The visit was planned and organised between Alex Held (EFICENT) and Jon Olav Brunvatne (Department of Forest- Natural Resource Policy, Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food). The FRISK network provided a group of experts from Catalonia, Germany, Ireland and the UK (Northern Ireland) to travel to Norway.

The participants of this group represented the FRISK vision and presented their personal background, forest risk situations, current developments, expertise and their lessons learned. The group participants served as “living proof” of the FRISK concept.

The exchange over 3 days was very fruitful and inspiring for all parties involved. Norway presented a very well organised set-up and was very interested in sharing expertise with other countries in similar situations, mainly on the topics of fire management and storm damages to forests. Already during the visit agreement was made for exchanging experts across the countries and to further develop the FRISK approach. A full report on the Norway visit will be published on the FRISK GO website shortly.

Agenda
A Meeting with the Forest Fire Advisory Board at the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB)

- Presentation of the Forest Fire Advisory Board and organisation of forest fire prevention in   Norway. Hans Kristian Madsen DSB

- Presentation of the FRISK project. Alexander Held, European Forest Institut

- Presentation of the large forest fire incidents in Norway last winter. Lessons learned by incident commander Nils Erik Haagenrud

- Lessons learned from the large forest fire in Sweden august 2014. Dag Botnen & Cecilie Aali Hornstuen

- Report from forest fire exchange program with US. Cecilie Aali Hornstuen & Hans Jørgen Oland

- Discussion on further cooperation in sharing of expertise

B Skien fire station
http://kart.gulesider.no/?index=yp&id=84652072
- Presentation on relevant forest fire issues from a practical point of view.

- Demonstration of Norwegian forest fire equipment and organization of personnel. Ove Stokkeland


C Visit a fire site from 1992  in Lisleherad and an old growth forest in Elferdalen nature reserve with the author of the paper;  http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/abs/10.1139/x05-186#.VEdqd004VaQ county forester Rune Groven

D Visit ”Skogbrand” Forest insurance company
http://www.skogbrand.no/kontakt-oss/   

- Forest management and climate change - how can we deal with it in Norway. Senior researcher Svein Solberg / Norwegian institute for forestry and landscape.

- Forest insurance under new climate conditions. Preparedness  for storm and forest injuries, by Inge Fjalestad & Kjetil Løge/Skogbrand