RAMSAR – Our unique wetlands

The Jæren coastline is part of a globally recognised wetland system. Tens of thousands of birds either overwinter or pass through the area on migration.
Photo: Roy Mangersnes

Did you know that Jæren is home to globally unique wetland habitats? Peat bogs, rivers, lakes and coastlines offer a unique diversity of species and habitats that Norway has special responsibility for conserving. Wetlands are found where water meets the land, creating habitats such as bogs and swamps, shallow lakes, beaches and salt marshes. Wetlands cover six per cent of the Earth’s landmass, and as much as 40% of all animals and plants live or reproduce in such areas.

The wetlands convention

Ramsar is a city in Iran where the international Convention on Wetlands, also known as the Ramsar Convention, was signed in 1971. In 2023, there were 172 member countries with a total of 2,471 international wetland areas (Ramsar areas) established, covering an area of more than 2.5 million square kilometres. Designation under the convention does not mean that a site is automatically protected, but its special status elevates the threshold for permission to permit destructive intervention.

The island of Bjørnøya in the Norwegian Arctic is also a Ramsar area. Migrating birds that pass through such areas on their long journeys are not concerned with national boundaries. This is why global conservation agreements are important. Photo: Sigurd Gautun, Natur og Ungdom

Our contribution to global natural heritage

Jæren is host to the Ramsar-designated Jæren Wetlands System. It is one of 63 Ramsar areas in Norway. The Jæren Wetlands System consists of a network of 23 lakes, peat bogs and shallow water sites. Many of these are protected as nature reserves or landscape conservation areas with plant or bird conservation designations. The Jæren coastline is one such landscape conservation area. Part of the Jæren Wetlands system lies offshore, comprising shallow water seas between islands and smaller islets.

Ved Håtangen har Håelva sitt utløp.
Foto: Roy Mangersnes

The Jæren Wetlands Visitor Centre

A Mostun Nature Centre
B Orre outdoor centre
C Kvassheim lighthouse

The Jæren Wetlands System

1 Alvevatn, Klepp
2 Orrevatn, Klepp
3 Lonavatn Klepp/Sandnes
4 Øksnevadtjørn, Klepp
5 Orre-Reve, Klepp
6 Grudavatn, Klepp
7 Skeie, Klepp
8 Bjårvatn, Hå
9 Søylandsvatn, Hå
10 Brusand-Ogna, Hå
11 Kvassheim, Hå
12 Nærlandstangen-Obrestad, Hå
13 Vigremyr, Hå
14 Hagavågen, Sola
15 Grannesbukta, Sola
16 Strandnesvågen, Sola
17 Harvalandsvatn, Sola
18 Storamyr, Sola
19 Kolnes, Sola
20 Linemyr, Time
21 Smokkevatn, Time
22 Børaunen, Randaberg
23 Kjør-Rott-Håstein, Sola

Kart: Ellen Jepson