We are repeating the success from last year and inviting you to a new dialogue meeting about visitor management and sustainable tourism on and along the Nærøyfjorden .

Here is the program for the day:

The Western Norwegian fjord landscape is celebrating 20 years as a world heritage site and has written a musical to mark the anniversary!

You are most welcome to the festival performance in

 Aurland , AIS, Friday 24 October at 1800.

"THE FJORD HOME"

is a musical based on the book about Gaute Gneis, and we have written the lyrics and music ourselves. Beautiful costumes and sets have been made especially for this musical. We have students on stage who have rehearsed songs and characters.

We hope you have the opportunity to come and experience the magic and celebrate with us!

Children: free Adults: NOK 100,-

Welcome to FJORD//FORSK 2025 – The research seminar with a festival atmosphere for those with a heart for research and knowledge dissemination about fjord landscapes, world heritage, nature and the environment!

The launch of FJORD//FORSK marks 20 years of the Western Norwegian Fjord Landscape World Heritage Site and has as its theme the fjords' environmental condition, development and future .

We offer an interesting and fun day with good academic content, dialogue, beautiful landscape experiences and delicious food, new contacts and friendship, in Aurland October 18th! Here you can learn new things, participate in exciting discussions and experience world heritage with all your senses.

FJORD//FORSK is particularly aimed at young researchers and students, but established researchers, administration, business and local residents are also welcome to register.

The event is free for everyone and includes food and drinks.

Registration; deadline is Friday, October 17th at 4:00 PM

https://forms.office.com/e/XWsW4MJVtR

Program FJORD//FORSK Saturday 18 October

07.00-08.20 Morning swim in the Aurlandsfjord and Fjord sauna

with Synnøve Balabanian from SB Swimwear (two groups of 40 min – registration, limited number of places)

08.00-09.00 Breakfast with coffee, tea and hot apple juice

Lecture about the business SB Swimwear from Voss and pop-up shop with sustainable (re)designer swimwear (lecture starts at 8:30 am)

09.00-09.30 Opening of FJORD//FORSK

by World Heritage Coordinator Gry Mørk

Information about the Norwegian World Heritage Trainee Program and the background for FJORD//FORSK by Robert Hetland Lende, former trainee, and Maiken Minde from the World Heritage Park

09.30-10.10 "What's going on under the surface? Some thoughts on the status and development of the environmental condition in the Sognefjord"

v/ Marianne Nilsen, associate professor and marine ecologist, University of Western Norway

(Leg stretch)

10.20-11.00 “The fjord landscape – a geological masterpiece”

by Stein Bondevik, professor and Quaternary geologist, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

11.00-11.15 "Reconstruction of Blåskavlen, Aurland , based on mapping and investigation of lake sediments" (master's project in geology)

by Maiken Minde, geologist and project manager at the World Heritage Park

11.15-11.30 "Clouds above Geiranger. An analysis of nature-culture divides and heritage value." (master's project in archaeology)

by Robert Hetland Lende, archaeologist

11.30-12.30 Serving of soup and bread

12.30-14.30 "How to develop, promote and coordinate knowledge about and for the fjord landscape? What should we focus on? And what can each of us contribute?"

Panel debate, roundtable discussions and workshop by Else Ragni Yttredal, knowledge and research coordinator for the Western Norwegian Fjord Landscape World Heritage Site

14.30-16.30 Guided tour to Dagsturhytta - about the geology and visitor management in this popular area.

Tour guide: Maiken Minde, Nærøyfjorden World Heritage Park

From left: Fjordsauna, Marianne Nilssen, Stein Bondevik, from Stegastein, Maiken Minde

Subject to change

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Enrollment

https://forms.office.com/e/XWsW4MJVtR

The deadline for registration is Friday, October 17th at 4:00 PM.

Accommodation tips - for every taste and budget:

• Fjord Resort (Aurlandsvangen + Flåm)

• Wangen Apartments

• Aurland Guesthouse

• Flåmsbrygga Hotel

• Winjum Apartments and Cabins (10 min walk from Aurlandsvangen)

• Winjum Hostel Stegastein (10 min walk from Aurlandsvangen)

• Vangsgaarden Guesthouse (Aurlandsvangen)

• Airbnb – more options

• IN Aurland You can book various apartments or rooms, but often such accommodations cost almost the same as a hotel. If you are lucky, good deals can come up.

• 2/29 Aurland (boutique hotel at Tokvam, 5 minutes by car from Aurlandsvangen)

• Flåm Hostel & Camping

• Flam Marina

• Fretheim Hotel

• Svingen Guesthouse (Flam)

• Gudvangen Camping

• Gudvangen Fjord Hotel

How do you get here?

• Car from Bergen - 2 hours and 30 minutes

• Car from Sogndal - 1 hour 15 min

• Car from Oslo - 4 hours and 30 minutes

• Bus with Vy or Norway-bussekspress – check entur.no

• Train: Bergen Railway-Flåm Railway (change trains at Myrdal, terminus Flåm)

Is there something you're wondering about?

• Maiken Minde in Nærøyfjorden world heritage park

  • email: maiken@verdsarvparken.no

  • tel: 450 60 131

Website:

www.naroyfjorden.no/kva-skjer/fjordforsk

Support:

• The event is carried out with support from the Norwegian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and the Norwegian Environment Agency.

Join a guided tour around Stalheim with photographer Gunnar Bergo and get an introduction to photography of nature and culture in Nærøydalen!

The area around Stalheim has been used for many years for nature photography and as a motif in famous paintings. The plunging waterfalls, high mountains and the spectacular Stalheimskleiva have long captured the attention of photographers and artists.

This year's World Heritage Tour in Voss County will be held at Stalheim, where the theme of the tour is an introduction to photography of nature and culture in the World Heritage area. From Stalheim you have a beautiful view down into Nærøydalen, where, among other things, Jordalsnuten was the starting point for the famous painting "From Stalheim" by JC Dahl. Gunnar Bergo, a well-known nature photographer from the area, will share tips and tricks on the tour on how to capture the atmosphere of the landscape.

The tour starts with a meeting at Stalheim. We take the trip down Stalheimskleiva, where we get a magnificent view of the waterfalls. The tour goes through various famous viewpoints, where we work with photography and how to capture the magic of Nærøydalen. We use Stalheim hotel as a base, where there will be the opportunity to buy lunch or move indoors if the weather allows for rainy and atmospheric photos.

CONTACT PERSON AND REGISTRATION

Are you curious about something or would you like to register yourself or others for the trip?

Contact: Maiken Minde - tel. 45060131

Mail: maiken.minde@verdsarvparken.no

Price: 300 NOK adults, 150 NOK youth

Thumbs up to #107632 Nærøyfjorden World Heritage Park, mark payment with name and tour.

PRACTICAL INFO

Meeting point: Parking lot at Stalheim at 11 am

Duration: approx. 5 hours including breaks. Moderately demanding trip

Bring: Picnic bag, hot and cold drinks, seating mat

Footwear: Hiking shoes, the tour is on roads and trails

Equipment: Bring any camera equipment you want. Both camera and mobile phone are OK.

How can we successfully operate food production and at the same time welcome visitors to our villages?

• The gathering starts with a farm visit to Tufto gard at 12:00. Here there is a goat farm with milk production and rental cabins and a campsite. https://tuftogard.no/

• At approximately 1:00 p.m., lunch will be served and the program will continue at Gudvangen Hotel

These come:

• Olav and Liv-Karin Stalheim, farmer and tourist host

• Solveig Kvakestad, Steinbergdalen tourist cabin and SLOWLY - using locally produced food and local ingredients from our nature 

• Stefan Karlstrøm, construction manager in Aurland and Lærdal - "Hard facts" - what does the legislation say about tourism activities on agricultural properties 

• Kjell Bøe Bjørgum - experiences and thoughts from the mayor of the tourism municipality Aurland 

• Agricultural Manager Magnhild Aspevik

Hope you come!

Reservation regarding change in the program.
 

Serving lunch, coffee and cakes. Please inform us of any food allergies.

Registration by August 24th to beate.stolen@laerdal.kommune.no

Guided tour in a fantastic, exciting landscape with geologist Maiken Minde, who has researched Blåskavlen!

On the tour you will learn about the variation in size of Blåskavlen over the last 10,000 years, what traces of glacial activity we can observe in the landscape today and how we can use nature to research climate and glaciers. Minde will present results from her master's thesis on Blåskavlen in connection with this and take us to the locations where she has made the most interesting discoveries.

The hike is moderately demanding, covering 8 km off-trail in slightly hilly terrain, with an elevation gain of about 250 meters.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Parking/attendance Vetle Andisvatnet, parking lot on the north side
Difficulty: Medium demanding
Bring hiking boots for varied terrain and crossing smaller streams
Windproof and a little extra clothing
Seat cover, snack and drink
Price Adults – Free
Children/youth – Free

REGISTER BY FRIDAY, AUGUST 22!
NB: Limited places!

CONTACT PERSON:
Maiken Minde - tel. 45060131, email: maiken@verdsarvparken.no

THIS TOUR HAS BEEN POSTPONED - NEW DATE COMING!

Join us on a hike in beautiful Fresvikåsen, the Skard - Lægdaskard - Fysseholten/Trollgisholten section!

Fresvikåsen, with its great natural and cultural values, has been highly valued and used by residents and farmers in the area for generations.
The area has over time become more and more popular as a tourist destination for many, not least travelers from home and abroad. Changes in the use of a landscape often lead to challenges for both the landscape, animal and bird life, and for the people in the area, and to conflicts. On the trip we will reflect on these challenges and possible solutions. History, natural and cultural values, the development of the area into a tourist destination, changes in the tourist area today, etc. will also be topics.

The hike starts from Skard, where we first follow an old farm road. We walk steadily uphill through the forest and up into the steep mountains, to the traditional hiking destination Lægdaskard. From here we have a great view of the Sognefjord, Fimreiteåsen and the mighty Hurrungane. We then follow a footpath down to another hiking destination, the long-defunct farm at Fysseholten / Trollgislholten. Here we treat ourselves to a walk out to the viewpoint over the Aurlandsfjord and the fjord meeting with the Sognefjord. The return hike goes down through a fine pine forest back to Skard.

The guide on the trip is biologist Siri Wølneberg Bøthun.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Duration approx. 5 hours incl. breaks
Elevation difference approx. 320 m.
Bring a packed lunch, hot and cold drinks, and a seat pad.
Footwear Sturdy hiking/mountain boots. The hike is on a good trail, but has some steep sections that can be slippery in wet weather.
Price Free for all

REGISTRATION DEADLINE
Monday, June 16

CONTACT PERSON
Maiken Minde – tel. 45060131, email: maiken.minde@verdsarvparken.no

ORGANIZER
Nærøyfjorden World Heritage Park
Vik Hiking Team
Parish Outdoor Council

Lærdal hiking group and Lærdal music group are organizing an evening trip with a band concert at Mjølkeflaten. This year the concert will be on Tuesday, May 27th.
The concert starts at 18:00. It takes about 30 minutes to walk to Mjølkeflaten, which is a nice hiking destination close to the center of Lærdal. Take the opportunity to visit the day trip hut at Mjølkeflaten. Starting point is from Stødno or Hedlerbrua.

There will be a nature trail with questions for everyone, starting from Hedler at 17:15.
This year, questions focus on the fact that the West Norwegian fjord landscape was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List for outstanding natural values. Lærdal has the Bleia Nature Reserve, and the Bleia – Storebotn landscape conservation area in the World Heritage area.
Bring your neighbor and come to Mjølkeflaten for a fun outdoor gathering with exercise, band music, and birdsong! 

Welcome to all, big and small! 

Arr: Lærdal hiking group and Lærdal music group

LivOGLyst is a program for residents of Vestland county who want to create new commitment, well-being and activity in their local communities. The program provides expertise in local community development and financial support for mobilization and activities.

The deadline for applications to take part in the program with the LivOGLYst project is 1 November!

 The program gives the local communities and the residents themselves the opportunity to develop their hometown into a better place to live and be. This can be a neighbourhood, a village or a district. Through a LivOGLyst project, they can together create an attractive and vibrant local community.

Do you want to know more? Vestland County Municipality invites you to a digital information meeting about the LivOGLyst program on 10 October, registration and more information can be found here: Information meeting about the LivOGLyst program.

Theme for the meeting

• What should be in place before applying to become a LivOGLyst project?

• What are the activities in a preliminary project and a main project?

• What does it mean to be part of the LivOGLyst network?

You can also submit questions you want answered in the registration form for the information meeting. 

 What is a LivOGLyst project?

A LivOGLyst project is run by people in the local community. It starts with residents coming together to explore how they can create something positive in their local area. The project will involve people of all ages, backgrounds and interests, and it will mobilize people to volunteer.

The project starts with a preliminary project, where they map ideas and wishes in the local community. The preliminary project receives a subsidy of NOK 80,000 for one year. Afterwards, they can apply to become a main project, which receives NOK 300,000 spread over three years to continue the work that started in the preliminary project.

The subsidy can be used for

• Project rental (up to 50 percent)

• Mobilization initiatives and activities in the local community (eg new meeting places, events, village festivals, public meetings)

• Participation in the LivOGLyst network (eg travel, accommodation, courses)

 This cannot be subsidized

They cannot apply for a grant for an established project, which already envisages concrete measures or investments. Nor can the subsidy go to major, physical investments, such as upgrading community centres, building gapa huts or saunas. The money will go towards project hire, activities, travel expenses and small purchases.

For more information about the LivOGLyst programme, as well as requirements and criteria for applying, see the website of Vestland County Council. LivOGLyst for local community development - Vestland county municipality

Opening of the World Heritage House at Bakka

Saturday 15 June at 1 p.m

The old schoolhouse on Bakka has been given a new lease of life. Now it is filled with an exhibition about the people who live and have lived in the area, and we are proud to be able to show part one of this exhibition. A good collaboration between the municipality, the village council and Nærøyfjorden World Heritage Park will be celebrated on this day. We hope you have the opportunity to join us and see how old buildings can be used and given new life.

 You are most welcome to attend the opening of the World Heritage House at Bakka , and part 1 of the exhibition there. We will gather on Saturday, June 15th to celebrate with both speakers and entertainment.

Program:

Opening v/David Underdal

Cord cutting v/Svein Tufte

Speech v/Gro Nesse-Bremer

Flower distribution v/Snædis Bjarnadottir

Speech by Erling Oppheim

 Coffee, cakes, bubbles and treats. Høve to see the exhibition. The event takes place outside, so dress appropriately for the weather!

 WELCOME!

Application course with Sparebankstiftinga

Sparebankstiftinga Sogn og Fjordane distributes gifts from the surplus from Sparebanken Sogn og Fjordane, and all types of non-profit initiatives can be awarded gifts.
Our application deadlines for ordinary gifts are 1 March and 1 September each year.

Ahead of the application deadline of 1 March 2024, the Sparebankstiftinga invites you to a course in application writing.

The course is adapted to teams and organizations that will apply for funds for their business, and looks at how an application for funds should look; whether one intends to apply for donations from the Sparebankstiftinga or other grant schemes.

In addition, there will be an opportunity to meet the foundation's administration during the day on the course day/city, if you want advice and input related to gift applications. Below you will find information about the course and how to arrange a meeting time.

COURSE SCHEDULE
Wednesday 24 January 2024 - Stryn
Stryn, Sparebanken Sogn og Fjordane's premises.
At 18.00-20.00

Monday 12 February 2024 – Dale
Dale, Sparebanken Sogn og Fjordane's premises.
At 18.00-20.00

Monday 19 February 2024 - Florø
Florø, Sparebanken Sogn og Fjordane's premises.
At 17.30-19.30

Thursday 22 February 2024 – Førde
Førde, Sparebanken Sogn og Fjordane's premises.
18.00-20.00

Monday 26 February 2024 - Sogndal
Sogndal, meeting room v/ Sogningen Storsenter
At 18.-20.00

Registration form

Would you like a meeting with the foundation?
Send inquiry by e-mail to; yngve.thorsen@sparebankstiftinga.no

If you have any questions - contact Sparebankstiftinga Sogn og Fjordane v/ Yngve Thorsen
Email; yngve.thorsen@sparebankstiftinga.no
Tel. no.: 90 80 25 75

Welcome!

Sognefjorden Næringshage and Felles Landbrukskontor ÅLA organize a business evening!

City: Municipal council hall, town hall in Lærdal

When: February 14 at 6-9 p.m

• Tollefsen lawyers tell us about the type of governance that pays off in agriculture

• Information on financing schemes for those who wish to invest in additional industries within agriculture

Welcome to an informative evening with professional refreshments and social interaction.

We provide coffee and something like that!

Registration before 06.02.2023 to beate.stolen@laerdal.kommune.no

Stay tuned for changes in the program!

Welcome to the day and evening course in applying for grants on February 14th in Aurland !

Every year, 70 billion is distributed to municipalities, businesses and voluntary organizations! And we want a larger share of the pie to be allocated to projects in Aurland municipality!

Aurland The municipality is organizing a course in applying for grants with Anders A. Vik on February 14. The course is free and open to everyone!

Course leader Anders A. Vik has expertise in the grant scheme, and has since 2006 held courses for over 180 municipalities and organizations throughout the country. With his creative focus, he thinks unconventionally, both in the application itself and where one can apply for funds from. He is known for his light and creative tone and form. He has himself been used in writing applications for various municipalities and organizations. We look forward to your visit and inspiring courses in Aurland .

On the course, you will, among other things, learn more about how to find your way through the subsidy jungle, how to think new and outside the A4 box. How to get access to other people's applications and a bit about international grant schemes.

By the way, are you aware that in Norway alone there are 6,245 foundations that give away gifts worth NOK 6 billion?

Two courses are organised:  

12.00-15.30 is especially aimed at municipal units, businesses, food producers, tourism ventures and everyone else!

At 18.00-20.30 is especially aimed at voluntary teams and organisations, businesses, sports teams, choirs and music teams, and everyone else!

Both courses will be held in the municipal council chamber at the City Hall in Aurland .

Everyone who takes part gets access to the electronic course compendium.

Registration deadline 12 February. 2024

Sign up for Linn-Janette Underdal Skarsbø
by email linn.janette.underdal.skarsbo@ aurland .kommune.no
or text: 959 84 647

See picture for more information about the course!

Course holders:
BOJL.NO v/Anders A. Vik
Mobile: 926 34 131
Anders.vik@bojl.no

Organizers: Nærøyfjorden World Heritage Park and Nærøyfjorden protected area board Please note; register by November 23rd to erling@naroyfjorden.no

Part 1: Park meeting

09.30: Attendance and registration.

10.00: Welcome and short introduction at:
David Underdal, chairman of the World Heritage Park.
Erling Oppheim, day-to-day manager of the World Heritage Park.

10.15: Brief about projects and measures carried out so far in 2023

10.45: Revision of the Park plan by project manager Parish Nature Management.
Presentation of the planning process and joint working session.

12.30: Summary of the audit work

12.50: Election of members (representing the park partners) to the Park Board at the electoral committee. 

Joint lunch 13.00 - 14.00:

Part 2: Common theme part

14.00: Welcome
Trygve Skjerdal, leader of the protected area board

14.10 Helsinki
Liv Signe Navarsete, State Administrator in Vestland

14.15: Building customs and cultural environment as part of the landscape
Inga Lindstrøm, County Municipality in Vestland

15:00: Reactions to illegal measures in the conservation area
Trond Flydal, Norwegian Environment Agency

15:45: Questions and comments from the audience

 Part 3: Dialogue meeting
Nærøyfjorden Conservation Area Board and Advisory Committee

16.00: Orientation on matters and measures in the protected area board in 2023

16.30: Input to the action plan for 2024