Land and Forest Iceland
Andrés Arnalds' Photographs
16th September 2026
A large collection of significant photographs documenting the history of land reclamation work in Iceland over the past half-century has been donated to Land and Forest Iceland by Andrés Arnalds, former Director of Professional Affairs at the Soil Conservation Service of Iceland. The images constitute an important historical record and will be used for educational and outreach purposes, among other things.
Young Andrés Arnalds standing beside eroding remnants of former soil and vegetation cover, with Mount Bláfell in the background. Photo from Andrés Arnalds' archive.
Ágúst Sigurðsson, Director General of Land and Forest Iceland, formally received the collection on 20 June this year when he and Andrés signed a deed of gift. By doing so, Andrés transferred ownership of the photographs he has taken over recent decades in connection with land reclamation activities to Land and Forest Iceland for preservation and future use.
The collection contains both photographic slides and printed photographs, as well as digital copies prepared by Edda Linn Rise, Records Manager at Land and Forest Iceland, in accordance with established standards for digitisation and long-term preservation. The archive provides extensive documentation of land reclamation work in Iceland, vegetation development, restoration methods and the broader history associated with these activities.
Under the agreement, Land and Forest Iceland is authorised to use the collection for education, research, publications and outreach activities, provided that Andrés is always credited as the photographer.
Land and Forest Iceland extends its sincere thanks to Andrés for this generous gift. The institution will continue its efforts to safeguard the collection by digitising, cataloguing and making the photographs accessible for use. The same applies to other photographic archives held by the institution. Considerable work remains to be done, but all of these collections represent valuable sources of historical knowledge and evidence. They can, for example, help demonstrate the results achieved through the work of Land and Forest Iceland in land reclamation, forestry and wetland restoration.
Photographs often tell a story more effectively than words alone. For that reason, there are considerable opportunities in comparing historic photographs of the land with new images taken from the same locations. Few things illustrate more clearly the positive changes in vegetation cover and land condition that can be achieved through sustained and effective ecosystem restoration efforts.
Andrés Arnalds and his wife, Guðrún Pálmadóttir, in 2011, when Andrés was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon. Photo: Gunnar Vigfússon.