A recent report from the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research shows that the municipalities’ plans today allow for development on large marsh areas. – We want to sound the alarm about this enormous development pressure. This is according to SV’s environmental and energy policy spokesperson, Lars Haltbrekken. Lars Haltbrekken believes that new cabin fields are one of the biggest threats to Norwegian nature. Photo: news The report shows that the largest land areas in the future will go to cottages, then housing and then various forms of commercial space. Haltbrekken believes that nature will come under tremendous pressure if the municipalities build wherever they see an opportunity for it. A cabin under construction. Leisure properties may seize the largest areas in the future. Photo: Espen Bratlie / Samfoto Digging in the bog In Norwegian municipalities’ current land plans, a total of 164 km² of bog has been set aside for development. There may be some backlog which means that some plans where marsh areas have been removed are not included. But according to previous research, the figure may also be higher than what the report states. – While we wait for a ban on the reduction of bogs, large-scale reduction of bogs in Norwegian municipalities is thus planned. It is completely unsustainable, says Une Bastholm from MDG. Une Bastholm is deputy chair of the Energy and Environment Committee at the Storting. Photo: Tommy Iversen / Tommy Iversen She points to the importance of preserving the ecosystem. – The mire is our most important natural flood defense, it binds carbon and thus slows down the climate crisis, and it is a habitat for important biological diversity, says Bastholm. Working with a ban In connection with the negotiations on the national budget for 2023, the Storting asked the government to present a proposal on a ban on the reduction of bogs for development purposes. – We expect the government to state clearly in the proposal for a ban that it is not appropriate to use bog areas for cabins, says Haltbrekken. In the budget agreement between Ap, SP and SV, the government was asked to put forward a proposal for a ban on the reduction of bogs for development purposes during 2023. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB – Totally agree, Climate and Environment Minister Espen Barth Eide responds to the demand . It is the municipalities that have to say yes or no to development. Barth Eide says he has asked the municipalities to look at the plans again. – I see no good reason to build cabins on bog. This must be avoided, and the government has clearly stated this in the new national expectations. The minister believes that most municipalities today understand how valuable the bog is for the climate and nature and points out that several of the plans that open up the development of bogs are old. The Minister for Climate and Environment believes that the municipalities today know more about the value of the bog. Photo: EILIF ASLAKSEN / news – In the new national expectations from the government for municipal spatial planning, we ask the municipalities to consider changing previously approved plans for land use as regards climate and natural diversity. – This is not least relevant for planned development on bogs, which must now come to an end, says Barth Eide. Batholm believes it is not good enough to ask the municipalities to reassess plans. She replies that it is “at best naive that Barth Eide thinks it is sufficient to only signal expectations” – The fact that the plans have been there for a long time is often used as an argument to say yes when developers come knocking on the door. That is the experience of our local elected officials, she says. – Local politicians are under tremendous cross-pressure. The government can give notice to the state administrators to stop all municipal plans for construction in bogs immediately, they should do that. Bogs get more attention KS replies that since the plans were adopted, more attention has been paid to the functions of bogs. Area director for society, welfare and democracy in KS, Helge Eide also points out that, within national regulations, trade-offs must be made. – With the many considerations that have to be taken in any case, there could then be individual assessments that saying no to allowing for an overall development purpose in the area plans because it also affects bogs, will to a large extent stop the desired local community development. He further writes that particularly small and partly medium-sized municipalities have challenges with both capacity and competence to carry out a “plan wash” which, according to him, would ideally be desirable.
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The municipalities have large development plans on bogs and in natural areas – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
