The state is increasing supervision of the use of four- and six-wheeled vehicles during hunting. The intensified hunt comes after field workers in the State Nature Inspectorate (SNO) refer to an increasing number of cases of illegal motor traffic on bare land. – We have uncovered extensive use of ATVs for transport to cabins and hunting bazaars during the hunt. That is why we will have increased supervision in the autumn, says Ellen Hambro, director of the Norwegian Environment Agency. Last Saturday, the State Nature Inspectorate (SNO) discovered seven ATVs that were parked in a vulnerable natural area in Bremanger in Vestland. The discovery resulted in seven reports, as there were no traces of animals that had been shot. Today, the law (see below) states that the vehicle can only be used to retrieve game that has been felled. Motor traffic in outlying areas Motoring in outlying areas is prohibited, with exceptions for purposes that are directly permitted by law or regulations on motoring in outlying areas. In addition, exemptions can be granted for specific purposes. There may be transport of firewood and luggage and equipment to your own cabin. Before you go to purchase a vehicle, you should therefore know that you are allowed to drive. The municipality can also grant a dispensation for the use of snowmobiles in winter, or for bare ground driving in summer, for special purposes described in the Motor Traffic Act or related regulations. Snowmobile trails and open country trails Snowmobile trails and open country trails are also exceptions to the general rule that all motor traffic in the outback is prohibited. Open country trails only exist in Finnmark and it is not possible to adopt new open country trails. The county governor has adopted municipal regulations for barmar trails in Finnmark where there have previously been traditional thoroughfares and motor traffic has been permitted. Source: The Norwegian Environment Agency, the State Administrator in Troms and Finnmark Last Saturday, the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate discovered seven vehicles parked in a vulnerable natural area in Bremanger. Photo: SNO – Major consequences for nature Norway has historically had a restrictive practice for motor traffic in nature, and it is basically not allowed to use vehicles to transport hunters or equipment. The rule is further that the driver “as far as possible” must use existing tractor roads or older carriageways. – Motor traffic on bare land has major consequences for nature. The use of motorized vehicles during the hunt can cause damage to the terrain, and disturb bird and animal life, says Hambro. After the first ATVs came to the country in the 80s, the number of quadricycles has today passed 90,000 nationwide. – Motorized traffic in nature is an increasing problem. We are happy that the Norwegian Environment Agency is now intensifying control to overcome this, says Lars Haltbrekken (SV) in the energy and environment committee at the Storting. Photo: Statens Naturoppsyn – Lack of respect for the law motivates further violations of the law Even though the regulations are clear that it is not allowed to use vehicles before the animal has been shot, hunting teams can apply to the municipality for permission to take vehicles to hunting bases out in the terrain . – It is a big problem that the ban on motor traffic in rural areas is not enforced. This results in a lack of respect for the law, and the tragedy is that it motivates further violations of the law, says Vigdis Vandvik, who is professor of ecology at UiB. She says the Norwegian mountain nature is “particularly vulnerable” to such interventions because we have short growing seasons, slow-growing plants, moist and carbon-rich soils, and a lot of rainfall, which makes it vulnerable to erosion. – It’s a shame that the escalation hasn’t happened earlier Ingrid Liland, deputy leader of the Green Party – It’s good to increase supervision to protect nature and our wildlife, while it’s a shame that such an escalation hasn’t happened earlier when we know that careless driving in the outback have caused damage to nature and wildlife over a long period of time. It is worrying that in practice the Center Party is working to liberalize motorized transport in rural areas, by willingly handing over all responsibility for such transport to the municipalities and giving the municipalities more autonomy. It is bad policy for the grazing industry, nature and wildlife in the outback, which are already threatened by construction and other negative human influences. We must stop treating nature as just any playground. Karoline Andaur, secretary general of WWF Verdsnaturfondet – It is very worrying that the authorities uncover so many cases of illegal motor traffic in nature. In a time of nature crisis, where the number of many species is struggling and in decline, it is crucial that nature gets more breathing room and that we take better care of him, as we have committed to in the nature agreement. Therefore, it is not only good, but absolutely necessary that the environmental authorities now increase the supervision of motor traffic, and crack down on this type of environmental crime. Christian Steel, Sabima – In order to stop the nature crisis and follow up on international obligations, we must stop the destruction of nature. It applies to everyone, including outdoor life. Most hunters act in line with laws and regulations, and it is good that SNO wants to strengthen supervision of motor traffic and crack down hard on breaking the law so that rotten eggs are removed. Motor vehicles that are used illegally in this way should be seized. We also encourage hunters to use motor vehicles to retrieve game only where necessary, and as gently as possible. Ola Elvestuen, parliamentary representative for the Liberal Party – It is very good that the Norwegian Environment Agency is tackling illegal bare-land driving with motor vehicles. We cannot allow it to increase in scope. This also shows that the National Nature Inspectorate should be allowed to increase its budget to ensure that rules created to take care of nature are followed. Carlo Aall, professor at Vestlandsforsking – In 1985, we were two students at the then Norwegian University of Agriculture who probably did the first study of the problem of bare ground driving in outback. We then looked at tracks from the reindeer herding industry inside the sweaters in Reisa National Park in Troms. One of our conclusions was that it is necessary to restrict access to vehicles if illegal use is to be restricted, a proposal that has never been followed in practice. Since then, the scope of bare-ground driving has increased in both scope and character; now it is not only genuine commercial driving but also leisure driving that constitutes the problem. With increasing pressure from road construction into the last remnants of untouched nature linked to the development of cabin fields and wind power plants, it is natural to expect an increase in bare ground driving, given that in practice there is free access. Given that the governing authorities do not seem willing to limit either the purchase of this type of vehicle (ATV) or development in outlying areas, one is left with the alternative of increasing supervision of illegal bare-ground driving. On the one hand, this is good, but will easily increase the level of conflict based on the natural thought that users of ATVs have: If it is legal to buy ATVs, and it is legal to build more and more roads into the countryside, why should it be illegal to use ATV in outback? – The damage from car tracks is often visible, and has an effect for many years after the operation has taken place, says Vigdis Vandvik, who is professor of ecology at UiB. Photo: Statens naturoppsyn Pressure to soften the regulations In the debate about motor traffic in nature, national demands have stood against the desire for more local adaptations, symbolized by the Sami Parliament where the Norwegian Samirs Riksforbund (NSR) and the Nordkalottfolket are eager to liberalize the regulations. Furthermore, requirements for “universal design” have created pressure to soften the regulations out of consideration for disabled people who are prevented from going out into nature “on their own machine”. In the government’s action plan “Resilience and equality” it is stated that “accessibility for all through universal design is a central principle for reaching important groups, and is expedient where it is not negative for natural values and qualities of experience.” The Norwegian Hunting and Fishing Association made an informational video last year in which they encourage hunters to proceed carefully when traveling in the countryside in order to minimize tracks. – We encourage all hunters to pay attention to current legislation when hunting. When it comes to motorized transport in the countryside, it must be limited to the transport of wild game, more precisely moose, deer and wild boar, says Espen Farstad of the Norwegian Hunters and Fishers Association. He adds: – Transport of hunters for hunting is not permitted. – We have uncovered extensive use of ATVs for transport to cabins and hunting bazaars during the hunt. That is why we will have increased supervision in the autumn, says Ellen Hambro, director of the Norwegian Environment Agency. Photo: SNO
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