About the Iceland Reforestation Volunteer Project
Reviving Iceland’s Lost Forests
Once a green, forested island, Iceland has seen its forest cover drastically reduce to about 2% today, from a quarter of the land being covered by birch woodlands in the 9th century. The Reykjavík Forestry Association now spearheads efforts to reverse centuries of deforestation through organised reforestation, focusing on planting trees and nurturing young forests back to health.
Your role in Reforestation
As an Iceland Reforestation Volunteer, you’ll play a crucial role in these efforts. Working in areas like Heiðmörk, Esja, and Úlfarsfell, you’ll engage in:
- Planting seedlings to restore Iceland’s native forests.
- Fertilising young trees to ensure their growth.
- Maintaining trails and cleaning up recreation areas to preserve the newly flourishing ecosystems.
Volunteer Teams and Living Arrangements
Volunteers are grouped into teams of four. You collaborate with long-term volunteers under the guidance of experienced supervisors with backgrounds in forestry and biology. Accommodation is provided in a cosy wooden cabin within the nature reserves you will be working to restore.
What you need to know
No previous reforestation experience is required, as all volunteers receive comprehensive training. The typical workday is from 09:00 to 16:00 Monday to Friday (weekends are freetime), with travel to work sites arranged by car and a lunch break. Given Iceland’s unpredictable weather, volunteers should come prepared with appropriate outdoor attire, including good shoes and windproof clothing.
A message from our project manager:
“Iceland used to be a green, forested island at time of the viking settlement. Since then it is estimated that we have lost over 90% of our forest cover due to unsustainable land-use. Now large areas of the island are suffering from heavy soil erosion and desertification. Our volunteers help us take action to right this wrong, one small plant at a time. Our actions do not only benefit Iceland, the effects are global by virtue of us growing forests for carbon sequestration”
Join us in Restoring Iceland’s Forests
Are you ready to make a difference as an Iceland Reforestation Volunteer? Apply now and be part of a global movement to reforest Iceland, one tree at a time.
