Growth pattern in three Norwegian municipalities: green land cover loss limits sprawl but increases fragmentation

Urban growth drives land use change and reduces the quantity, quality, and connectivity of green spaces, yet small and medium-sized urban areas remain understudied. Using aerial photographs, we mapped green land cover in and around settlements of three Norwegian municipalities and assessed changes from 1990 to 2017. We found loss, fragmentation, and homogenisation of green areas, alongside outward expansion of built-up land despite national goals for compact development. These shifts reduce habitat connectivity and alter ecological conditions for native species, mirroring patterns found in larger urban areas globally. Although overall growth aligned with densification strategies, with more infilling and edge expansion than outlying growth, infilling still reduced green space. This suggests beneficial policies may not accommodate urban growth without ecological degradation. We recommend that densification policies generally address both the amount and spatial configuration of green space, protecting both large and small patches to sustain biodiversity and regional identity.