Nordhordland UNESCO Biosphere
Nordhordland UNESCO Biosphere Reserve was designated its status in 2019, and is currently (April 2025) the only Norwegian biosphere reserve. The biosphere reserve is closely related to the UNESCO Chair on Sustainable Heritage and Environmental Management, and is an official partner in several of the UNESCO Chair's research projects, as well as an important colaborator in general.
Main content
Nordhordland UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is a large biosphere reserve, consisting of eight Norwegian municipalities (and parts of another four) north of Bergen. It is managed by the inter-municipal company IKS Region Nordhordland, and 55 000 people live in within the area.
Nordhordland is representative not only of western Norway, but Norway as a whole, with nature and resources ranging from the alpine to the outer coast (as illustrated below).
The Nordhordland UNESCO Biosphere will help Norway achieve its commitments to the UN's Agenda 2030. Focal points are:
- Nature:聽Western Norway supports a heterogenous landscape, stretching from the outer coast through fjords to high mountains, marked by sharp climatic and ecological gradients
- Water: The west-coast recieves lots of percipitation!聽Norway is consequently the 6th largest producer of hydropower in the world聽and the largest in Europe
- Aquaculture & fisheries: Large-scale aquaculture as well as resources of pelagic fish stocks makes聽Norway the largest ocean-farming actor in Europe
- Petroleum: Petoleum and petroleum-related industries shape modern Norway聽and the oil refinery at Mongstad is situated in the middle of the biosphere area
- Tourism: The Bergen region, incuding Nordhordland, is an attractive聽tourist destination, as it offers both cultural and natural attractions
Explore Nordhordland UNESCO Biosphere Reserve further through their .
