– There are red alarm bells for Hardangervidda, and now is the time to act, says state administrator in Oslo and Viken, Gunhild Dalaker Tuseth. The state administrator proposes five action plans to manage traffic in a better way, so that the wild reindeer have access to areas that they do not use today. They propose to close four tourist huts, and to realign paths and trails. Outdoor activities are basically not allowed. – We need these powerful measures that will affect many who use the internet. But we think it is necessary for the wild reindeer to get better, says Tuseth. Action plan for Hardangervidda The State Administrator in Oslo and Viken today presented proposals for action plans for the Hardangervidda wild reindeer area. Several specialist groups have been working on developing measures within population management, motor transport, outdoor transport, power and construction roads, land management and agriculture/outland farming. The measures will prevent traffic from the most used approach gates to Hardangervidda such as Haukeliseter, Hjølmoberget, Tinnhølen, Mogen and Imingfjell. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal disease for deer. In Norway, scrapie has been detected in moose in Selbu and wild reindeer in Nordfjella and Hardangervidda. Transmission to humans has not been reported in connection with scrapie. Norway is the only country in Europe with proven scrapie in deer. Source: Norwegian Food Safety Authority/news Closes four tourist huts In the five measures, among other things, the hiking trail from Haukeliseter via Hellevassbu to Litlos and on to Besso tourist huts is proposed to be closed. The tourist cabin Hellevassbu is proposed to be closed. In the west of Hardangervidda, it is proposed to close the Torehytten and Hadlaskard tourist hut with associated hiking trails. Instead, a new path and a new tourist hut will be established between Tyssevassbu and Stavali. In the east, it is proposed to close the tourist hut Lågaros with the associated trail system. And change the day tourism from Mogen to reduce traffic to Gjuvsjøen and Stordalsbu. The purpose of the new measures is to make it easier for animals to access good grazing areas. One of the most used access points in the western region is the T-marked route Haukeliseter – Hellevassbu – Litlos. Turisthytta Hellevassbu is now proposed to be closed. Hadlaskard tourist cabin is proposed to close. The cabin is an easy three-hour walk from the foot of Hårteigen. Tourist cabin Torehytten is located by Øvre Solvatnet with a view of Hårteigen, which is now proposed to close. In the east, it is proposed to close the tourist hut Lågaros with the associated trail system. Kiting, driving with dog sleds, and other forms of outdoor life such as fat bikes will be prohibited. It is proposed to regulate the use of the construction road from national road 7 to Tinnhølen and the road to Hjølmoberget in Øvre Eidfjord for tourists and hikers. Prohibition against outdoor activities and motor traffic In winter, it is proposed to limit the timing of pruning of trails and the opening hours of tourist huts on Hardangervidda. There will be no pruning or open tourist cabins here after 1 April. Motorized traffic will also not be allowed after 1 April. The road over Imingfjell is proposed to be closed for the winter until 1 April or Easter. Kiting, driving with dog sleds, and other forms of outdoor life such as fat bikes will be prohibited. The aim is that the reindeer should avoid being disturbed during the most vulnerable time in winter and spring during the calving period. Several hiking trails and tourist huts are proposed to be closed down or moved so that the wild reindeer will have access to good grazing areas in the summer. Photo: Marius Dalseg Sætre / DNT Close footpaths and close roads In the summer it will no longer be allowed to paddle a canoe or kayak on the Kvenna, possibly other waterways. All salting places for sheep will also be moved away from migratory passages for wild reindeer in the western part of Kvenna. It is also proposed to regulate the use of the construction road from national road 7 to Tinnhølen and the road to Hjølmoberget in Øvre Eidfjord for tourists and hikers. The road into Hjerdalen at Rjukan fjellstue can also be closed if necessary for the wild reindeer. Closure of Kromvikvegen and Bitdalsvegen in Vinje may be extended. Many reindeer calves do not weigh more than 10 kilos in autumn, and have difficulty surviving when winter comes. Photo: Anders Mossing / Norsk Villreinsenter Reindeer calf weighed only ten kilos Researcher at the Norsk Villreinsenter and NINA, Olav Strand, says the quality standard shows that the wild reindeer on Hardangervidda are not doing well. Photo: Tale Hauso / news – They are reindeer calves that do not weigh more than 10 kilos in the autumn. It is hardly viable, says Strand. Strand has no doubt that tough measures are needed so that the wild reindeer can use more of the Hardangervidda, and gain access to the important grazing on the west mountain of the vidda. – It is a tragedy that the wild reindeer have lost the opportunity to use this area. Strand says that the wild reindeer use less than twenty percent of the total area of the entire Hardangervidda. And it is the same spot that is used year after year after year. The red lines show paths that are proposed to be closed. The three red-marked cabins are also proposed to be closed down. The green one is a new cabin. Photo: The State Administrator in Oslo and Viken This shows a focus area for securing autumn and winter grazing on the northern and eastern plains with the tangs facing east. Here is a focus area for taking care of the untouched areas that the reindeer actually use today. Lågaro’s tourist hut is proposed to be closed down. It is being assessed whether it is possible to re-establish reindeer herding with land bridges, for example over Mår at Sinken, south of the dam at Strengen and at Gravøyn. The focus area here is regulating traffic on roads into the wild reindeer area. And hiking trails that divide up the reindeer area. Storting report on wild reindeer The wild reindeer on Hardangervidda make up around 30 per cent of the European wild reindeer population, which Norway has a special responsibility for looking after. The action plans must go out for consultation before they go on from the Norwegian Environment Agency to the Ministry of Climate and the Environment. Similar work can also be carried out in six other wild reindeer areas. The proposal will be an input to the Storting’s report on wild reindeer that will come in the spring of 2024. The project group behind the action plan The State Trustee in Oslo and Viken, project manager Norwegian Wild Reindeer Center South, Secretariat of the Wild Reindeer Committee Wild Reindeer Committee Vestland county municipality State Trustee in Vestfold and Telemark Tinn municipality Eidfjord municipality
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Proposes drastic measures on Hardangervidda to save the red-listed wild reindeer – news Vestland
