– We encourage the government and all municipalities to stop the establishment of new cabin fields. That’s what Truls Gulowsen, leader of the Nature Conservancy, says. It is the Nature Conservancy, the Norwegian Tourist Association, the Norwegian Hunting and Fishing Association and WWF that make the call. The cabins are houses Gulowsen says that the construction of cabins that has taken place over the past 10–15 years is the biggest threat to mountain forests and wild reindeer in Norway. It is also the most important reason why species and habitat types are on the red list. He points out, among other things, that the way the cabins are built today is a large part of the problem. – It is actually houses that are built in the mountains and beach zone, not cabins. Truls Gulowsen encourages all the municipalities in the country to go through the zoning plans for the development of cottage fields Photo: Ksenia Novikova / news – Previously, cottage development was more spread out in the countryside. There was not necessarily a car park and a road all the way to the front. This is what the head of the Nature Conservation Association says and adds: – It was rare that there were major ground interventions such as blasting, electricity and sewage. According to Gulowsen, if the cabin construction continues, it will lead to a poorer natural diversity and major climate consequences for, among other things, marsh and forest areas. New handbook for development The Norwegian Environment Agency is also concerned about the degradation of nature and has come up with a new handbook for impact assessment of land. – The way we use our land is absolutely crucial to solving both the nature and climate crisis. This is what the Director of the Norwegian Environment Agency, Ellen Hambro, says in a press release. – Therefore, it is very important that we understand the consequences of our decisions and that municipalities and other authorities receive proper impact assessments when they have to decide on future land use. Director of the Norwegian Environment Agency, Ellen Hambro takes seriously the degradation of nature. Photo: Norwegian Environment Agency She goes on to say that deforestation and the development of carbon-rich areas such as forests and bogs lead to large emissions of greenhouse gases every year. It will also make us more vulnerable to natural disasters. Almost 20 cabins a day – We have to stop building cabin fields, that’s enough now, says Gulowsen. In 2022, 18 cabins were built a day in Norway. – It may not sound like much in the whole country, but the overall burden is enormous. He believes that if there is a need for more cabins, they should be built in existing cabin fields or buildings where there is already infrastructure. – Turning new nature into cottage fields, I don’t think nature can afford that until 2023. Now he hopes the municipalities take responsibility. The municipalities have no obligation to carry out development in areas where it is planned and can change their mind if they wish. – It is important that politicians dare to use that right. Now Gulowsen, together with DNT, WWF and NJF, hopes that the municipalities will review their regulatory plans to see if they meet their targets. – Seen in the light of today’s knowledge, I think many of the plans do not do that. The time for new cabin fields past Oppdal municipality has 4,234 cabins, and is thus the municipality in Trøndelag with the second most cabins. – We also see that the time for large cabin fields may soon be over. That’s what Elisabeth Hals (V), who will soon take up her job as mayor in Oppdal, says. She thinks it is an exciting but difficult topic. – This issue of cottage development is like a many-headed troll. Photo: Fanny Feragen Solheim / news She says that Oppdal municipality currently has a land reserve of about a thousand cottages. These are cabins that are regulated but have not yet been built. – We see that the major areas of conflict in terms of cabins and land use, especially appear when we build up topsoil or grazing land. Furthermore, she confirms what Gulowsen says about the municipalities not being obliged to carry out development, even if it is planned. – Land protection has been tightened through the government and this has meant that we have often said no to new measures. She adds that this has not gone down well with everyone. – It has, of course, provoked reactions at the other end, i.e. landowners and industries responsible for the construction. They think it is too unpredictable and point out that it is in the plans. Hals believes that the best thing is to create a new spatial plan that takes into account the considerations you want, in order to create predictability for everyone. She points out that there are different opinions about the area plans in the various political parties in Oppdal, but she believes that we will see a greener twist in the future. In black and white In Norway’s largest cottage municipality, Ringsaker, according to the mayor, Odd Amund Lundberg (Sp), approximately 2,000 units are included in the current spatial plan. – I understand the input from them and we will take it on board, but that you should be so firm that you should stop all cottage field development, I do not want to support that as of now. Ringsaker municipality will also review and adjust its spatial plan in 2024. – It fits well, we are just starting a new round in our spatial plan. Then we take all input and weigh it up against each other. – Their strategy is very black and white and I understand that from their point of view, but I cannot guarantee that there will not be more cottage fields.
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Will have a complete stop in the development of cabin fields – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
