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Land and Forest Iceland

Thirty years of land reclamation efforts

17th January 2025

The Land Reclamation Association of Biskupstungur (Landgræðslufélag Biskupstungna) celebrated its 30th anniversary last year. Early initiatives focused on experimental hay bale erosion control techniques to stabilise vegetation ridges and promote new growth. Documentary footage of these projects provides valuable historical context.

Heading towards the highland pastures with hay bales. Screenshot from a video by Áskell Þórisson

The Landgræðslufélag Biskupstungna held its annual general meeting on Thursday, December 12th, in Reykholt, Bláskógabyggð. Established in 1994, this organisation is one of Iceland's longest-standing land reclamation associations. The meeting, well-attended with nearly twenty members, saw the addition of several new members.

Chairman Ingvi Þorfinnsson of Spóastaðir Farm reported on the year's activities, which included the distribution of 48 tons of fertiliser across approximately 270 hectares of the Biskupstungur highland pasture, along with 180 hay bales. Furthermore, a collaborative effort resulted in the distribution of 110 tons of bone meal across approximately 55 hectares.

The general meeting facilitated a productive discussion of excavation challenges, proving highly successful. Two presentations were delivered: Ágúst Sigurðsson, Director of Land and Forest Iceland, outlined the institute's projects and its key challenges; and Garðar Þorfinnsson, Land and Forest District Representative, presented a map of the institute's summer operations last year, detailing activities carried out in recent years at Tunguheiði, a protected area west of Hvítá River, slightly north of Gullfoss Waterfall towards Mount Bláfell. Land reclamation efforts have been ongoing since its 1997 protection. With contracts at Tunguheiði nearing expiration, Bláskógabyggð and Bræðratunga Church will reassume ownership.

Director Ágúst Sigurðsson speaks at the general meeting of Landgræðslufélag Biskupstungna 2024. Photo credit: Garðar Þorfinnsson

Land and Forest Iceland extends its congratulations to Landgræðslufélag Biskupstungna on its thirtieth anniversary and expresses its best wishes for continued success in its endeavors. To commemorate this milestone, we highlight two informative videos produced by the association: one showcasing the successful utilisation of a specialied hay bale chopper for stabilizing erosion ridges and promoting vegetation growth; the other documenting the August 2008 effort where members transported approximately 200 hay rollers to the highland pasture for deployment across numerous kilometers of erosion-prone vegetation ridges. Additionally, it is worth to mention the third video on similar projects carried out by the association. That one was produced by Áskell Þórisson in 2016 for the former Soil Conservation Service.