THE VALUE of CREATION TAKES PLACE THROUGH MEETINGS Community

Home , Aurland, Vik, West Norwegian Fjords

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Photo: Stine Karlsen ABOUT THE PARK

The Nærøyfjord World Heritage Park was founded by the world heritage municipalities of Aurland, Vik, Lærdal and Voss alongside the county of Sogn og Fjordane. Our partners are residents with commitment and passion for the area that they live and work in. The partnership agreement may be signed by the park and individuals, businesses and organisations. In the summer of 2015 we had approximately 60 partners.

BETTER TOGETHER By signing a partnership agreement, the partners become part of a network. Partners contribute their initiative and personal expertise. The role of the park organisation is to guide them. This means that the partners get to strengthen their priorities whilst we all work together to develop and safeguard this unique area. We’re stronger together than we are apart. : Tom Boersma, www.orangsje.com : Tom Photo

Ivar-Bjarne Underdal is one of the goat farmers that has helped develop the Undredal Cheese into the well-known brand it is today. He is an important driving force behind the developments in this region and has played a central role in establishing the World Heritage Park. : ActionPhoto Photo © Sakte. APPRECIATION The value of creation takes place through We will maintain and strengthen the world meetings between people. The importance heritage values by: lies in recognising and appreciating each • Conveying and building up knowledge in other. It’s about getting involved and giving regards to natural and cultural heritage something of yourself, rather than sitting value by and merely observing. We can influence • Take advantage of the world heritage appreciation through good communication. values when developing products, businesses and the local community • Strengthening ownership and the communal thought process

: Pascale Baudonnel Photo © A REGIONAL PARK The Nærøyfjord World He- munities. An area that has a coordination between the ritage Park is a region of rural strongly defined geographical municipalities and others in- development and as of June landscape and identity adds volved with the world heritage 2015 it is one of five regio- a separate dimension to this area. nal parks in Norway. We’re creation of values. members of Norwegian Parks Values – a commond platform - a recently founded national Starting at the bottom Those involved with the park network of local and regional This regional park is the purposefully chose a platform parks. results of developmental of values that would safegu- processes that began at a ard world heritage. The World Our landscape – our identity grass root level. The park was Heritage Park is made up of The creation of values in a founded as a response to a partners from the local com- regional park has its starting whish for a controlled nature munity, agriculture and other point in the qualities of the and culture based community industries, voluntary organisa- area and the different com- development and a need for tions and area administrators. Lysne : Geirfinn Photo SOGNEFJORDEN

SOGNDAL

KAUPANGER

LÆRDAL

VIK

FRESVIK

AURLANDSFJORDEN NÆRØYFJORDEN BAKKA UNDREDAL

AURLAND

FJORD GUDVANGEN FLÅM STALHEIM THE AREA OF THE NÆRØYFJORD – part of the world heritage area of the West Norwegian Fjords THE WEST NORWEGIAN FJORDS The West Norwegian Fjords, the nature reserves of Bleia, the consisting of the two areas of the valley of Nordheimsdalen and the Nærøyfjord and the Geirangerfjord marshland of Grånosmyrane and were added to the World Heritage the villages of Gudvangen, Bakka, List on the 14th of July 2005. Dyrdal og Undredal. The fjords and their surroundings are filled with active, geological An independent board, that processes and offers a stunning includes a secretary and an landscape that runs from the administrator has been established fjords to the top of the mountains to ensure local administration

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V and consists of glaciers, woods, of the world heritage area. The

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R E I T N A I cultural landscape. This makes important collaborator in many G O E M • PAT R I for some very important values of the projects. in relation to world heritage. The area of the Nærøyfjord is made up The heartland of the world heritage of the conservation areas of the area consists of the Nærøyfjord and

: Nærøyfjorden Verdsarvpark : Nærøyfjorden Nærøyfjord and Bleia-Storbotn, its adjacent communities. Photo : Svein Ulvund A RICH DIVERSITY OF WILDLIFE Photo If you journey through the world heritage area you are very likely to catch a glimpse of wild birds as well as several different mammals. The mountains have several areas of marshland and other wetland that are of huge importance to birds such as ducks and waders. You may also see wild reindeer and foxes in the area. the rich hillsides and valleys are home to a stabile herd of deer and a variety of birds of prey. The area also has several mountain lakes containing salmon and trout. There are long standing traditions of fishing and hunting in the area, and both remain important parts of the community today.

Photo: Jarle Sandvik built. all are townships and livelihoods vegetation, which upon foundation the are processes these and bedrock glacier. The the of departure the since land the shaped has that processes natural the of signs the remain rivers and waterfalls of water rushing the with along rockslide or avalanche an of boom resulting The phyllite. of layers calcareous find will you which between in anorthosite, and mangerite gneiss, gabbro, as such nutrients. in low are that rocks hard of up made mainly is bedrock The landscape. fjord classical developed awell is area heritage world the speaking Geologically AREA OUR OF GEOLOGY THE

Photo: Tom Dybwad milk. important all their supply here graze that animals the help least not and meat, flavour to and dye for used are herbs and flowers houses, and boats building for utilised are woods The area. the within live who those for resource important an remains flora The valuable. particularly are area the of landscape cultural the and Bleia of reserve nature the in poppies rare the Nordheimsdalen, of valley the in forest coniferous The plants, of range wide of a up made pastures and hayfields with intersected forests, feel primeval and deciduous with filled hillsides and valleys the of bottom warm the to plants alpine their with mountains high the from spans which flora, arich has area heritage world The MOTHERNATUREOF COLOURFUL BLANKET THE

The old farm road of Rimstigen is the starting point of an incredible experience in world heritage. The road is utilised more and more for hiking and walks and amongst other things it’s home to the yearly World Heritage March and an uphill race.

A SUSTAINABLE CREATION OF VALUES The main goal of the Nærøyfjord A combination of the unique World Heritage Park is to safeguard natural heritage, the life of the and strengthen the administration people in these surroundings and of the world heritage values in order their dedication to a good, strong to attain a sustainable development community is the foundation of the of the area. We want to do this goals and strategies of the World by providing the world heritage Heritage Park. with a source of cultural, social, environmental and economical growth in and around the area of

: Nærøyfjorden Verdsarvpark : Nærøyfjorden the Nærøyfjord. Photo : Nærøyfjorden Verdsarvpark : Nærøyfjorden Photo

SUSTAINABILITY

The park is a small organisation and its employees spend a lot of their time in the field. We work with landowners to register and help upkeep cultural heritage and the cultural landscape. We provide support in applying for grants for, planning and designing projects as well as seeing them through. We spend a lot of time dealing with a variety of governing bodies and fulfilling an important role as a coordinator and facilitator in different projects. Our priority is to use our resources on collaborative projects that create value for our partners and others.

The reconditioning of the farm road of Rimstigen is an example of a project that inspired dedication and collaboration from a lot of different people. The World Heritage Park had a central role in the work, both administratively and economically.

Laila Kvellestad runs the rural museum of Otternes and has spent several years working to safeguard the farmstead and has turned it into one of the cornerstones when it comes to the creation of values in the area.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND HOSTING SKILLS Experiencing an appreciation for nature and culture, development of hosting skills and learning are areas of great importance to us. Stories and traditions are sources for experiences and solidarity.

Everyone that lives in the area are potential hosts for visitors. We develop and arrange courses in countryside hosting for locals, courses for seasonal workers and courses for students. : Petter Solheim Photo

The cluster of buildings that make up Otternes have old roots and a rich architectural heritage. The administrator of local natural and cultural heritage is an important part in the running of the farmstead. : Petter Solheim Photo

The Sogn School of Organic Agriculture and Horticulture (SJH) plays an important part in the development of skills both regionally and nationwide. The school has won several medals due to their continued commitment to cheese making.

DEVELOPING AN ADVANCED GREEN EXPERTISE The park establishment of Aurland need to further their knowledge. We have to travelled south in Europe in order to learn, but the knowledge has been further developed and tailored to Norwegian needs locally. This knowledge is of interest

: Petter Solheim to several regions. It forms the basis upon which expertise in new subjects may arise

Photo locally.

In the history filled farm of Sivle you can experience, as well as taste, the local cultural heritage at the same time as witnessing the exceptional world heritage nature of the valley of Nærøydalen.

FOOD CRAFTS AND EXPERIENCES We utilise the local natural and cultural values as the basis of a sustainable creation of values. These serve as a starting point to further develop existing businesses as well as establishing new ones. The park supports their partners throughout such developmental processes. With a wide variety of partners, new collaborations are created. SAKTE (SLOW) is an example.

SAKTE is a brand under which allies of local food crafts and producers of experiences with local roots may align themselves.

The members of the alliance offer a range of products and experiences of world heritage quality. SAKTE began its existence as a project by the company Sognefjorden Næringshage, whose work include working closely with local

industry and entrepreneurs, but is : Stine Karlsen now owned and run exclusively by the foundation’s members. Photo

Holmo The start of Aurland Plan of action Aurland Aurland The – Styvi planning for Kulturland- for the conser- Natur- Natur og Nærøyfjord Landscape the conser- skap (cultural vation of nature verkstad Kultur Arv conserva- conservation vation of the landscape) is and the land- (Nature ANKA tion area Nærøyfjord founded scape in the workshop) (natural and municipality of is founded cultural herit- Aurland age) founded

Conference in Flåm – “Conservation should be practised in a manner that strengthens self worth” and ”the pride of those who life and work in the area. There should be a certain status that comes with being a farmer in the Nærøyfjord area.”

(Quote from the introductory

Photo: Geirfinn Lysne Geirfinn Photo: lecture) ANNIVERSARIES

CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT THE TIMES: Agricultural restructuring, mass tourism, decreasing populations and conservation processes. 1991 94 95 97 98 99 01 02 05 06 07 08 09 11 15

UNESCO officially Workshop for Admission into Admission May: July 14th marks declares the world heritage the Directorate for granted to Norwegian 10 years since Nærøyfjord as a park project (work- Cultural Heritage’s the Natural Parks; an the West Nor- conservation area ing title: Aurland programme of Heritage organisation wegian Fjords as part of the West Nature and cultural heritage Programme for regional and consisting of the Norwegian Fjords Culture Park) at the local parks in areas of the Nær- alongside the Directorate Norway is øyfjord and the Geirangerfjord area Provisional January 25th: of Natural established Geirangerfjord administration The foundation Conserva- were added to Nærøyfjord World tion as a August: Local UNESCO’s World Educational trip Heritage Park creator of administra- Heritage List. to France Granted admission becomes a reality value tive board for to the small com- the conserva- munities initiative of tion area of the Workshop the KRD (Ministry of December Nærøyfjord is Local Government 8th: established and Development) Park plan adopted June 10th: official celebration of gaining the world heritage status takes place in the village of Bakka SUPPORTED BY Cover photo: Stine Karlsen, rear photo: Leif-Arne Furevik. Issue: May 2015 The Nærøyfjord World Heritage Park receives support from the Directorate for Cultural Heritage, the Norwegian Environ- CONTACT ment Agency, the Ministry of Local Government and Moderni- sation, the Ministry of Climate and Environment and Sogn og The Nærøyfjord World Fjordane County Municipality. Heritage Park c/o general manager, Heradshuset, 5745 AURLAND GET INVOLVED WITH WORLD HERITAGE: Email: [email protected] Phone: +47 57 63 29 09 • Familiarise yourself with the world heritage area • Purchase local food and drink • Share your knowledge with visitors that wish to meet the Facebook: local people and experience the landscape! Nærøyfjorden Verdsarvpark • Become one of the Nærøyfjord World Heritage Park partners Instagram: @naroyfjordenworldheritagepark naroyfjorden.no Twitter: @naroyfjorden