Land and Forest Iceland's experts have spearheaded the development of a methodology and certification framework for carbon units generated through wetland restoration. Sunna Áskelsdóttir led the project on behalf of Land and Forest Iceland, collaborating with Rannveig Guicharnaud, formerly of Deloitte, now with ICR.

The majority of Iceland's greenhouse gas emissions originate from drained wetlands. Wetlands, formed in anaerobic environments, accumulate organic matter due to slow decomposition rates. Drainage alters this, exposing organic matter to oxygen, accelerating decomposition via aerobic microbes and releasing significant carbon dioxide.

Wetland restoration reverses this process by raising water levels and quickly restoring oxygen-deprived conditions. This makes wetland recovery one of Iceland's most efficient greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies. Many degraded wetlands are currently unused and readily restorable. Beyond emission reduction, wetland restoration enhances biodiversity, improves water management, and provides crucial habitat for birds and plants. Consequently, wetland recovery not only mitigates greenhouse gas emissions but also assists Iceland in fulfilling its Convention on Biological Diversity obligations.

The proposed methodology is open for review until March 17th. Following the comment period, the methodology will undergo evaluation by the accreditation body. Subsequently, it will be implemented in an Icelandic wetlands project this spring, prior to receiving formal accreditation from the certification body and ICR. This process will yield an accepted, open-source methodology for wetlands restoration, generating certified carbon units that adhere to stringent quality standards.

Same area as shown on the image above post wetland restoration in 2024. Photo credit: Iðunn Hauksdóttir.