Researchers have reviewed all existing literature on effects of land use change on biodiversity and ecosystem services in Norway. The results are presented as a knowledge map, a valuable tool for prioritizing future knowledge needs.
Land use change is known to be the main driver of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation both globally and in Norway. These changes compromise nature’s ability to deliver goods and services (ecosystem services or nature’s goods) upon which we depend on for our well-being.
In Norway, urban and built-up areas expanded throughout the last century and the trend continues today. Over the period 1990-2019, a total of 1,500 km2 were subject to land use changes of some form, degrading in turn natural areas.
- Knowledge on how land use changes affect biodiversity and ecosystem services in Norway is poor, says Erlend B. Nilsen, Senior Researcher at The Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) and Professor at Nord University.
Knowledge presented in a map
NINA researchers have now made a systematic and comprehensive review, first of its kind, of existing knowledge related to effects of land use and land use change on biodiversity and ecosystem services, including carbon storage, in Norway. Literature on conflict and governance related to land use, as well as tools for planning and management is also included.
The results are presented in systematic maps known as evidence and gap maps (EGM), developed to provide a user-friendly overview of available evidence on certain topics, enabling decision-makers to identify knowledge gaps and prioritize future research.
Exposing knowledge gaps
The review reveals a particular lack of long-term studies covering large geographical areas, as well as social science studies focusing on the transformative changes needed to achieve sustainable land use in Norway.
They further show large variations in the amount of research undertaken on various ecosystem types, and between different parts of the country. Also, much of the existing research focuses on individual species, rather than effects on species communities, ecosystems and ecosystem services.
Future needs
- There is a clear need to understand how extensive land use change affects nature and ecosystem services, says Nilsen. A more concerted coordination of research efforts should be emphasized in future prioritization of research and knowledge building. Our review of the literature also shows that there is an unmet need for new knowledge syntheses on more limited topics related to the effects of land use on biodiversity and ecosystem services, he concludes.
The review was commissioned by the Research Council of Norway.
Read the report (Abstract in English):
Nilsen, E.B., Simensen, T. Singsaas, F.T., Eriksen, L.F., Stokland, H., Sutcliffe, T.E., Kolstad, A., Pilotto, F., & Grainger, M. 2024. Effects of land-use and land-use change on biodiversity, ecosystem services and carbon storage in Norway. A systematic map and decision support tool. NINA Report 2472. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research.
Contact: Erlend B. Nilsen