Behind the Experience: Reforestation in Iceland

Iceland is a country famed for its unique landscape. The dramatic mountains, cascading waterfalls, and volcanic geography have been cited as some of the top reasons why tourists flock there despite its remote location. On Iceland’s southwestern coast lies the city of Reykjavik, its capital and largest city. Inland of Reykjavik, on more or less all sides, is a green belt where areas of habitat are protected from urban development by our project partner on the ground! The project was first founded in the early 20th century with the aim of creating public green space and forests near the city.

What happened to Iceland’s forests?

Today Iceland is certainly not known for its forests. However, fossil evidence and ancient records indicate that around a third of the country was covered by birch forests and woodland at the time when humans first settled there. Over the next thousand years, deforestation, coupled with extensive livestock grazing, reduced forest cover to less than one percent! Intensive grazing seriously inhibits forest recovery because small tree shoots are grazed before they can develop into trees.

Since the mid-20th century however, many Icelandic forestry associations have emerged and reforestation is on the rise. Our project partners began managing the newly protected nature and recreation area of Heiðmörk in 1950. The development of Heiðmörk has involved plenty of tree planting, plus the installation of various public facilities such as an environmental education centre, picnic benches, and designated barbecue areas.

The park is now a very popular and accessible escape from the city, as well as a thriving ecosystem and a haven for wildlife. The project team also manages several other protected nature areas. These include the scenic hiking hotspot of Mount Esja and the picturesque, settler-planted woodland of Fellsmörk.

Forest restoration improves quality of life for locals and generates income from tourists. At the same time, it’s very important to note the benefits forests have for ecosystem health as well as human well-being.

The value of forests

Of all terrestrial habitat types, forests are among the most biodiverse. That’s because more vegetation cover and a greater variety of plant life create a range of ecological niches. Biodiverse ecosystems are more resilient because a greater variety of species (and genes within those species) creates the potential for a greater range of adaptations. Some of those adaptations may turn out to be beneficial for coping with future ecological disturbances, such as disease, invasive species, and the impacts of climate change.

Forests also lower flood risks because they slow flows of water. Roots reduce surface water by absorbing it from the soil, and rainfall is held up by leaves and branches. Meanwhile, the processes of evaporation and transpiration have a cooling effect on the surrounding area, aiding resistance to the effects of climate change. On top of that, forests help to filter out water pollutants before they enter rivers or lakes.

Similarly, trees and plants also filter pollutants from the air. As a result, places with more greenery have higher air quality– and green spaces don’t get much greener than a forest. However, the impact of forests on air quality is not just local, it reaches an atmospheric scale. Converting carbon dioxide to oxygen is one of the most vital services that trees provide. It is thought that forests absorb about a third of fossil fuel carbon emissions yearly.

Trees are also stores of carbon, which means that if they are cut down in large numbers, and particularly if they are burned, that stored carbon is released into the atmosphere. Therefore, the process of reforestation goes beyond the planting of trees. It must be a long-term commitment to maintaining protection of forest areas, so that they can continue to provide for generations of living things to come.

Volunteer impact

Reykjavik’s forest-planting efforts are not just about making up for centuries of deforestation. They improve local well-being, nourish diverse ecosystems, and they represent a commitment to protecting important landscapes.

Volunteers are an integral part of the Forestry Project’s mission. Participants in the program will have the opportunity to plant seedlings, give young trees a helping hand using fertiliser, and help to maintain trails and recreational areas so that the landscape can continue to host both its local ecosystem and its many human visitors!

In return for their hard work, volunteers receive training and guidance from experienced professionals, as well as a thrilling immersion into Icelandic nature. Nothing beats living within a protected natural area to make you feel inspired and excited to wake up each morning!

Written by WorkingAbroad Blogger Freya Brodrick