Research on the history of law pertaining to natural resources has implications for both civil law (property law) and public law. The research group will initiate methodological and historical studies in a field characterized by great stability and by radical changes due to modern environmental issues. The research group believes that perspectives available through the synthesizing concept "natural resources law" can be instrumental for gaining new insights.
The exploring of natural resources has always been important for living conditions and economic activities in Norway. The long coastal line generated fisheries, and in the last three-four decades, a large oil and gas industry. On the main land, hunting and fishing, farming, then mining, later development of hydro- electric power plants and, latest, wind power mills have been and still are ways to use and exploit various natural resources. The different uses often conflict. Nowadays, environmental considerations play a growing role in the management of natural resources.
The research group will bring together research in legal history and research on natural resources management law. The influence of old usages and practice for the legal regulation of the different resources will be a key issue. The same question is relevant in the context of history of jurisprudence. A second issue is historical lines in the regulation of agriculture to meet society's demands for environmental protection, as well as in the regulation of compulsory acquisition for other purposes. A third issue concerns legal historical perspectives on the importance of the sea fisheries for Norwegian economy, and the long time connections to environmental questions. Ever stronger demands for environmental protection both nationally and internationally make the legal history of environmental regulation an important field for research.
Current projects: