Distribution of coniferous and deciduous forest by land type polygon. The values are 31 Coniferous; 32 Deciduous; 33 Mixed; 39 Unforested; 98 Not relevant; Not known. Tree type is a valid attribute for the following land types: 30 Forest; 60 Peat bog. The national land resource database (AR) classifies the land cover of mainland Norway according to its suitability for agriculture and natural plant production. National land resource datasets are available at scale 1:5.000 (AR5), 1:50.000 (AR50) and 1:250.000 (AR250). AR50 is the Norwegian medium resolution land resource dataset which covers the whole of mainland Norway. It is build and maintained for cartographic representations at regional level (1:100.000 to 1:300.000). The dataset is not intended for spatial analysis. Features in AR50 are continuous areas representated as polygons with attributes assigned according to the AR50 classification criteria. The primary level of classification is land type (arealtype) based on a combination of land cover and land useSecond level attributes are forest site quality class (skogbonitet) and forest cover type (treslag). Areas above the tree line, mountains and other open areas have been classified according to richness of the vegetation. AR50 contain also includes information about arable land when the land cover is bare land, marsh or forest. In AR50, the general minimum mapping unit is 1.5 hectares for polygons that have identical combinations of attribute values. Smaller mapping units occur between identical land types if they have different forest cover or forest site quality.

The dataset defines areas within the Sami reindeer grazing area where the right to herd reindeer is restricted due to special legal conditions.

The landscape mapping conducted by the NIBIO is based on a method developed by the US Forestry Service, adapted to Norwegian conditions. A landscape feature in the landscape reference system is a continuous area (polygon) with the same attributes assigned according to the classification criteria defined in the naitonal landscape reference system. The three-dimensional classification of the landscape is based more on a multidisciplinary understanding and holistic evaluation, than on traditional science and cartography. Studying six main components of the landscape is important in three-dimensional landscape mapping, while the relative importance of individual components varies between the different landscape regions. The main components are: major landforms; geological composition; water and waterways; vegetation; agricultural land and buildings. The reference system consists of a national map dividing the country in 45 landscape regions and 444 sub regions. Furthermore, 10 agricultural regions have been classified, emphasizing common preconditions for agriculture.

Distribution of coniferous and deciduous forest by land type polygon. The values are 31 Coniferous; 32 Deciduous; 33 Mixed; 39 Unforested; 98 Not relevant; Not known. Tree type is a valid attribute for the following land types: 30 Forest; 60 Peat bog. The national land resource database (AR) classifies the land cover of mainland Norway according to its suitability for agriculture and natural plant production. National land resource datasets are available at scale 1:5.000 (AR5), 1:50.000 (AR50) and 1:250.000 (AR250). AR5 is a national, seamless land resource database. The dataset describes land resources (mainly land cover and productivity) based on a standardized national classification system with 104 classes. Special attention is given to the suitability of land for agricultural and forest production. Substantial areas of Norway are above the tree line. These areas are only mapped as “not classified” in AR5. Areas above the tree line have been mapped in AR50. Features in AR5 are continuous areas with the same attributes assigned according to the classification criteria of AR5 with a geometric representation as polygons. The minimum mapping unit in AR5 is 0.05 hectare (500 m2) for agricultural areas, transport networks and water bodies. Furthermore 0.2 hectare (2000 m2) is the minimum mapping unit for forest, peat bogs and open areas. For urban areas the minimum mapping unit is 0.5 hectare and 2.5 hectare for perpetual snow and glaciers. The geometric accuracy for well-defined boundaries is 2 m or better. The point density is normally between 5 and 50 m. AR5 is continually updated by municipal administrations and priority is given to agricultural- and urban areas. This is an integrated part of the maintenance of the municipal geospatial database. A centralized control and editing program is carried out by NFLI with a five year turnover period.

Percent of released goats lost on summer pasture. Norwegian production of sheep, and to some extent also cattle and goat, is based on grazing on extensive pastures in mountain and forest areas during summertime. In order to reduce loss of animals and reduce herding costs, farmers receive state support for organizing themselves in grazing entities. Each grazing entity is mapped as a polygon feature with attributes reflecting the total number of types of animals released for grazing and the total number and percentage of animals lost. Reasons for losses are not classified, but are mainly due to sickness, accidents and predators. Currently there are roughly 800 grazing units around Norway. Together they entail roughly 75% of all sheep, 30% of all cattle and goats sent on extensive pastures during summer time.

The dataset defines areas that have been expropriated by the government for the purposes of reindeer husbandry.

The national land resource database (AR) classifies the land cover of mainland Norway according to its suitability for agriculture and natural plant production. National land resource datasets are available at scale 1:5.000 (AR5), 1:50.000 (AR50) and 1:250.000 (AR250). AR5 is a national, seamless land resource database. The dataset describes land resources (mainly land cover and productivity) based on a standardized national classification system with 104 classes. Special attention is given to the suitability of land for agricultural and forest production. Substantial areas of Norway are above the tree line. These areas are only mapped as “not classified” in AR5. Areas above the tree line have been mapped in AR50. Features in AR5 are continuous areas with the same attributes assigned according to the classification criteria of AR5 with a geometric representation as polygons. The minimum mapping unit in AR5 is 0.05 hectare (500 m2) for agricultural areas, transport networks and water bodies. Furthermore 0.2 hectare (2000 m2) is the minimum mapping unit for forest, peat bogs and open areas. For urban areas the minimum mapping unit is 0.5 hectare and 2.5 hectare for perpetual snow and glaciers. The geometric accuracy for well-defined boundaries is 2 m or better. The point density is normally between 5 and 50 m. AR5 is continually updated by municipal administrations and priority is given to agricultural- and urban areas. This is an integrated part of the maintenance of the municipal geospatial database. A centralized control and editing program is carried out by NFLI with a five year turnover period.

Grids with statistics on number of agriculture businesses

Soil polygons classified according to soil quality into three classes (1 Very good; 2 Good; 3 Less good). The classification is based on considerations of soil attributes important for the agronomical use and slope. The classification has not considered climate and assume that the soil has been subject to appropriate agronomical practices. The classification scheme is adapted to use in land use planning. The Norwegian Soil survey is a systematic survey of the soils on agricultural areas. Data is collected by fieldwork which includes mapping the distribution of soil types by interpreting aerial photographs, and verification and identification of soil types in the field using a soil auger. The boundaries between areas with different soil types are digitized in a GIS on site. Soil types are defined on the basis of major soil properties. The World Reference Base of Soil Resources (WRB) is linked as our national classification system, and is used as basis for our soil mapping units. A soil quality feature in the soil database is a continuous area with the same attributes assigned according to the classification criteria of soil quality with a geometric representation as a polygon. Soil quality is derived from information in the soil database. Agricultural soil quality combines soil resource classes based on the limitations for agricultural use and terrain properties such as slope, and it divides the agricultural areas into three classes, high, medium and low soil quality. Around 55 % of the country’s agricultural land has been mapped so far. As the soil survey will in foreseeable future only have partial national coverage, an area frame survey has been implemented in order to provide national and regional soil statistics. Plots of 0,9 km2 has been established in a 9 x 9 km grid across Norway, and all agricultural areas on these plots are classified and mapped for soil properties using the same approach as in the ordinary soil survey. The result is a representative sample used to provide estimates of soil types and properties at the national and regional level.

Vegetation polygons grouped into 16 classes of habitats. Vegetation maps provide a simplified image of the mosaic of vegetation types which constitute the natural plant cover. A vegetation type is a characteristic collection of plant species which will be found on places with similar growth conditions. A vegetation feature in the vegetation map is a continuous area (polygon) with the same attributes assigned according to the classification criteria of vegetation. In addition, each vegetation feature is classified according to main vetetation types (10 classes), habitats (16 classes) and suitability for sheep and cattle grazing. Today there are two mapping systems in Norway: one for detailed mapping at 1: 5000–20.000 and one for more general mapping at 1:20.000–50.000. The data on vegetation types from the detailed system can be combined with data relating to vegetation types in the general system.