The board of the national park is now calling for witnesses to the drive, probably around 11 to 13 July. The board received tips from hikers in the area. They had seen tracks from ATV driving in marshes by a number of bodies of water in the western part of the national park between Jakobselvkroken and the south side of Ordovatn at the beginning of July. – There were completely fresh traces of at least one, but perhaps preferably two vehicles, says national park manager Geir Østereng to news. A few days after the tip-off, the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate flew over the area and documented traces of the driving with photos. The driving has taken place in the part of the national park where the birdlife is particularly protected, including with a ban on hunting. – This zone is particularly important for bird life with ducks, sperm geese, pygmy geese and wetland birds. The mountain fox also has its habitat in these mountain areas, says Østereng. A large number of these birds are on the red list of vulnerable and threatened species. The brushshank is one of the red-listed wetland birds found in the national park. Photo: Knut-Sverre Horn The timing is particularly unfortunate. As far as the mountains and as far north, early July is in the middle of nesting and breeding season for a number of species. Deep ruts will grow back very slowly in these areas. – Several of these traces will remain for several years before they disappear. Motor traffic in nature is prohibited in principle. In the national park, there are also violations of the conservation regulations. Birger Knudsen, who is chairman of the national park board, says that this is being taken seriously. The matter will be reported to the police. The extensive damage means that the drive will be reported to the police, says the board of the national park. Photo: SNO – The area in which it was driven is among our most vulnerable natural areas, he says. The National Park Board is asking for tips from people who may have seen the drive. From what they know, the driving around the Swan Lakes and Ordo most probably took place in the period 11–13 July. There are existing tracks into the national park from Geatnjajavri, Ordo and Jakobselvkroken, and the vehicles may have come via one of these areas. Truls, Hellstrøm and TV 2 reported Illegal driving on the Varanger Peninsula has attracted attention in the past. In 2018, rough driving in a bog, with deep ruts as a result, was made into entertainment in the TV 2 program “Truls à la Hellstrøm”. However, the report was dropped by the police in Finnmark. According to what news knows, it happened to the deep despair of people in the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate, who feel that it is difficult to prepare people for such natural damage. The ATV driving in the TV 2 program Truls à la Hellstrøm was reported to the police, but it did not lead to any criminal action. Photo: Screenshot / TV 2 Published 19.08.2024, at 16.36
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Plowed up the Varangerhalvøya National Park with ATV – during breeding season – news Troms and Finnmark
