Governing transitions in the Norwegian outfields: Between agrarian traditions, modern consumption and green industrialisation

Prosjektet ser på forskjellige konfliktar som oppstår i samband med bruk av utmarka i Noreg. Føremålet med prosjektet er å sjå på korleis me kan skapa tillitt og sosial berekraft mellom forvaltning og lokalsamfunn og brukarar av utmarka. Så langt har prosjektet bryrja utforska lokalsamfunnas reaksjonar på nedslaktinga av villreinstammen i Nordfjella i 2017 og ei mulig innføring av ny lov for utmarksforvaltning i Nordland, og konfliktar mellom brukarar av utmarka knytt til dette. Prosjektet har også starta ei utforsking av grunnrentebegrepet, for å få fram korleis utmakra historisk (særleg med tanke på fossekrafta på 1900-talet) har vore verdsett og brukt, og korleis forvaltningsregime for grunnrenta har skapt gode relasjonar mellom lokalsamfunn og forvaltning.

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The main objective of the research project is to develop the knowledge and analytical understanding necessary to assess strengths and weaknesses in the institutional arrangements involved in the transformations and pressures stemming from renewed interest in the outfields' material and cultural resources, and provide policy recommendations accordingly. In order to fulfil the main objective, we will conduct a broad analysis of the transition processes within and between agrarian traditions, modern consumption and green industrialisation in selected outfield regions in Norway. The project will identify strengths and weaknesses of current governance mechanisms in the study regions pertaining to the management of cumulative effects, social sustainability and trust, and planning and managing areas of conflicting interests. The regions will be compared, and on this basis we will provide recommendations to local, regional and central authorities, as well as to stakeholders. The work will be carried out in close cooperation with local and regional authorities, and inputs from stakeholders will be an important part of the project. The project will draw on theories of transition, legal geography and neo-institutional theories, and utilizing the emprical findings to analyse the manner in which transitions in the outfields challenge established norms and practices, and its implications for the transition to a green society. In 2017 Ruralis (the applicant) was granted a research network project 'Utmark i endring - eit heilheitleg perspektiv på tida og tilhøva i utmarka' [The outfields in transition - a holistic approach on a changing times and conditions in the Norwegian outfields] from the Norwegian Research Council. The present research project is based on the discussions and stakeholder inputs from these seminars. Thus, a novel aspect of the proposed project is that it is so deeply rooted in urgent issues brought forward by stakeholders directly to the project partners.