The Land Consolidation Service

is primarily responsible for planning and decision-making activities to ensure that

•agricultural operating costs remain low

•agricultural properties are adapted in a manner that promotes development within the industry

•all legal aspects in land reallocation cases are clarified.Land consolidation and reallocation cases are mainly dealt with in the land consolidation courts. These courts deal primarily with problems involving shared use of agricultural land area or property ownership boundaries. Solutions often require new rules for or dissolution of agreements regarding shared land use, or a new configuration of holdings

The Land Consolidation Act guarantees that no landholders will suffer financial loss as a result of a ruling. The work of the land consolidation service extends from the rulings of the tribunals to the planning and creation of new measures to solve problems related to property ownership (such as exchange of land, dissolution of joint ownership.) As from 1 July 1996, the land consolidation courts were given responsibility for resolving conflicts between reindeer herding and other industries.

The Land Consolidation Service consists of:

•18 county land consolidation offices

•41 land consolidation courts

•5 superior land consolidation courts

Norwegian Institute for Land Inventory (NIJOS)

is primarily responsible for supplying information to government authorities and operators in the industry on soil, forest, vegetation and landscape for use in planning, resource management, environmental protection efforts and agricultural activities. The Institute compiles information on the state of the resource base and changes in it over time, as well as potential methods of utilization and ramifications of specific utilization measures.

Address: Norsk institutt for jord- og skogkartlegging

Raveien 9, Post Office Box 115

N-1430 Ås

Tel. +47 64 94 97 00. Fax +47 64 94 97 86

e-mail: nijos@nijos.no

Home-page: http://www.nijos.no/