7 THE STATUS AND TRENDS OF BIODIVERSITY FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
7.5 Status and trends of wild resources used for food
Besides the rich diversity of forage plants, the genetic resources of wild berry plants are considered to be the richest with respect to plant genetic resources in the Norwegian flora. Several species of the Fragaria, Rubus, and Ribes genera are distributed in the wild flora, some genuinely wild, but some escaped from cultivated fields. In addition a broad range of wild growing berry species is distributed throughout the country with representatives from the following genera: Vaccinium, Empetrum, Oxycoccus, Sambucus and Hippophae. About 20 rare blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) species have been collected and a long term collection was established in the first phase of the national plant genetic resources programme (2001-2005). The collection of specimens and establishment of a national variety collection for berries has however not yet been completed (Asdal, 2008).
The aquatic related wild food species include the most common fish species that are being caught through recreational fishing (angling and touristic fishing).
Monitoring activities have shown that the status of the country’s wild food species has remained relatively stable over the past years.49 There is no evidence of a significant threat of extinction or
49 Between 2006 and 2010, while some wild food species on Norway’s Red List were downgraded, others were upgraded in terms of “threat category”.
loss of important wild food populations. While some factors are considered to be of threat to some wild food species, these tend to be fairly under control. Harvest data for hunting and fishing are documented and monitored by Statistics Norway (SSB), while population size figures of important game and fish species are essentially monitored by the National monitoring program for wild cervids and the Institute of Marine Research, respectively.
7.5.1 Wild plants, berries and edible fungi
Between 2006 and 2010 there have been few actual changes in the populations of threatened and near threatened wild plant, berry and edible fungi species according to the Norwegian Red List for Species.50 The main risk factors to the status of wild plant, berry and edible fungi varieties include land-use changes, such as discontinued grazing, discontinued haymaking and discontinued
burning of heather, as well as land-use associated changes, such as housing construction,
infrastructure, felling special trees, business development, sand and gravel extraction/dumping.
Other risk factors include terrestrial and aquatic pollution (e.g. artificial fertilization, biocides, organic and inorganic pollutants and acid precipitation); climate change; harvesting; and invasive alien species (e.g. raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides)51 and wild boar (Sus scrofa)). Forestry related activities, such as selective felling, changing tree species, the building of forestry roads and the extinction of forest fires tend to have a negative effect on the diversity of wild food species.
Some forestry practices can have both negative and positive effects. Clear felling, for example, has been of positive influence on the status of certain berry varieties, such as raspberry, bilberry and lingonberry.
In terms of wild berries, a national variety collection for berries is under establishment (Asdal, 2008).
50 As there are few population data to rely upon for many groups of species, the 2010 Red List may not give a representative picture of the actual changes over this 4-year time period.
51 More information on the impact of raccoon dogs on Norway's flora and fauna is available at:
http://www.miljodirektoratet.no/old/dirnat/attachment/502/M%C3%A5rhund-hefte.pdf
In recent years, the harvesting and use of some wild resources that were traditionally used for food (e.g.
sorbus for the production of jam and other preserves) significantly decreased, as did the knowledge on the potential uses of these resources. The declining trend in the use and knowledge of wild edible resources is one of the main constraints to the conservation of these resources. Photo: Per H. Salvesen
More financial and human resources need to be allocated to monitor and gain knowledge about wild plant and fungi species, many of which lack population size and resource data. More knowledge is needed on the potential use of these species as a source of food, as well as on the role(s) they play in the delivery of ecosystem services (e.g. certain fungi species facilitate the provision of nitrogen and phosphorus to trees, thereby contributing to the productivity of forests;
other wild food species may be of particular cultural value).
7.5.2 Wild mammals and birds
Wild mammal and bird populations are facing a few threats, all of which are considered to be relatively minor and stable. Hunting is highly regulated and closely monitored activity; and while illegal hunting does occur, its effects on the diversity of wild food resources has so far remained limited. Information on the number of traffic killed individuals is available for only a few species.
Between 2007 and 2009, traffic killed moose and deer is estimated to have increased. In 2009, almost 7,500 animals, with the total number of individuals being close to 450,000, were killed on Norwegian roads (Solberg et al., 2009; SSB; National monitoring program for wild cervids
(NINA)).
7.5.3 Marine species
According to the Norwegian Red List for Species, the degree of threat to marine species seems to be relatively stable. Between 2006 and 2010, there seems to have been few actual changes in the populations of threatened and near threatened species in Norwegian waters.49 Destruction of habitats, changing sea temperature, commercial exploitation and the use of environmental pollutants are considered to be among the main factors of threat to marine species. Fresh water species are also under the influence of the filling in, draining and overgrowing of small lakes, ponds and streams.