Land and Forest Iceland
A job title that's been around for more than 400 years
17th September 2024
A group of forestry students from the Swedish Agricultural University of Umeå, currently in their second year of studies, have recently embarked on a visit to Iceland. Their primary objective is to gain insights into Icelandic forests and forestry practices. The curriculum of their studies encompasses a comprehensive range of forestry-related subjects, including processing and forest care. Upon successful completion of their studies, these students will be conferred with the traditional degree of Jägermästare, which is equivalent to the forester's degree in Iceland.
Mr. Björn Bjarndal Jónsson, a forester and the chairman of the Association of Forestry Farmers in South Iceland, organised the educational visit of the students to Iceland and provided invaluable guidance throughout their stay. As part of their comprehensive introduction to the activities of Land and Forest Iceland, the students were invited to the office in Selfoss, where staff members delivered insightful lectures on the pivotal role and multifaceted tasks of the institute.
The student group expressed their utmost satisfaction with the warm reception and were captivated by the awe-inspiring Icelandic forests. They marveled at the remarkable transformation of once-barren land into thriving forests within a remarkably short span of several decades. The photograph below captures Úlfur Óskarsson, a forester and project manager for carbon at Land and Forest Iceland, engaging the students in an informative discussion about carbon sequestration projects. The top photograph showcases the student group amidst the picturesque Svartagil Dell in the Haukadalur National Forest. The photos were captured by Mr. Björn Bjarndal Jónsson.
The Swedish professional title of jägmästare translates to hunting master or hunting manager. It has a four-hundred-year history, with the first records dating back to the reign of King John the Third of Sweden in 1580. Originally, the role primarily involved overseeing and protecting the king's hunting grounds. While hunting is no longer a central aspect of the position, individuals holding this title now engage in professional work related to forests and forestry.
The opportunity to study forestry and attain the jägmästare designation has been available in Sweden since 1828. Historically, applicants were required to have completed military service and demonstrated work experience in the forest, which excluded women until 1962 when the first woman was exempted from the military service requirement. Although women still constitute a minority in this field, progress has been made towards gender equality, with women currently comprising approximately forty percent of students. The recent group that visited Iceland reflected this trend, consisting of six female students and ten male.
On behalf of Land and Forest Iceland, we would like to thank these nice guests for visiting us. We wish them success in their future forestry work.