1. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research – NINA
Bård Pedersen
Terrestrial Ecology Dept., Trondheim
Hello everybody, My name is Bård Pedersen. Thank you for the invitation to present my research institution – Norwegian Institute for Nature Research – NINA in the opening meeting of the IBBIS project.
Also present from NINA today are Stein Are Sæther.
We are both researchers in ecology. We are both currently working in national and international projects dealing with the socalled Nature index.
I will also briefly describe NINAs contributions in the IBBIS project, and our background for giving these contributions.

2. NINA Established 1988 Independent foundation Head office in Trondheim
227 employees (pr ) – scientific staff 163
201 scientific papers
132 technical reports
NINA was established in It was organised as an independent foundation.
So NINA is not a governmental organisation. Prior to 1988 the Env. Agency of Norway had a research department, which in 1988 separated from the management part. NINA was founded based on this research department.
NINAs head office is in Trondheim. Here is the central administration. In addition there are NINA departments in Tromsø, Lillehammer, and Oslo, and currently a new one is under establishment in Bergen. NINA also has a small number of research stations.

3. NINA Norway’s leading institution for applied ecological research
Short and long-term research and commissioned applied research to facilitate the implementation of international conventions, decision-support systems, and management regulations
Consultancies for industry and management authorities
Aim to enhance public awareness and promote conflict resolution
NINA is Norways leading institution for applied ecological research.
As such we do short and long-term research and commissioned applied research to facilitate the implementation of international conventions, decision-support systems, and management regulations.
We also often act as a consultancy for management authorities and industry when our competence is relevant.
NINAs competence is also used to facilitate conflict resolution

4. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research; NINA Applied research – Monitoring - Advisory services
NINA runs national monitoring and research programs for a number of species and ecosystems, for example large carnivores, wild deer, arctic fox, wild salmon, sea birds,
Photos: Arild Landa (Arctic fox), John D. C. Linnell (Moose), Kjetil Schjølberg (Wolverine), Signe Christensen-Dalsgaard (Puffin), Arnstein Staverløkk (buttefly)

5. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research; NINA Applied research – Monitoring - Advisory services
passerine birds, sub-alpine birch forest ecosystems (including lichens, ground vegetation, birds, rodents). Bumblebees and butterflies (in connection with NI).

6. Cooperation The major part of our activity is of course in Norway.
But we are also involved in various types of international projects in many countries in all parts of the world.
And, as you see from the map, now also in Bulgaria.

7. This graph shows NINAs financial sources.
The total turnover in 2014 was 36,7 million Euros. (The annual report for 2015 was not completed when I made this presentation.)
Two thirds of the turnover is financed through projects commissioned by management authorities and the industry. Contributions from the industry is mostly from the hydroelectric industry and the oil industry.
We receive an annual block grant from the Ministry of Environment. The grant is intended to cover strategic initiatives within NINA. so that NINA will be able to develop new competence relevant to the changing needs of the administrative authorities.
However, the strategic activities in NINA are more and more financed through research projects financed by the research council of Norway and the European Union research programs.

8. NINA – Project partner in IBBIS
Output № 4 (and 6).
Module for assessment of the status of selected species and natural habitats and for presenting biodiversity indicators.
We will assist and supervise and contribute in other ways in the implementation of the so called Nature Index.

9. NINAs contributions to the implementation of the Nature Index (NI) in Norway
Personnel from NINA was involved in most aspects of the implementation of the Nature Index, including:
Suggested conceptual and mathematical framework
Constructed the infrastructure to collect and store data
Organized and administrated collection of input data
Provides input data for 3/5 of the 301 indicators
Statistical properties of NI
Calculate the Nature index
Main responsibility for publishing results
Constructed and maintains public website for communicating NI-results
Our background for doing this is our involvement in the implementation of the index in Norway.

10. The NINA-house - at the University Campus in Trondheim
Finished spring 2013

11. Cooperation and expertise for a sustainable future
Foto: © Arnstein. Staverløkk/NINA
Photos slide 1: P. Jordhøy, J. Thomassen, E. B. Thorstad, A. Staverløkk, T. Aarvak, B. Løken/Samfoto