ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the forest surrounding the city of Oslo in an historical context. Oslomarka is a new term which evolved in the 1930s to encompass all the forested areas surrounding Oslo. Some parts of Marka have been commons, and some have been in private ownership for centuries. Some areas have been purchased by the city of Oslo to ensure clean drinking water, recreational areas - and - to preserve biodiversity. During the last couple of decades in the 1900s, major changes took place in Norwegian forestry. The main agenda for Oslo og Omland Friluftsrad (OOF) has been to protect Marka and other green areas, and to ensure accessibility through so-called 'green corridors' which are green passage ways from the urban and suburban areas and into the forest. The architects behind the 1950 General Plan of Oslo sketched a map of Oslo, emphasizing the importance of green corridors running between the urban areas, through the suburban areas and into Marka.
