Land and Forest Iceland
Initial appointment of unique birch woodlands
12th June 2025
Land and Forest Iceland has released its inaugural inventory of unique and ecologically significant birch forests and their remaining fragments. These designated forests are viewable on the agency's interactive map viewer.
Land and Forest Iceland is statutorily responsible for demarcating and registering protected birch woodlands, as mandated by the 2013 Nature Conservation Act (as amended) and the 2019 Forests and Silviculture Act. As the Nature Conservation Act's explanatory memorandum clarifies, unique birch forests are defined by natural regeneration and age diversity, including mature trees and characteristic undergrowth. Given birch is one of Iceland's few native tree species, these forests are considered vital ecosystems. Preserving the genetic resources of Icelandic birch is best achieved by fostering natural propagation and safeguarding remaining old-growth birch forests and their genetic material.
A dedicated Land and Forest Iceland working group is tasked with defining unique birch woodlands as per existing legislation. Their initial assessment has identified ten candidate woodland areas, approved by the Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate. These areas are geographically diverse, encompassing a total of 7,396 hectares of forest and scrubland, approximately 5% of Iceland's total birch woodland. An interactive online map provides detailed information and visualisation of these designated woodlands.
Proposals consider woodland age, prioritising geographically isolated or remote areas, and those threatened by overgrazing and erosion. However, due to insufficient research on individual birch woodland ecology, definitive statements regarding each site's ecological uniqueness are currently unfeasible.
The primary sources informing forest age estimations include:
Björn Gunnlaugsson's map of Iceland, compiled from 1831-1843 measurements and published by the Icelandic Literary Society in Copenhagen in 1849;
early 20th-century military council maps of Iceland;
and a 2015 Icelandic Forest Service birch inventory.
Six of the ten initially appointed unique birch woodland areas are privately owned. Land and Forest Iceland intends to collaborate with landowners and managers to protect and preserve these sites. This initiative is ongoing; the Land and Forest Iceland working group will continue expanding the list of protected birch forests.