Ms. Berglind Guðjónsdóttir, Director of Bonn Projects at Land and Forest Iceland, has submitted the following summer project information and accompanying images for publication on the Land and Forest Iceland website.

Government initiatives to protect and restore birch forests have significantly intensified in recent years, driven by the national climate strategy, the updated "Land og líf" land reclamation and forestry policy, and Iceland's commitment to the Bonn Challenge. The overarching objective is to establish a foundation for restoring birch forests and shrublands to 5% of the nation's landmass by 2030. The Hekla Forest Project, a leading European restoration initiative launched in 2007, encompasses over 100,000 hectares surrounding the Hekla volcano. Its dual purpose is birch forest restoration and safeguarding the land from ash deposition and soil erosion following volcanic eruptions.

The Hekla Forest project employs a land preservation strategy for grazing, incorporating hardy grass species, fertiliser application, and the strategic planting of birch and other native broadleaf trees within existing landforms to establish seed sources. Given the absence of natural regeneration, approximately 400 plants per hectare are introduced. While officially concluded in 2023, the project remains under the purview of Land and Forest Iceland, serving as a benchmark for future reforestation initiatives under the Bonn Challenge.

Delta Forest, a French firm, is undertaking a significant reforestation project this summer, involving the planting of approximately 500,000 birch trees in Heklaskógar and 20,000 in Þorláksskógar. Despite initial challenges posed by a May heatwave, the planting program has progressed successfully. In addition to the standard tree-associated fertilisers, a trial utilising white clover (Trifolium repens) is underway in select areas to explore supplementary nitrogen sources for the birch trees.

This year, approximately one million birch trees will be planted across Iceland as part of the Bonn Challenge initiative. Planting locations include Ásbyrgi, Hólasandur, and Eyvindastaðaheiði in North Iceland, and Þorláksskógar, Þjórsárdalur, and the Leiðvöllur fence in South Iceland. Furthermore, we have provided 90,000 birch trees to farmer-led land reclamation projects and the Land Reform Fund, and 40,000 to landowners in the Hekluskógar region.

Furthermore, trials have been undertaken involving the planting of unrooted cuttings of native tea-leaved willow (Salix phylicifolia) and woolly willow (S. lanata) in Þjórsárdalur and Hítardalur to assess their potential for self-propagation. In early June, CGTN filmed a documentary in Hekluskógar and Þórsmörk showcasing Icelandic birch forest restoration, which will concurrently serve as valuable promotional material. The image above displays a Hítardalur valley site where willow cuttings were harvested for propagation in adjacent, less densely vegetated areas. The lower image depicts a reclaimed Hítardalur site demonstrating stable surface conditions despite vegetation reduction, ideal for direct planting of unrooted willow cuttings. The bottom image shows a prepared willow cutting.

We are optimistic that this summer will foster the successful establishment of the birch plantings, providing a foundation for future restoration of sustainable and biodiverse birch forests.