Land and Forest Iceland
The bonemeal works well
14th August 2024
The application of bonemeal as a means of expediting land reclamation initiatives has proven highly successful in the southern region of Iceland, particularly in areas where the goal is to establish birch forests. A notable example is an area in Rangárvellir called Heiðarlækur, where the landowner has undertaken dedicated efforts in land reclamation and forestry endeavours. A recent video captured at Heiðarlækur in Rangárvellir showcases the methods employed for distributing bonemeal.
Heiðarlækur is an area that has been taken out of the land Heiði, located on Rangárvellir, a few blocks above Gunnarsholt. The owner of the land, Októ Einarsson, has been working on excavation in cooperation with Land and Forest since 2015 and also has an agreement with the Institute for Forestry in Rural Areas.
A significant portion of the terrain consists of lava fields partially covered in sand. Artificial fertiliser has been applied, followed by the planting of primarily downy birch seedlings as well as some black cottonwood and contorta pine. Recently, a combination of bonemeal and chicken manure has been distributed across gravel areas lacking sufficient nutrients, along with artificial fertiliser, especially in areas where bonemeal distribution is challenging. The accompanying video footage captured by Ævar Leví Pierreson illustrates the bonemeal distribution procedure. He is the son of Pierre D. Jónsson, the owner of the contracting firm Nautás, who has managed the fertiliser distribution in recent years.
In the summer season, approximately 20 hectares of Heiðarlækur received artificial fertiliser, while approximately 60 hectares received bonemeal and chicken manure, totaling around 70 metric tons of both artificial and organic fertilisers. The video showcases an area where 105,000 trees were planted in the spring of 2024, predominantly birch (66,000 plants), along with approximately 15,000 black cottonwood seedlings and 25,000 contorta pine. An additional 65,000 trees, primarily birch, will be planted in the autumn within the same area. Notably, a total of approximately 800,000 trees have now been planted across the areas of Heiðarlækur, Heiðarbakki, and Heiðarbrekka.
The application of bonemeal has clearly demonstrated its efficacy in soil rehabilitation efforts within the southern region of Iceland. While vegetation exhibits a more pronounced response to the application of synthetic fertilisers, bonemeal provides a longer-lasting fertilising effect and facilitates soil biogenesis. Consequently, this organic fertiliser plays a pivotal role in enhancing soil characteristics and promoting the restoration of vegetation, thereby establishing a suitable environment for the germination and growth of diverse plant species and augmenting the survival prospects of planted tree seedlings. The aforementioned benefits have been particularly evident in the Hekla Forest Project, which is focused on the revitalisation of birch forests across extensive areas surrounding the Hekla Volcano.
Mr. Októ Einarsson was one of the recipients of the annual Land Reclamation Prize in 2023. This award recognises his significant contributions to land reclamation and forestry in Heiðarlækur and neighboring areas. His work has steadily increased over the years, resulting in approximately 200 hectares of land being transformed from a desolate state to a process of steady vegetation improvement. However, there is still considerable potential for further land reclamation in the area.
