Land and Forest Iceland
New Steering Committee Appointed to Revise the National Soil Conservation and Forestry Plan
25th June 2026
Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate, has appointed a steering committee to revise Iceland's National Soil Conservation and Forestry Plan. Under the relevant legislation, the national plan must be issued at least every five years and set out objectives for a ten-year period. The steering committee held its first meeting this morning at Land and Forest Iceland's offices on Vínlandsleið in Reykjavík.
The steering committee after its inaugural meeting at Vínlandsleið. Photo: Hrefna Jóhannesdóttir
The first joint policy and long-term vision for soil conservation and forestry was published in August 2022 under the title Land and Life: Policy and Vision for Soil Conservation and Forestry to 2031. A five-year action plan covering the period 2022–2026 was published alongside the policy.
In addition to the priorities set out in legislation, the Minister has placed particular emphasis on the protection and restoration of carbon-rich ecosystems and ecosystems that are important for biodiversity. Other key priorities include increasing value creation from Iceland's forests, improving access to land information, and strengthening cooperation between public institutions in this field. Greater public participation, linking measures to quality of life, and promoting outdoor recreation are also highlighted as important objectives.
Among its tasks, the steering committee will prepare a review of the implementation of the current policy, assessing progress, outcomes and the main challenges encountered. Based on this review, it will prepare draft revisions to both the policy and the accompanying action plan. These drafts will be presented for public consultation before the final plan is submitted.
The steering committee comprises:
Ágúst Sigurðsson, Director-General of Land and Forest Iceland (Chair)
Brynhildur Bjarnadóttir, Associate Professor, University of Akureyri
Helga María Pálsdóttir, Head of Division, nominated by the Icelandic Association of Local Authorities
Ingunn Agnes Kro, Lawyer
Sigurður Torfi Sigurðsson, Agricultural Adviser, Icelandic Agricultural Advisory Centre
Salome Hallfreðsdóttir, representative of the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Climate
Hrefna Jóhannesdóttir, specialist at Land and Forest Iceland, serves as secretary to the steering committee.
The revised policy and action plan are expected to be published no later than 1 March 2027.
Current plans