The case in summary Corn farmer Hans Erik Fuglerud is frustrated by strict rules for taking environmental measures to prevent erosion along the Lierelva. Farmers along Norwegian waterways believe that management has become stricter, and that simple measures that were previously permitted are now difficult to implement due to application processes and impact assessments. The Norwegian Farmers’ Union is calling for a more flexible set of regulations, and believes that strict rules prevent preventive measures that can reduce the risk of riots and pollution. The authorities are concerned about potential negative consequences of measures, and emphasize the importance of following the regulations to avoid landslides or landslides. Fuglerud has taken his own measures by placing large stones along the river bank, which he believes are effective in reducing erosion. The farmers’ association proposes that NVE gets an earmarked pot for flood protection of agricultural areas, and that the regulations be changed to allow faster implementation of preventive measures. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – I have applied once and will never do it again. I have applied for the last time! Corn farmer Hans Erik Fuglerud is standing by the river bank, and he is angry. The more than two mile long Lierelva winds its way down lush agricultural areas. Here the cornfields lie alongside the river bank. In several places you can see that the river digs in, while topsoil rushes out into the river and either clogs up, or sails further along the river course and out into the fjord. – It’s a hell of a process, it takes two years and costs hundreds of thousands of kroner to be able to take environmental measures. It has gone as wrong as it gets. He is not allowed to make any interventions on his own land adjacent to the river, without applying for permission. The river digs its way further and further into the ground. Trees that have fallen into the river dam it up. Here, many cubic meters of topsoil can erupt at any time. Farmers want to prevent Farmers along Norwegian waterways believe that management has become stricter. Simple measures that were previously permitted are no longer possible to carry out. Most often, an application must be assessed for its impact, consultants must be brought in, and there must be basic drilling. Second deputy chairman of the Norges Bondelag, Egil Christopher Hoen, shakes his head at what he sees along the river. A slope is about to give way, and several thousand cubic meters of topsoil and clay are on their way into the river. With it, phosphorus is carried out into the Oslo Fjord. Egil Christopher Hoen is second deputy chairman of the Norwegian Farmers’ Association. He doesn’t like what he sees. Photo: Caroline Bækkelund Hauge / news The Farmers’ Association believes that a rigid set of regulations and a jungle of different rules puts a stop to taking simple measures. Such as putting some rocks and building simple flood walls to prevent, rather than having to repair afterwards. He calls for a more flexible regulatory framework within reasonable limits. There will only be more water in the future. – Here it could have been set in stone a few years ago. I don’t understand why it’s not allowed to do that. Everyone had benefited from it. It is absolutely shocking to watch. The farmers’ association believes this is a clear example of a place where simple measures had prevented erosion. Photo: Caroline Bækkelund Hauge / news Hoen believes there is an obvious danger that there could be more outbursts over time. Since it is not permitted to take measures, the topsoil will disappear, pollution will increase, the river will find new paths and the fjord will be supplied with more mass. Warmer, wetter and wilder Climate change has already changed where, how often and how strongly the world experiences floods, and can lead to more and more serious landslides, according to the UN climate panel. This is, among other things, because Europe and other parts of the world have experienced a lot of extreme rainfall in recent years the year. Man-made climate change is already increasing the chance of the rain becoming so extreme. Lars Tore Endresen / news What has happened so far? When the temperature rises, more water evaporates, and the atmosphere can hold more water. This means that the rainfall becomes more concentrated and intense, according to the climate panel. They say that spring floods come earlier than before, and that floods come more often and more powerfully than before in many places in the world. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration What do we know about landslides? Increased rainfall and melting of snow and glaciers can also increase the risk of landslides, especially in steep mountain areas. In addition to climate change, population growth and tourism are also factors that make landslides more likely in the future, because there will be more pressure on nature. Can we do something about it? The less greenhouse gases the world emits in the coming years, the less warming we will get. Then the risk of extreme weather linked to water will also increase less. In addition, there are measures such as warning systems and better planning of infrastructure, which can limit the worst damage. Countries around the world have promised to try to limit warming to 1.5 degrees. With today’s policy, we are facing 2.8 degrees of warming, according to UNEP. Interventions can have major consequences Often, several different authorities have to step in to administer regulations linked to measures along waterways. The municipality, the county council, NVE and the State Administrator. The authorities are afraid of the consequences if farmers make their own improvements. Even the little ones. – Before the farmer can take measures, one must be sure that they do not lead to negative consequences, says Håvard Hornæs, senior adviser at the climate and environmental protection department at the State Administrator in Østfold, Buskerud, Oslo and Akershus, Håvard Hornæs in the environmental protection department at the State Administrator in Østfold, Buskerud, Oslo and Akershus. Photo: Håvard Hornæs / Private He is clear that the regulations must be followed. Hornæs believes it is important to see the whole of the measures being taken. A measure carried out in one place can lead to adverse consequences elsewhere in the same watercourse. – We have had examples where what are perceived as small measures have had very large negative consequences, says Hornæs. He believes that the worst thing that can happen is if you do something that leads to a landslide or landslide. Paradoxically, this is what the farmer also tries to avoid. Took the spoon into his own hands The farmer with the blue cap has run the farm by the Lierelva for several decades. He shows off some large boulders he has laid along the river bank. – I will not spend my money on applications, I will use it on measures, says farmer Hans Erik Fuglerud. Photo: Caroline Bækkelund Hauge / news – Big stones are important. They are anti-erosion, no more digging is done here. Stone is what is needed. – Did you apply? – No! It is a small measure, which we must be allowed to do without applying for it. We can report, but not apply. I can’t wait two years, then it would have been a long time coming. – But, you did something illegal? – Yes, I did, he replies without shame. Hans Erik Fuglerud, speaks loudly and clearly. He believes that what he has done is an environmental measure. – We have taken responsibility for our river for several generations. It has gone very well. The farmer is supported by Egil Hoen from the Norwegian Farmers Association. – If Hans-Erik had not taken this measure here, the area that has started to erupt would be much larger today. By then fifty cubic meters of topsoil had been left in the stream. A measure of topsoil in this area can have a value of NOK 30,000. The farmer put up some boulders on his own initiative to prevent landslides. According to the authorities, this is not legal without applying. Photo: Caroline Bækkelund Hauge / news Prevention costs little The Farmers’ Association believes that NVE must get an earmarked pot for flood protection of agricultural areas. Second deputy chairman Egil Christopher Hoen believes they must also have rules which mean that they are actually allowed to carry them out, without it taking several years of applications. In mid-November, a new report to the Storting on floods and landslides will be processed. The farmers’ association fears that it will not get any easier. – International and Norwegian reports indicate that it is ten times more cost-effective to prevent than to repair, clarifies Hoen. Hi! Did you get any thoughts when you read this? Are there other things in agriculture that you think I should write about? Maybe you know of something that is going really well? Then you can write to me here: Published 18.11.2024, at 20.59
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Norwegian farmers want to prevent floods and landslides, instead of topsoil ending up in the river – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
