Act No. 100 on the management of biodiversity (Nature Diversity Act).

The purpose of this Act is to manage biological and geological diversity and ecological processes through a sustainable use and conservation of nature in order to preserve it as basis for human activity, culture, health and well-being as well as basis for the Sami culture. The Act applies to Norwegian land territory, including river systems, and to Norwegian territorial waters. Chapter VII of the Act applies to Svalbard and Jan Mayen. The King may decide that other provisions also apply to Svalbard and Jan Mayen. Selected provisions of the Act apply to the EEZ and the continental shelf to the extent they are appropriate.
The Act defines management objectives for habitat types and ecosystems and for species of plants and animals (including fish and marine mammals) and their genetic diversity. Sustainable management principles include the user-pays principle, the precautionary principle and use of environmentally sound techniques and methods of operation. As for hunting, fishing, and harvesting and other utilization of wild living (marine) plant and fungus species, frequent reference is made to other legislation. The King in Council may make Regulations designating priority species and shall make Regulations for the implementation of CITES or other international obligations.
The Act further makes provision for, among other things: management of alien species; protected areas, national parks, nature reserves, habitat management areas, marine protected areas, and protected landscapes; designation and protected of selected habitat types; access to genetic material; the implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture; and matters of administration.
A forestry project or agricultural project that affects areas of selected habitat types and that does not require a permit shall be notified to the municipal authorities before work on the project is begun. The municipal authorities may refuse authorization of such projects.
The Law consists of 78 articles organized in the following chapters: chapters: Scope and Purpose (I); General provisions on sustainable use (II); Species management (III); Alien organisms (IV); Area protection (V); Selected habitats (VI); Access to genetic material and traditional knowledge related to genetic material; (VII); Authority under this Law, supervision, etc. (VIII); Enforcement and sanctions (IX); Final provisions (X).