From Local Initiative to National State Process: The Case of Rondane National Park, Norway

Abstract

Abstract Discussions about the purpose and management of Norway’s first national park evolved along different lines than planning did elsewhere in the world. First proposed in 1956 by local mountain boards wishing to protect wild reindeer, Rondane National Park opened in December 1962 with a significantly altered management emphasis. Prior to 1960, Norway had yet to adopt a national system for the conservation of large areas, and, therefore, local actors could set the terms of the debate. In 1960, however, the nation established a more comprehensive system for nature conservation, reshaping conservation in ways that prioritized the core actors over those on the periphery. The newly empowered administrator emphasized outdoor recreation, the preservation of pristine nature, and the protection of cultural traditions rather than wild reindeer. Rejecting a proposal for a management board for Rondane that would have included local representatives, Norwegian officials opted to emphasize national priorities and, in so doing, set a precedent for subsequently organized national parks.