»Sounds like Norway« — The aural experiences of outdoor life and biodiversity

Many of us experience some surprise when we step off a beaten trail and into a wooded dell. Suddenly, we feel a bit closer to nature: not because we have finally arrived, but because we finally hear.

There has been an emphasis in research and conservation policy about the visual features of landscape. Yet, we hear a place as much as we see it. The weaving of sounds and perception within place is called the soundscape. Natural soundscapes (areas mostly free of undesirable anthropogenic sounds, i.e. noise) provision human wellbeing and influence positive behavior. Whereas, noise in nature severely degrades experiences connected to outdoor life (i.e.'friluftsliv') and impacts natural values including  wildlife.

In Norway 2.1 million (40%) are exposed to outdoor noise exceeding 55dBA - a level known to drive adverse health effects- and has serious implications for effective conservation of biodiversity and diverse restorative  experiences in national parks. Thus, parks have an increasing importance to harbor natural sounds and areas free of noise.

Sounds like Norway is a ground-breaking and co-produced research effort to document and assess natural soundscapes and to deliberate with stakeholders a strategy to effectively manage natural soundscapes as ecosystem services in Norway.

SLN will result in understanding what sounds underpin outdoor life, charting the compositions of soundscapes in places intended to support pristine natural experiences, and provide data on problem areas where noise nuisance is apparent. We expect to find that in-tact natural soundscapes in Norway, as has been shown in other contexts, promote human wellbeing and species' flourishing.

We hypothesize that when people have access to natural quietude, wellbeing improves as does experience and connection to nature. Natural soundscapes are central to outdoor life, to restoring health, to supporting biodiversity, and-through education and participation in research about sounds-to inspiring stewardship.