Norway is planning four new national parks, including one featuring Europe’s highest sea cliff, Hornelen. The park status guarantees an area protection from human-induced changes in landscape, including banning new roads or homes from the areas.
First proposed in a 2016 report, the tongue-twisting list includes, in addition to Hornelen, parks at Summørsalpane, Masfjordfjella and Øystesefjella. The report has been under consideration by the Ministry of Climate and Environment, whose director pointed out that for “new national parks, there must be certain acceptance in the municipalities that are affected. Good dialogue with the municipalities is also absolutely crucial for any further processes.”
Past proposals have been rejected for lack of local support or in some cases active opposition, but this time around there has already been discussion and support by a number of municipal officials. In one case that support is based less on the park itself but on one of its effects: the mayor of Masfjordfjella hopes it will block wind power development in the area: “We are clearly against wind power in our mountain area, and we will remain so,” she told broadcaster NRK.
