A small innovation giant
The island municipality of Utsira is located 18 km west of the mainland. The municipality is the country’s second smallest in area, with around 200 inhabitants. Despite its size, the island never stops innovating.
Exciting things are happening at Utsira in several different sectors. ‘Sustainable Energy Norwegian Catapult Centre’, together with Haugaland Kraft, are working with establishing Utsira as a living test centre for new green energy solutions. There is also progression with the work and ambition in establishing a floating wind park outside Utsira. “Utsira Nord”, just outside of the island, is 1 of 3 projects in Norway to develop technology for floating ocean wind. Regarding fishing industry the company Norwegian Mountain Salmon are working to establish salmon farming inside mountain halls at Utsira. If everything goes as planned the facility will be finished in 2028.
Selected cultural landscape
Selected cultural landscapes in agriculture is a collection of highly valuable cultural landscapes in Norway, which is supported through a joint grant scheme between the agricultural and environmental administrations. In 2022, the initiative has been expanded with three new areas – one of them is Utsira in Utsira municipality, Rogaland county.
– Utsira has been selected because it has great biological and cultural historical values. This arrangement will contribute to safeguarding cultural environments, strengthening natural diversity and at the same time preventing landscapes to close up with overgrowth. Utsira has several nature types – and many cultural monuments in a well-tended grazing landscape of great value important to preserve, says Climate and Environment Minister Espen Barth Eide.
– At Utsira, they have taken care of the agricultural landscape for several generations. The cultural landscapes in agriculture have great value, and sustainable agriculture, local cultural heritage and local food traditions also provide fertile ground for new business development in agriculture, says Agriculture and Food Minister Sandra Borch.
Agriculture on the island
Today, farming is actively carried out on the island with several herds of wild sheep, white sheep and dairy cows. In 2022, there were eight companies that received production subsidies at Utsira.
– Utsira is pleased to be appointed as a selected cultural landscape created by agriculture. This is a tribute to local efforts to maintain grazing, tending to buildings and valuable vegetation within our island environment. We look forward to the collaboration with landowners, farmers, local groups and regional authorities to take care of, and further develop the cultural landscape on our well-polished, beautiful island. We are also looking forward to getting to know, and getting inspiration from other coastal municipalities with UKL-areas like Leka, Røst and others, says mayor of Utsira, Marte Eide Klovning.
(Photo in heading: Atle Grimsby).