The Nærøyfjord area includes six protected areas, each with its unique qualities: Nærøyfjorden Protected Landscape, Bleia-Storebotnen Protected Landscape, Bleia Nature Reserve, Grånosmyrane Nature Reserve, Nordheimsdalen Nature Reserve and Geitanosi Nature Reserve.
World Heritage
World Heritage is cultural and natural heritage that is considered to have unique, universal value seen from a historical, artistic, scientific or aesthetic perspective. Places on the World Heritage List have been chosen because they have a special cultural or natural significance for humankind from a historical perspective. The Geirangerfjord area and the Nærøyfjord area are the first World Heritage Sites in Norway to be registered on UNESCO’s World Heritage List based on their natural heritage.
UNESCO
UNESCO is the UN’s organization for education, science, culture and communication. The organization’s goal is to contribute to peace and security through international collaboration.
UNESCO was established on November 16, 1945, and Norway became a member in 1946. UNESCO works to create dialogue based on respect for common values and dignity for all world cultures.
What does World Heritage Status mean?
World Heritage Status denotes that a site is of exceptional significance for the whole world. Therefore, this means that the West Norwegian Fjords are of such great universal significance that special care must be taken so the whole world may enjoy them, both now and for future generations.
World Heritage Values
There are buildings and sites around the whole world that are on the World Heritage List. All have been given the status because they are considered unique and important objects that must be well looked after. Their characteristics represent universal values that are so important that everyone is obligated to take especially good care of the them.
The West Norwegian Fjords are registered on the list as natural heritage. The two areas are considered to be exceptional examples of fjord landscapes, and landscapes that are still changing due to active geological processes. This means that the landscape here is still being shaped and is in a state of change. An extra dimension regarding this World Heritage Site is the cultural landscape, traces of ancient lives, and that people actually live here today!
Nærøyfjorden Protected Landscape
Nærøyfjorden Protected Landscape is the largest of the protected areas. It was established in 2002 in order to safeguard the magnificent combination of natural and cultural landscapes. The variation from fjord to mountains create a great diversity of plant and animal life.
The area has been utilized for active farming over many centuries, and the cultural landscape is an important part of its value. Hayfields, pastures, mountain farms, pollarded trees and summer farming areas are important elements in the landscape and home to many specialized species. It is important to maintain the cultural landscape in order to preserve the special landscapes, cultural monuments and species that belong there.
Bleia Nature Reserve
Bleia Nature Reserve covers an extraordinarily impressive fjord landscape surrounding Bleia mountain, on the peninsula between Lærdalsfjorden and Aurlandsfjorden. The fjord below Bleia mountain is almost 1000 meters deep, so the difference in height from the bottom of the fjord to the top of the 1717 meter high mountain is approximately 2700 meters, the highest relief in Sognefjorden. Dramatic ravines and mountain ridges contrast with the gentle mountain plateau when you reach the top. Here, you will find the remnants of the old plains from before the ice ages.
Special rules in this area:
- All vegetation, including dead shrubs and trees, is protected and must not be disturbed
- Cycling and horse riding are prohibited
Bleia – Storebotnen Protected Landscape
Bleia – Storebotnen Protected Landscape covers the area between Nærøyfjorden Protected Landscape, Nordheimsdalen Nature Reserve and Bleia Nature Reserve, and was established in conjunction with the application for UNESCO status. Few people visit this area of wilderness and it is an important habitat for wild reindeer.
Special rules in this area:
- The use of drones is prohibited
Grånosmyrane Nature Reserve
Grånosmyrane Nature Reserve is an unusually large area of marshland on the border between Aurland and Voss Municipality. The relatively flat area where Vassetelvi river widens is surrounded by small lakes and marshes that form an important breeding ground for many bird species, including several red-listed and regionally rare species. Visitors may see snow buntings and Lapland buntings, purple sandpipers, Eurasian dotterels, European golden plovers and rock ptarmigan. This rich and vulnerable birdlife is the reason why this area is protected.
Special rules in this area:
- Pitching tents is not permitted from 1 June to 1 August due to the birdlife found in the area.
- Dogs must be kept on a leash all year round.
Nordheimsdalen Nature Reserve
In Nordheimsdalen Nature Reserve, visitors can experience an ancient, primeval pine forest – a real fairy tale forest. The valley lies on the eastern side of Aurlandsfjorden and is a hanging valley that was formed by the ice. It also has a rich biodiversity. Despite the fact that this area bears many traces of logging and forestry from the past, parts of the forest are untouched and are characterized by many huge, beautiful and ancient pine trees.
Special rules in this area:
- All vegetation, including dead shrubs and trees, is protected and must not be disturbed.
- Cycling and horse riding are prohibited outside of the existing road
- All kind of organized traffic and tours are prohibited. If you have questions, please contact the protected area manager.
Geitanosi naturreservat
Geitanosi is a forest nature reserve that is characterized by rich deciduous forests, including elm and basswood forests, old boreal deciduous forests, river gorges and waterfalls. The area is home to several endangered natural habitats, and endangered and rare species have also been recorded here. In ancient times, basswood trees from this forest were used to make bast rope.
Management
The protected areas are managed by the Nærøyfjorden Protected Area Management Board. Each area has its own protection regulations that include laws applying to the area. It is the Board’s job to ensure that natural and cultural values are safeguarded, and to follow up on any breaches of the legislation.
The Board comprises of politicians from Vestland County Authority and the municipalities that make up the protected area, which are Aurland, Lærdal, Vik and Voss. Two protected landscape managers are employed as the Board Secretariat.
Nærøyfjorden World Heritage Park
Regional parks are well established in other European countries, but this is a concept that is still being developed in Norway. The aim of the concept is to create an integrated management of the area and increase value creation that is built on local natural and cultural resources.
Nærøyfjorden World Heritage Park is one of the first Norwegian regional parks, and is a result of grassroots development processes. The idea behind the establishment is based on a holistic approach to nature-based and culture-based social development, and a need to coordinate municipalities and actors that have a connection to the World Heritage Site.
Nærøyfjorden World Heritage Park was created as a foundation on 25 January 2008. The formal founders were Sogn and Fjordane County Authority (now Vestland County Authority) and the municipalities of Aurland, Lærdal, Vik and Voss.
