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Hjerkinn was the Armed Forces’ most important firing range in southern Norway for more than 80 years, but was incorporated as a protected area in the Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park on Wednesday.
Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen (H) and Minister of Climate and Environment Sveinung Rotevatn (V) attended the celebration. They discovered a new stone slab on the hiking trail to the Viewpoint Snøhetta lookout point in Dovrefjell.
– Here, unique natural values are secured, the water and wetlands have been restored and wild reindeer have finally regained their kingdom. This is a good and tangible environmental policy in practice, says Minister for Climate and Environment Sveinung Rotevatn (V) on the return of the cloud field to nature.
Bombs and grenades removed
Forsvarsbygg has been in charge of carrying out the repatriation in collaboration with the Armed Forces and the defense sector, environmental experts, contractors and authorities.
Roads, buildings and structures have been removed, and the entire area has been cleared of explosives. Nearly 5,000 large unexploded bombs and grenades have been removed along with 550 tons of scrap metal.
Around 15,000 recruits have ridden into the mountains and cleared in all kinds of weather and lead since the project began in 2006.
– After the presence of the defense sector in Dovrefjell for many decades, it is appropriate to thank Dovrefjell’s loan, Defense Minister Bakke-Jensen said during the celebration.
The old Hjerkinn shooting range with Snøhetta mountain in the background. On Wednesday, much of the area will be incorporated into the Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park after being restored. Photograph: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB
The Norwegian Society for Nature Conservation: – Unique
A total of 165 square kilometers have been restored. 130 of them will be incorporated into the national park, while the rest will be landscape conservation areas.
– Here a completely unique work has been carried out to recreate large natural spaces. This shows that we can repair destroyed nature, says Arnodd Håpnes, leader of the Nature Conservation Association.
Where there were miles of roads, bomb craters, and ruined wilderness, mountain wilderness has returned.
– Now wild reindeer recover important migration routes at the same time as grazing areas increase. Wild foxes and various birds have a wider playing field, habitat types have been recreated, and rare species have more habitats. This is absolutely incredible and very important, says Håpnes.
