Norway set to revamp biodiversity laws

An official Norwegian working group has produced a groundbreaking series of legislative proposals based on the premise that all wild fauna and flora, plus native breeds of domesticated animals, are in principle to be considered protected species. The assumption of protection would extend offshore to the limits of Norway's economic zone.

Exceptions to the principle - which would also apply to habitats and landscapes - would be made for sustainable exploitation where appropriate, and for particular activities such as agriculture, pest control and transport.