National base map for land accounts

Until 2024, no such consolidated map dataset existed for Norwegian land areas. Instead, multiple overlapping maps were used, making land analysis unnecessarily complex. Additionally, there were no comprehensive ecosystem map with national coverage.

The effort to merge several map datasets into a single national base map is a collaboration between Statistics Norway (SSB), the Norwegian Environment Agency, NIBIO, and the Norwegian Mapping Authority (Kartverket). The most important data sources are:

• Land use, documenting how land is utilised in built-up areas.
• AR5, displaying land resources in municipalities, including forests, agricultural land, peatlands, and open land.
• AR50 and N50, providing less detailed information on areas above the treeline.

“The compilation is now complete, and the results are available. The map shows, among other things, the location of forests, peatlands, agricultural land, and water bodies. In built-up areas, it highlights residential zones, schools, and commercial areas,” says Geir-Harald Strand, project coordinator at NIBIO.

The base map will be useful for developing land accounts in Norwegian municipalities and counties, allowing for the documentation of the effect of land-use changes. Kjersti Bakkebø Fjellstad, project manager for land accounts in Akershus, Østfold, and Buskerud, is pleased that the base map is now accessible to all municipalities.

“To implement land and nature accounts at the municipal level, having this foundational data in place is crucial,” she says.

“This is the first version of the map. Many users have provided valuable feedback, and some improvements will be made before it enters routine production,” concludes Strand.