Iceland is a rather large country that is having a difficult time dealing with soil erosion. A national survey completed in 1997 showed that serious soil erosion still covers about 40% of the country. Thirteen years later the problem only has gotten worse. Soil erosion in Iceland is a big, big problem.As shown in the map above, land with severe erosion is in red and is taking place in 7% of the country. The parts that are green on the map symbolize a tolerable level of soil erosion, but tolerable is not always good.
An area where Iceland is very concerned is how much vegetation is being hurt by the county's soil erosion. Vegetated ecosystems are being destroyed by this erosion, which has the country very worried because the vegetated land is a priority area for land reclamation. The map to the right outlines this problem.
The question
many are faced with now is: What is the reason for all of this? It is happening because of vegetation cover, steep terrain, high rainfall, and volcanic activity. Deforestation, erosion and loss of vegetation have all been occurring since the 9th century in Iceland. Though it wasn't always this way. As Boris Maksimov for BBC News puts it, "despite the rather frightening name of the country, Iceland was green when Vikings came to settle."
As much as half of the original vegetative cover of Icelandic land has been destroyed, caused primarily by wood cutting and overgrazing under harsh natural conditions. 95% of forests and woodlands once covering at least 25% of Iceland are in all likelihood lost.
What's being done about this severe problem? As the website www.landbunadur.is says, "The Icelandic government has in its Climate Change Strategy for 2007-2050 decided to consider wetland restoration as one option in reducing GHG emission. Conservation of carbon stock in wetland could be approached in a similar way as suggested regarding reduced deforestation."
Hopefully by then, the reduced forestation will eliminate soil erosion. But that is unlikely. Since it is unlikely a lot of organizations and groups are trying to help solve the problem. A few are: The Farmers Association of Iceland, Soil Conservation Service, Iceland Forest Service and more.
Sheep used to roam this beautiful land 1000 years ago, but now due to things such as overgrazing, land is like this.
The question
many are faced with now is: What is the reason for all of this? It is happening because of vegetation cover, steep terrain, high rainfall, and volcanic activity. Deforestation, erosion and loss of vegetation have all been occurring since the 9th century in Iceland. Though it wasn't always this way. As Boris Maksimov for BBC News puts it, "despite the rather frightening name of the country, Iceland was green when Vikings came to settle."As much as half of the original vegetative cover of Icelandic land has been destroyed, caused primarily by wood cutting and overgrazing under harsh natural conditions. 95% of forests and woodlands once covering at least 25% of Iceland are in all likelihood lost.
The picture above shows a large volcanic area in Iceland.
What's being done about this severe problem? As the website www.landbunadur.is says, "The Icelandic government has in its Climate Change Strategy for 2007-2050 decided to consider wetland restoration as one option in reducing GHG emission. Conservation of carbon stock in wetland could be approached in a similar way as suggested regarding reduced deforestation."
Hopefully by then, the reduced forestation will eliminate soil erosion. But that is unlikely. Since it is unlikely a lot of organizations and groups are trying to help solve the problem. A few are: The Farmers Association of Iceland, Soil Conservation Service, Iceland Forest Service and more.
Sheep used to roam this beautiful land 1000 years ago, but now due to things such as overgrazing, land is like this.
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