The National Landscape Reference System

The Norwegian landscape is an important part of our shared identity. Alongside our language, it is one of our strongest national points of reference. It is also a valuable resource for food production, economic development and recreation. When tourists choose Norway as their destination, it is often the natural environment and the landscape that play a decisive role in that choice.

Landscape Regions Agricultural Landscape Regions
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Norway has a rich and valuable landscape with great potential for the future. But like any valuable asset, it can be lost or damaged if it is not managed carefully.

The way we use the land is guided by laws and regulations. Different choices lead to different landscapes. The landscape around us reflects how people have used the land over time, as well as how we live today. It shows how we use land for farming, grazing, housing, roads, towns, tourism, and many other purposes. It is shaped by the decisions made by farmers, business owners, planners, local councils, and individual residents.

To make good decisions, it is important to understand the different types of landscapes, their unique qualities, and what they can offer in the future. This helps us make informed choices that take both local needs and the bigger picture into account.

Landscape concerns everyone. It brings together many different interests and fields of knowledge, including agriculture, archaeology, sociology, biology, and geology. Because of this, it is important to keep landscape issues high on the public agenda. The future of our landscape is too important to leave to chance.

To help understand and manage Norway’s landscapes, NIBIO’s national landscape reference system divides the country into 45 landscape regions. These regions highlight the main types of landscape found across Norway and help make their distinctive character and qualities easier to recognise. They also show the wide variety of landscapes found in different parts of the country.