Skógræktin

200 days to the IUFRO 2024

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 14:14:00 +0000

200 days are now remaining until the beginning of the largest scientific forest event of 2024. 5000 delegates from 100+ countries, 3500 oral presentations, 200 scientific sessions.

Ideology doesn’t make forests resilient

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 12:11:00 +0000

Ideological thinking involves following certain norms that someone else has developed, or worse, some group of people. Beliefs held by groups tend to become ideologies, and they are not necessarily rational or scientifically validated.

Director appointment announced for the new institution Land og skógur

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 11:24:00 +0000

The Icelandic Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Svandís Svavarsdóttir recently appointed Mr. Ágúst Sigurðsson as director of the new institution Land og skógur (Land and Forests) which will start operation 1 January 2024 with the merger of the Icelandic Forest Service – Skógræktin and the Icelandic Land Reclamation Service – Landgræðslan.

A new plant pathologist at IFS

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 12:24:00 +0000

Helga Ösp Jónsdóttir MSc has accepted the post of pathologist at the Icelandic Forest Research, the research division of the Icelandic Forest Service. Nine applications were received for the job.

Want to see all the Carbon Projects?

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 08:16:00 +0000

"Insights" is a new function on the International Carbon Registry website, allowing you to browse through different carbon projects from all around the world that have been registered and put into action. With a textual and graphical presentation, you can familiarise yourself with the projects, amongst them a growing number of Icelandic ones.

Record High Interest in the IUFRO World Congress

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 10:38:00 +0000

With over 5000 scientific abstracts submitted the 26th IUFRO World Congress is the most anticipated congress in the history of the IUFRO. “We are thrilled to see so many abstracts! This makes us very confident that the congress will offer a high-quality scientific program and become a great success”, says Dr. Elena Paoletti, Chair of the Scientific Committee.

A call for information on tree pests and forest health

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 15:16:00 +0000

Now summer is reaching its peak and the ecosystem is in full swing. This also applies to the pests that attack trees and shrubs. As in previous years, the Icelandic Forest Service – Skógræktin is calling for tips from the public about pests on trees throughout the country, as well as about the general health of forests, such as effects of seasonal disruptions in weather or individual storms.

Icelandic biochar for Icelandic farming soils – new video

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 09:14:00 +0000

The Icelandic Forest Service has released a new video explaining the making of biochar from Icelandic thinning wood and an ongoing research exploring the benefits of mixing biochar into farmland soil. It is good hope that the use of artificial fertiliser can be reduced substantially by using this method in Icelandic agriculture.

Birch from South Iceland showing advantage all around the country

Thu, 22 Jun 2023 13:52:00 +0000

An article in the latest volume of the Icelandic Forest Research' science bulletin Rit Mógilsár shows interesting results from recent measurements of the so called Rarik-experiment, set out 25 years ago with 50 provenances of downy birch. It appears that birch from Southeast Iceland produces the highest amount of seeds and shows highest resistance to rust fungus. Authors recommend further work on the already fruitful breeding work that has been carried out in Iceland to enhance the development of birch reproduction material suited for Icelandic lowlands in the future.

Propagating larch hybrid 'Hrymur' with cuttings

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 15:41:00 +0000

Given there is sufficient knowledge, not least in the field of plant nursery techniques, propagating the larch hybrid 'Hrymur' with cuttings seems to be quite a viable possibility. Experiments reported in a new article published in the journal Rit Mógilsár, showed good rooting of both winter cuttings and unlignified summer cuttings of the hybrid. A promising potential is to cultivate the cuttings in microtrays and use robots for transplanting.

Oldest "tree" in Iceland about 280 years of age

Wed, 24 May 2023 13:33:00 +0000

At least 250 tree rings have been counted in a common juniper tree at Hólasandur land reclamation area which lies jus north of the Lake Mývatn Nature Reserve in North Iceland. That individual plant is therefore the oldest "tree" known to grow in Iceland. Great magnification is needed to count the superthin tree rings of the Icelandic juniper which is very slow-growing.

Nordic Forest Statistics 2023

Mon, 22 May 2023 11:42:00 +0000

Do you wonder which might be be the most common tree species in Icelandic commercial forests? The answer to this is among things found in a new publication titled Nordic Forest Statistics 2023. You will also find interesting knowledge such as the fact that although the Nordic countries only account for 1.6% of the world's total forest area, Sweden and Finland contribute 16% of global exports of sawnwood products and paper.

Biochar for improving Icelandic farming soils

Mon, 15 May 2023 11:58:00 +0000

Biochar made from Icelandic thinningwood could be put to good use for long-term carbon sequestration in farmland soil and at the same time increase the quality of the soil and thus the yield. Possibilities for this will be explored in a research project that Skógræktin – the Icelandic Forest Service (IFS) is currently working on in collaboration with the Agricultural University of Iceland (AUI) and others. Response is awaited to an application for funding costly soil sample analysis, which is vital for the results of the study. The idea is to take extensive soil samples in the project at least the next three to five years.

New science paper on Root Frost Tolerance of Russian Larch

Fri, 12 May 2023 10:20:00 +0000

In a new study, mortality of Russian larch seedlings, due to a damaged root system, occurred not only in the first year but was still ongoing after two growing seasons. These results emphasise the importance of ensuring the quality of forest seedlings before planting.

Mobilising communities for environmental projects

Wed, 10 May 2023 13:30:00 +0000

Five volunteers from the Portuguese youth organization Agora Aveiro participated in forestry projects during their stay in Iceland from April 20 to 30. The voluntary work was planned in collaboration with the volunteer organization SEEDS and the Icelandic Forest Service with the support of the European program Erasmus+.

Skógarkolefni 2.0 released on a new website

Thu, 04 May 2023 13:35:00 +0000

A new version of the Skógarkolefni Forest Carbon set of requirements has just been released. At the same time, Skógarkolefni's new website was launched at skogarkolefni.is.

Skógarkolefni 2.0 released on a new website

Thu, 04 May 2023 07:25:00 +0000

A new version of the Skógarkolefni Forest Carbon set of requirements has just been released. At the same time, Skógarkolefni's new website was launched at skogarkolefni.is.

Good outlooks for afforestation around Keflavik Intl. Airport

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 13:17:00 +0000

Results from experiments with cultivation of three tree species on eroded land near the Keflavik International Airport in Iceland are explained in a new video released by the Icelandic Forest Service - Skógræktin. The research shows among other things that afforestation is quite feasible in the area, given that the right measures are deployed. Fertilizing qualities of Nootka lupine proved a critical factor for the seedlings' survival but now the lupine has started to give way for grass and other species. The site has turned from barren land to fertile grass land with trees up to seven meters of height.

A new video on the TreProX project released

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 10:37:00 +0000

The TreProX project held a weeklong workshop in Iceland in October 2021. The subject was wood quality and standards of wood sorting as well as methods used in maximizing the quality of timber in growing forest stands. The Icelandic Forest Service - Skógræktin has released a video about the workshop.

Heavy natural selection of Scots pine in Iceland

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 08:45:00 +0000

The Icelandic Forest Service has published a video in collaboration with HealGenCar and SNS, which discusses experiments with various provenances of Scots pine with regard to their resistance to the pathogen pine woolly aphid (Pinus pini). It turns out that the descendants of the small proportion of trees that survived an aphid epidemic in the second half of the last century are least affected by aphids of the material tested.