The fact that more people travel in Norway means that more Norwegians than usual will spend a few days in nature. The right to public access means people pack their tents and flock to popular tourist spots. But in some places the pressure on nature and the inhabitants is too much. Several municipalities in Lofoten are now taking action and banning camping in many of the most popular areas from June 22 onwards.
See the map of places where tents are not allowed here
The forbidden areas extend largely along major roads, along the coast, and along the most visited beaches and mountain peaks. Outside the Lofoten Islands it is still possible to put up tents - except for certain restrictions in nature reserves.
- The goal is not to restrict the right to public access, but to care for Lofoten. We would prefer that a tent ban was not necessary. But the need for funds has become too great, says Peter Andresen, CEO of Lofoten Friluftsråd, who was the first to mention the case.
Violation of the tent ban will in the worst case be reported to the police and will result in a fine.
- Last resort
Norwegian Outdoor Life's general secretary, Bente Lier, believes that such measures must be a last resort.
– The right to public access is in Norway is very strong and important part of our cultural heritage. It is important to protect this right. At the same time, there are certain obligations to take care of nature. Restricting the right to public access must be an absolute last resort, says Norwegian Outdoor Life secretary general Bente Lier.
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He points out that much can be done by setting up toilets, rubbish bins and information to train users how to better cope with so-called 'trackless traffic'.
"It is everyone's responsibility not to leave any traces in nature," he says.
Ban on tents on western beaches
It is not only Lofoten that have introduced restrictions that limit the right of public access. In the commune of Stad in popular Hoddevika and Ervik, a ban on pitching tents was introduced.
"The right to public access is not fully compatible in some places," he said last week Bergens Tidende mayor of Stad.
Helene Myhre also noticed increased activity in Western Norway.
- In 2016, I was in Geiranger and slept in a tent somewhere where we were alone. Four years later, the tents were in close proximity. When I was in Loen last year, people camped along the roads and inside the residents' property. It has come a little too far, he says.
Fjordane Friluftsråd, who is responsible for these popular tourist destinations in western Norway, does not want to comment on the sister organization's decision or say anything about whether or not they are considering introducing similar measures in several places. They will only request a general appeal:
- We want to encourage everyone who travels in Norwegian nature to pay attention to both people and nature, and leave the places visited intact, says Thea Båtevik.
Tent prohibited. Government cuts
In fact, municipalities are responsible for facilitating outdoor tourism by, for example, building toilets, putting up rubbish bins and providing information to users about suitable accommodation before considering bans that violate the right to public access.
Friluftrådenes Landsforbund's CEO, Morten Dåsnes, points out that some municipalities are in a very difficult situation.
- Such prohibitions are the legal basis that exists in the Act on Outdoor Activities since 1957. In that sense, it is nothing new. There were areas in southern Norway where these restrictions had been in place for years, explains Dåsnes.
