Land and Forest Iceland
Monitoring results on the Álftaver Highland Pasture
11th November 2024
One of the initiatives undertaken by Land and Forest Iceland involves assessing the results of land reclamation efforts carried out by farmers engaged in quality-controlled sheep production. These farmers adhere to a land improvement plan as part of their operations. Land and Forest Iceland is responsible for evaluating the land use component of quality-controlled sheep production. This autumn, the inaugural measurements were conducted in accordance with a new work process that provides improved accuracy and more comprehensive information regarding the progress of the reclamation. The enclosed photographs depict the outcomes achieved at Álftaver Highland Pasture since 2017.
Every five years, the land reclamation areas undergo a comprehensive assessment. Within each designated 10x10 meter plot, four smaller plots measuring 50x50 centimeters are laid out. These plots serve as observation points for detailed measurements, encompassing the extent of high plants, moss, thin vegetation, and unvegetated land.
In the initial measurement of a plot, a GPS coordinate is recorded, and a marker is placed in the center of the plot. Subsequent measurements utilise the same coordinates to ensure that the same plots are consistently measured every five years. These repeated measurements enable the monitoring of changes in the area through both photographic documentation and numerical data analysis. As illustrated in Figure Two, the vegetation coverage in plot three has undergone significant transformation over the course of three measurements. The plot has transitioned from a state of minimal vegetation to one of dense vegetation.
During the winter of 2023-2024, substantial improvements were made to the performance evaluation process. These modifications resulted in more precise metrics that provide deeper insights into the reconstruction's progress. The new process was successfully implemented for the first time in the fall of 2024. The primary objective of these changes was to facilitate year-over-year data comparison and enhance the accuracy of our assessments.
One additional factor to consider in the process is that participants in the quality-controlled sheep production program will receive the results of their performance evaluations once they have completed at least two audits. Further work on this initiative will be conducted during the winter months. A comparison of the results from two audits will then be presented in a visual format, utilising graphs and photographs, to facilitate analysis and understanding.
This year, three locations were visited in the south and one in Skagafjörður. Unfortunately, due to unfavorable weather conditions, it was not possible to reach the planned areas in the northeast and east. In images 3 to 8 you can see photos taken on on the Álftaver Highland Pasture.
Image1 depicts Páll Eggertsson on Mýrar in Álftaver and Garðar Þorfinnsson, a regional land reclamation consultant at Land and Forest Iceland, standing in one of the monitoring plots.
The below images provide comparative perspectives of three monitoring plots in the Álftaver Highland Pasture. The first image in each pair was taken in 2017, while the second was taken in 2024. Photos attributed to Garðar Þorfinnsson.
Plot 2 in 2017.
Plot 2 in 2024
Plot 3 in 2017
Plot 3 in 2024
Plot 4 in 2017
Plot 4 in 2024