the development of bogs. In addition to being a sponge for CO₂ emissions, bogs are also important for natural diversity and climate adaptation. Climate and Environment Minister Andreas Bjelland Eriksen. Photo: Amanda Iversen Orlich / news – What do you think of the Norwegian Environment Agency’s proposal to protect all bogs in Norway? – The Norwegian Environment Agency has submitted a thorough and well-grounded legislative proposal, answers Eriksen. The proposal is now being considered, and the usual procedure is that there must be a public hearing before the bill is presented to the Storting. – It is important that affected public and private actors have their say before a final decision is taken on whether a ban is the way to go and how it should be designed if so. The project starts on 1 April 2024 and will last for three years. Eriksen says that the government is concerned that we use our land in a more sustainable way. – This mapping actively contributes to us being able to reduce the degradation of nature.
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AI, maps and satellite images are used to help protect Norwegian nature – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
