Valuable forests with endangered species are disappearing illegally. This happens “even though we have laws to protect vulnerable and important nature”, points out Økokrim. In a new report, they criticize the legislation and the system. The cases concern reviews by a number of different actors. Among these: Logging company. Forest owners. Contractors. Municipalities. Private individuals. Økokrim calls it problematic that illegal logging “very rarely has consequences.” Facsimile: Ecocrime – Low penalties and many suspensions can unfortunately send a signal that infringement of this legislation is not considered serious, says First State Attorney Hans Tore Høviskeland. But, he clarifies: – In many cases, it is serious environmental crime. It concerns illegal felling of large areas and individual trees. In isolation, the cases are described as having little impact. Økokrim points out: Overall, the damage can be “serious and irreversible”. Hans Tore Høviskeland, first state prosecutor, is responsible for the new report from Økokrim. Photo: Eivind Molde / news – No threat of punishment, no fee Økokrim has promptly reported violations of the Forestry Act and the Natural Diversity Act. In the period they investigated, January 2021 to July 2023, they found 63 cases. No cases have resulted in a penalty following a breach of the Forestry Act. These are often given low priority by the police. Almost all are closed. Harvesting in violation of the Natural Diversity Act is rarely or mildly punished: Five cases ended with small fines. According to Økokrim, this indicates that there is little real threat of punishment in important laws meant to protect vulnerable nature. Økokrim on the importance of the forest Photo: ANDRÉ FAGERNÆS-HÅKER / news “A common social value in need of protection”, writes Økokrim about the forest. Not only does Økokrim show that almost half of Norway’s threatened species live in forests: the forest regulates air quality and the local climate, it stores carbon, is a gene bank and provides space for experiences. The forest also protects against the effects of climate change by counteracting floods, erosion and landslides as a result of more rainfall. Other environmental laws give the administration the chance to issue fines for minor offences. The Forestry Act does not. – It is unfortunate, says the first state attorney. “Significant weaknesses” Discretionary. Unmanageable. Complex. This is how Økokrim describes the Forestry Act. They believe that this also leads to layoffs. They point out that researchers, conservationists and the media have also pointed out “significant weaknesses” in forest management. In news’s series of forest cases last year, it was revealed how reviews “disappear in the forest”. news has also shown how forestry itself maps the forest before it is cut down. Økokrim writes: “It is an example of large natural values with a wide range of rare habitat types and endangered species not being found by the registrants, who operate without formal biological competence.” Read news’s cases: Weak supervision, significant dark figures The report points to a lack of supervision of the forest. The first public prosecutor puts it bluntly: – Økocrim experiences – unlike other industries – that there is no active supervision by the public sector. Høviskeland believes this may be due to the public not having control over where and when forests are felled. Mapping environmental values in the forest is left to the industry, points out Økokrim. Photo: André Fagernæs-Håker / news The municipalities are responsible for the inspection. Økokrim’s report shows that the municipalities are responsible for two out of 17 notified violations of the Forestry Act. Nature conservation organizations or private individuals are responsible for almost all the reports. This points to weak public management of forests, according to Økokrim. – And the black figures can be significant, says Høviskeland. – What could the consequences be? – This could mean that endangered species and their habitats decrease, which further weakens natural diversity. There will be serious breaches of environmental legislation. The beetle “Orthotomicus longicollis” thrives in old pines and is threatened by felling. Rimnål is a species of lichen that thrives in moist, older natural forest. A decomposed, dead tree. These are vital habitats for too many species. The amount of dead trees in the forest says a lot about the state of the environment. Natural forests are little affected by humans. Criticizing themselves The police themselves do not escape criticism either. Økokrim describes the reviews from nature conservation organizations and private individuals as “often of good quality”. “The fact that so many cases are dismissed can lead to even fewer reporting cases to the police,” it says. Økokrim says local police often have little experience in investigating such cases. They will now show the report to the police districts. – We will also assist them in such cases, says the first state attorney. Logging companies are among those who are reported for offenses in addition to private individuals and municipalities, according to Økokrim. Photo: André Fagernæs-Håker / news Naturvernforbundet: – Most of it is dismissed Truls Gulowsen and the Naturvernforbundet often report what they believe to be environmental crime in the forest. – We are trying to get it stopped and possibly punished. So that forestry will not continue with such activities. – But unfortunately the vast majority, even very well-founded reviews, are dismissed. Truls Gulowsen is head of the Norwegian Nature Conservancy. Photo: Eivind Molde / news Unclear rules are one reason for all closures, he believes. Now Gulowsen is calling for rule changes. And an application requirement for felling, so that an independent party must approve the felling. – If there is no change in this, then we will lose all that is left of valuable old natural forest in Norway. Then it is too late, because new natural forest or new primeval forest does not grow by itself. The forestry industry: – Unfortunately, mistakes happen Every year the forestry industry carries out approx. 14,000 felled, says Per Skorge, director of the Norwegian Foresters’ Association. – With so many fellings, mistakes unfortunately happen. We are constantly working to improve. Per Skorge is managing director of the Norwegian Forest Owners’ Association. Photo: Eivind Molde / news Skorge says that forestry benefits from the fact that significant breaches of the Forestry Act entail punishment for offenders. – It is important for confidence in the industry and because it provides a preventive effect. We would like to see the police prioritize more cases in our area. He is positive that both municipalities and the police follow better. Skorge points out that forestry has carried out 20 years of systematic environmental work. – It has obviously helped to minimize the number of serious breaches of the legislation.
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Økokrim calls out warnings about illegal logging in Norway – news – Klima
