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Also, more trees might relate to stricter environmental laws (you can't simply take an axe and chop a random tree nowadays) and more advanced and energy efficie

by kbart 11y ago

Also, more trees might relate to stricter environmental laws (you can't simply take an axe and chop a random tree nowadays) and more advanced and energy efficient heating sources that use biomass briquettes, electricity and gas instead of tree logs from the nearby thicket.

evgen 11y ago
Interesting. The bit that I found most noticeable in the then/now comparison was that people in the past really did not like trees :) Every bit of human habitation was surrounded by open areas denuded of trees. It actually looked unpleasant and sterile to see the lack of trees near everything man-made. Roads, fields, home...no trees anywhere in the vicinity.
- tormeh 11y ago
  A lot of the difference in vegetation is due to climate change. I'm Norwegian and born in the beginning of October, which was first snow at the time. Now it never snows in October. You have to wait late November or early December. That sort of thing makes a lot of difference to plants.
- WalterBright 11y ago
  > Every bit of human habitation was surrounded by open areas denuded of trees. I theorize that is due to the nearby trees all being used for firewood.
akafred 11y ago
Land owners can generally chop down trees as they wish; with some exceptions, which mostly don't apply in these photos. I think there are three main reasons for the increase in woodland: 1. Less cultivated land; including less land used for grazing (eg. by sheep). 2. Other sources of heating (mostly electricity, some oil, and still some wood, but usually not taken from just outside the door; there is very little use of gas in Norway). 3. Milder climate has raised the tree line. Which of these is most significant probably varies.
Arnt 11y ago
You can chop down trees in Norway. However, trees don't necessarily grow unaided in many of the spots on those pictures. Here's a village I know: http://www.winnem.com/Assets/images/frambergkirkesaether.gif http://www.winnem.com/Assets/images/frambergkirkesaether.gif shows lots of trees, a century ago there were none there. They were planted in a big campaign around 1950-1970, in places where no tree could grow alone but a dozen together might grow up and shelter each other if tended a bit. All the schoolchildren planted and tended trees.

by kbart 11y ago

evgen 11y ago

Interesting. The bit that I found most noticeable in the then/now comparison was that people in the past really did not like trees :) Every bit of human habitation was surrounded by open areas denuded of trees. It actually looked unpleasant and sterile to see the lack of trees near everything man-made. Roads, fields, home...no trees anywhere in the vicinity.

tormeh 11y ago
A lot of the difference in vegetation is due to climate change. I'm Norwegian and born in the beginning of October, which was first snow at the time. Now it never snows in October. You have to wait late November or early December. That sort of thing makes a lot of difference to plants.
WalterBright 11y ago
> Every bit of human habitation was surrounded by open areas denuded of trees. I theorize that is due to the nearby trees all being used for firewood.

akafred 11y ago

Land owners can generally chop down trees as they wish; with some exceptions, which mostly don't apply in these photos. I think there are three main reasons for the increase in woodland: 1. Less cultivated land; including less land used for grazing (eg. by sheep). 2. Other sources of heating (mostly electricity, some oil, and still some wood, but usually not taken from just outside the door; there is very little use of gas in Norway). 3. Milder climate has raised the tree line. Which of these is most significant probably varies.

Arnt 11y ago

You can chop down trees in Norway. However, trees don't necessarily grow unaided in many of the spots on those pictures. Here's a village I know: http://www.winnem.com/Assets/images/frambergkirkesaether.gif http://www.winnem.com/Assets/images/frambergkirkesaether.gif shows lots of trees, a century ago there were none there. They were planted in a big campaign around 1950-1970, in places where no tree could grow alone but a dozen together might grow up and shelter each other if tended a bit. All the schoolchildren planted and tended trees.