Kjell Overvåg

Kjell Overvåg is a Professor at the Department of Global Development and Planning, University of Agder. His research focuses on rural development, mountain policy, second homes, mobility, and the intersection between spatial planning and land use. He leads the Urban and Regional Planning (URPLAN) research group and has extensive experience in mountainous region policy.

• Institution: University of Agder
• Department: Department of Global Development and Planning
• Contact: kjell.overvag@uia.no

Research interests center on sustainable development in mountain regions, analyzing tensions between tourism-driven second-home growth and local development, mobility patterns in border regions, and innovative planning approaches for shrinking rural communities. His work examines conflicts between local autonomy and national conservation policies.

Recent publications explore environmentally sustainable second-home planning (2024), challenges in shrinking rural regions (2022), cross-border mobility (2018), and mountain policy frameworks (2011-2025). His articles often address spatial integration, planning conflicts, and sustainable tourism development in Nordic contexts.