Problems Related to Conservation of Coniferous Forest in Norway

• Published in: Environmental conservation 1991, Vol.18 (3), p.255-259
• Main Author: Korsmo, Harald
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Coniferous forests; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Deciduous forests; Environmental conservation; Forest conservation; Forest ecosystems; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Main Papers; Nature conservation; Old growth forests; Protected areas; State forests; Wildlife conservation
• ISSN: 0376-8929; 1469-4387
• DOI: 10.1017/S0376892900022189

In this paper, it is argued that the Norwegian Government must tackle the problems related to the conservation of coniferous forests more seriously and urgently than hitherto, and not let this important task be governed by commercial interests. A national plan based on political, non-scientific motives will not safeguard these ecocomplexes and their component ecosystems and the endangered species found in them. A practical way to solve the time-consuming disagreements between environmental authorities and forest owners would be to guarantee full compensation, and to start paying for sites of high conservation interest immediately. This compensation must ensure that the forest owners can fulfil such financial commitments as they already have. An alternative would be the exchange of privately-owned forest for public forest land, including forests owned by ‘The Educational Fund’. The Ministries involved must learn to cooperate in such work. If they do not, Norway's credibility in environmental matters may suffer. Solutions must be reached which do not put sectorial interests before national or international environmental values, and which guarantee the protection of a representative selection of coniferous forests according to scientific principles.