In spite of its localisation far to the north, Norway has a relatively rich biodiversity. This is mainly because the mainland stretches over more than 13 degrees of latitude, and consequently includes a considerable variety of nature. To this come the Arctic islands Svalbard, Bjørnøya and Jan Mayen. Altogether, Norway comprises 26 different regions of vegetation geography.

Rapidly changing environmental factors
The Norwegian topography is shaped by ice and water through several ice ages. This has resulted in steep and rough landscapes with unusually patchy geological conditions. Because of this habitats, microclimate, minerals and pH change rapidly over short distances.

In general, the Norwegian climate is cold and humid and this is decisive for which species are able to thrive. The temperature declines from south to north, and from the coast to the mountains. However, the Gulf Stream makes the climate milder than on other localities at corresponding latitudes, particularly along the coast. Yearly precipitation is highest in coastal areas, and considerably lower in the inland. Upper parts of Gudbrandsdalen in the south and inner parts of the Finnmark plateau in the north have little precipitation.

Norwegian terrestrial biodiversity
Non-biological environmental factors are determining for the biodiversity that can develop within an area. Other factors also play a role in deciding the present diversity; e.g. species' immigration history and competition among species, the climate in earlier periods, and also human impact during historic and prehistoric time.

In general, the Norwegian mainland is characterised by a long and varied coastline, highland areas and mountains, and large areas of marshes and pine forest. There are also an abundance of waterways, rivers and streams, as well as a variety of lakes. The cultural landscapes are rich and varied, with particularly important biodiversity in old pastures and meadows in the highlands. In the north of the country there are tundra, Arctic nature and in the north-east also taiga. The islands Svalbard, Bjørnøya and Jan Mayen to the far north have Arctic ecosystems, which differs significantly from the nature on the mainland.

Within each nature category there is normally a characteristic species diversity. Some species are characteristic species, and exist exclusively in certain landscapes, like Beckwithia glacialis in alpine areas or Erica cinerea along the coast. At the same time, there are also many examples of species that thrive in widely different environments. Some species change between habitats and landscapes throughout the year, for example several species of ducks that breed in the mountains and spend the winter along the coast.

Since Norway is an elongated country with large variations in nature types, the biodiversity is rich. Species from most land living groups are represented on the Norwegian mainland. Norway is, in many ways, a crossroad in which species of different global distribution meet. Some Arctic species have the southern boundary of their distribution in Norway. At the same time, many species with a European distribution have their northern boundary here. Eastern species have their main distribution in the Siberian taiga, while oceanic species thrive along the Atlantic coast from Spain to Northern Norway.

An international perspective on Norwegian biodiversity
The highest density of species is found in the worlds equatorial regions. From there, the diversity decreases to the north and south. Norway, with its localisation far to the north, can not compete with a tropical rainforest in terms of number of species or spectacular shapes and colours. 

What characterises Norwegian biodiversity is first and foremost the rapid changes occurring over short distances. Norway is a fine puzzle of landscapes, ecosystems and habitats. Species that do not exist in the same areas in most other countries, live side by side in this mosaic.

Norwegian alpine areas are, together with the Arctic parts of Sweden, Finland and Russia, the last continuous wilderness areas in Europe. Remnants of a once complete highland ecosystem including wild reindeer, wolverine and Arctic fox, still exist in the mountain areas of Dovrefjell-Sundalsfjella and Rondane.

Norway has relatively large areas of marsh, as a result of high yearly precipitation and low evaporation because of cold climate. The rich variation of of Norwegian marshes is relatively unique in Europe, and it is caused by local changes in climate, geology, and topography. In some cases it is also caused by cultural traditions.

Arctic parts of Norway, and particularly Svalbard, Bjørnøya and Jan Mayen, has a unique nature. On the islands in the far north are large untouched areas, with a rich biodiversity that is special also in an European context.