ABSTRACT
Landslides and snow avalanches have caused more than 2000 deaths in Norway in the past 150 years, with snow avalanches being responsible for about 1500 fatalities. The three landslide-related disasters causing the largest number of deaths in Norway in the 20th century, however, all involved large rock slides into bodies of water generating a displacement wave. Other important landslide types in Norway include quick clay slides, soil slides and debris flows. The weather-triggered landslides today are mainly of economical and environmental concern and the costs for landslides seem to steadily increase, both due to higher frequency and to higher exposure of infrastructure and constructed facilities. Climate research indicates that there will be a noticeable increase in average temperature, more precipitation and more instances with intense precipitation in Norway in the future. These are factors that probably contribute to increasing landslide activity. In order to assess and manage this increasing risk, there has been an intense research activity both on national and international fronts; including projects funded by the EU, the Norwegian Research Council and other national agencies.
A national strategy for dealing with floods, landslides and avalanches, was issued by the Norwegian Government in 2012 in the White Paper “How to live with the hazards”. The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) is the operational authority responsible for landslide risk management at the national level. The Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) has a coordinating role in ensuring a well-functioning emergency preparedness and response. The municipalities are responsible 216for local civil protection and making sure natural hazards are considered and taken properly account of in land use planning and in building applications. The municipal level has also a key role in implementing disaster risk reduction policies.
