The most common trees in Norwegian forests, which cover nearly one quarter of the country, are spruce and pine. The vegetation is richest in the south-eastern part of the country, where deep forests in major valleys are the basis of the Norwegian lumber industry.

As regards animal life, the marine fauna is of considerable importance to the country, in that large districts are more or less dependent on fisheries.

Of land animals, the bear is nearly extinct, while the moose is mainly found in south-eastern Norway and Tr¯ndelag. The reindeer is the most important domestic animal in Finnmark. The largest stock of wild reindeer in Norway is found on Hardangervidda. There are many species of carnivorous mammals, such as the wolf, fox, lynx and otter, and game birds are found in the valleys and mountains. There are fresh-water fish, such as trout, in most rivers and lakes in the country, while salmon are rarely caught outside typical "salmon rivers".

Multitudes of seabirds nest on the coast. Nesting cliffs on the western and northern coasts, which are inhabited by thousands of sea birds, are a major tourist attraction.