English

The mission of regional parks in Norway is to increase cooperation regarding the caretaking and further enhancement of natural- and cultural values in defined landscape- and identity regions.

The Regional Parks represents a selection of Norway that includes a variety of landscapes, such as high alpine mountains, fjords, canals and deep forests. The mission of regional parks in Norway is to increase cooperation regarding the caretaking and further enhancement of natural- and cultural values in defined landscape- and identity regions.

The working areas of regional parks are rural development, landscape management, sustainable tourism and heritage interpretation.

The establishment of regional parks in Norway is still in an early phase. However, the first regional parks are now ten years old and can show good results. The main goal for regional parks in Norway in the years ahead is to be incorporated into the national legal framework and to receive base funding for operating costs. A revision of natural and cultural heritage laws, incorporating a more integrated park policy, similar to Switzerland, would be a good model for Norway and other Nordic countries.

The legal background is not yet based on separate national laws, but is planned according to the plan and buidling act. The regional parks are established as associations formed by municipalities, regional authorities and private partners.

The name of the umbrella organization for the regional parks of Noray is;  Norwegian Parks Association (Norske Parker). it was etablished in 2011.

Norway has 9 established regional parks: Valdres Nature and Culture Park, Nærøyfjord World Heritage Park, Telemark Canal Regional Park, Halden Canal Regional Park, Finnskogen Nature and Culture Park, Okstindan Nature and Culture Park, Vefsna Regional Park, Varanger Arctic Norway and Sognefjorden Coastal Park. The parks include 40 municipalities and have more than 200 local partners.

Please contact our association for more information.

Secretariat Director:

Kristian Bjørnstad.  Tlf. 45 48 95 14. E-mail: kristian@norskeparker.no

Address:

Norske Parker, Storvegen 13, 2420 Trysil, Norway

English

The Regional Parks represents a selection of Norway that includes a variety of landscapes, such as high alpine mountains, fjords, canals and deep forests. The mission of regional parks in Norway is to increase cooperation regarding the caretaking and further enhancement of natural- and cultural values in defined landscape- and identity regions. The working areas of regional parks are rural development, landscape management, sustainable tourism and heritage interpretation. The establishment of regional parks in Norway is still in an early phase. However, the first regional parks are now ten years old and can show good results. The main goal for regional parks in Norway in the years ahead is to be incorporated into the national legal framework and to receive base funding for operating costs. A revision of natural and cultural heritage laws, incorporating a more integrated park policy, similar to Switzerland, would be a good model for Norway and other Nordic countries. The legal background is not yet based on separate national laws, but is planned according to the plan and buidling act. The regional parks are established as associations formed by municipalities, regional authorities and private partners. The name of the umbrella organization for the regional parks of Noray is;  Norwegian Parks Association (Norske Parker). it was etablished in 2011. Norway has 9 established regional parks: Valdres Nature and Culture Park, Nærøyfjord World Heritage Park, Telemark Canal Regional Park, Halden Canal Regional Park, Finnskogen Nature and Culture Park, Okstindan Nature and Culture Park, Vefsna Regional Park, Varanger Arctic Norway and Sognefjorden Coastal Park. The parks include 40 municipalities and have more than 200 local partners. Please contact our association for more information. Secretariat Director: Kristian Bjørnstad.  Tlf. 45 48 95 14. E-mail: kristian@norskeparker.no Address: Norske Parker, Storvegen 13, 2420 Trysil, Norway