Press release

Date: 03.10.02

The budget proposal for the Ministry of Environment 2003:

Increased focus on protecting nature areas and remediation of contaminated sites

Protection of nature areas and remediation of contaminated sites are the main priorities in the 2003 budget proposal of the Ministry of Environment. The implementation of the National park plan, the follow up of the plan for protection of coniferous forests, work on regional protection plans and marine protection plans are all secured by budget allocationsand authorized commitments . The remediation of contaminated sites will be intensified by increased budget allocation for measures against polluted sediments, PCB and various environmental poisons.

The budget proposal for the Ministry of Environment totals NOK 2 785,2 million. This is slightly lower than in 2002, mainly due to an adjustment of the allocation of funds for the environment measures on the Kola peninsula (Russia), and as a consequence of the transfer of the responsibility for contingency plans to combat oil spill from the Ministry of Environment to the Ministry of Fisheries. Adjusted for this, the budget increases

by 3,9 per cent.

Use and protection of nature areas

All formal decisions with regard to the Plan for protection of coniferous forests will be

made by the end of 2002. To implement the plan, the allocation increases by NOK 40 million. This makes the total contribution to protect coniferous forests NOK 110 million in 2003. In addition, the Government will continue its focus on forest protection, by introducing further protection measures in 2003. Simultaneously, the Government proposes to abandon the tax benefit from investments in forest roads, in order to reduce the pressure on forest areas.

To keep up the speed in the implementation of the National park plan, the Government proposes to double the authorized commitments for the National parks. More National parks and extension of existing parks are in the pipeline for implementation in 2003. In addition, the Government will establish more nature reserves and landscape protection areas. The work on regional protection plans will be continued by use of authorized commitments . Budget allocations aimed at securing outdoor areas and special measures in the National parks will be increased.

The Government will intensify the efforts to protect the wild salmon stocks. The campaign against the salmon parasite Gyrodactylus salaris will be escalated, and various protection measures will be proposed. The arctic fox is another endangered species, and measures to protect it will be proposed.

The Government will follow up the plan for biological diversity by establishing the "National program to survey and monitor biological diversity including the establishment of a species data bank ". This programme will collect and spread knowledge about endangered species and nature types. In total NOK10 million is proposed for the surveying program and NOK 8 million for the species data bank.

The Government proposes increased resource allocation for the work on a comprehensive administration plan for the Norwegian part of the Barents Sea. The allocation for general marine administration will be increased by NOK 2 million

The efforts to identify and combat environmental crime is an important issue. The Ministry of Justice will focus on this and see to that this comes high on the agenda of the local police administrations.

Remediation of contaminated sites

The Government will increase the allocations for remediation of contaminated sites by

NOK 10 million. Simultaneously an authority for expenditure of NOK 20 million is proposed to ensure satisfactory progress of the efforts to combat environmental poisons and polluted sediments. Further to the strategy outlined in the Report to the Storting on Marine environment, considerable efforts will be made in 2003 already. Clean up of high risk areas and the set up of regional action plans will be prioritised. Four pilot projects will be started in 2002 to obtain better knowledge about technical solutions and costs of the clean up work.

Climate change

The Government prepares for a more ambitious climate policy. A new quota system will be introduced in 2003. This system will comprise emissions of GHG from industries which are exempted from the CO2 tax. The Government will introduce charges on emissions of HFC and PFC in 2003. For environmental reasons the Government propose some adjustments in the landfill tax, aimed at stimulating energy recovery. Subsidies for energy utilization will also be proposed (NOK 40 million ).

The Government propose to enhance climate research. On the Ministry of Environment's budget the allowances for research on effects of climate change increases by NOK 4 million . The Ministry of Oil and Energy increases its allowances for alternative use of energy by NOK 40 million , this totalling NOK 220 million in 2003.

Cultural heritage

The Norwegian Cultural Heritage Fund will be operative by 1 January 2003. Its administration will be located in Røros. Any increase of the fund's size will be considered

in connection with the Revised National Budget for 2003. The increased emphasis on the issue of cultural heritage will include several concrete projects, such as the restoration of the stave churches, grants for the restoration of Stavanger Cathedral, the nomination of two new areas for the World heritage list, a visitor's center at the Borgund stave church, and the ongoing restoration projects at the Norwegian Hydropower and Manufacturing Centre Museum at Tyssedal.

Public transport and urban environment

The Government prepares for a considerable concentration on public transport. Total allowances for public transport at the budget of the Ministry of Transportation goes up by nearly NOK 370 million.

The Government will follow up the Report to the Storting on improved environment in towns and villages. Relevant initiatives will be pilot projects to improve the environment, to renovate old city areas, and management and maintenance of city centres.