Nature protection and biodiversity - National Responses (Iceland)

The Act on Nature conservation is a framework legislation and sets general criteria for nature conservation and concerns all human interference with nature. The act is also the main legal base for protection of areas, organisms, ecosystems and biodiversity. The first act on nature conservation is from 1956 and the existing act is from 1999. Older existing legislation was for protection of individual species, areas, on forestry and soil conservation (1907) and Thingvellir National Park was protected by law in 1928. A number of laws exist addressing specific issues under the framework of nature protection.

Iceland has signed the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and is committed to the 2010 target which aims to halt the loss of biodiversity by 2010. This target is also incorporated in the Nordic Environmental Action Plan for 2005-2008.

A number of strategies have been adopded for various issues and sectors:

1. A new nature conservation strategy 2009-2013 has been adopted. The strategy has a main focus on the protection of species, habitats and ecosystems.

2. Iceland’s National Strategy for Sustainable Development 2002–2020 was adopted in 2002. The strategy was revieved with 17 priorities for 2006-2009 in 2005 (1).

3. Strategy for land reclamation 2003-2014 was adopted in 2002. Its goal is to halt soil erosion and promote sustainable land use.

4. The ministry´s committee report for a strategy to protect natural birch woods and for reclamation of lost birch woods was published in 2007 (2).

5. Recovering drained wetland areas. In the period from 1941 to 1990, about 32 000 km of ditches were dug which corresponds to over 40.000 km² of wetlands (3). Now the Environmental policy is for recovering the wetland areas. Although the recovery is slow for the time being, the development is in the right direction.

6. In order to take into account nature conservation concerns in the utilisation of hydro-, geothermal and other energy sources, the Ministry of Industry has been developing a Master Plan for Hydro and Geothermal Energy Resources since 1999 in cooperation with the Ministry for the Environment.

7. Iceland´s national policy on the ocean was published in 2004 (4). The principal objectives of the policy are to maintain the ocean’s ecology, biodiversity and productive capacity, and that its living resources can be utilised sustainably. This means sustainable utilisation, conservation and management of the resource based on research, technology and expertise, on the basis of respect for the marine ecosystem as a whole.

8. Iceland´s National Programme of Action for the protection of the marine environment from land-based activities (5).

9. The national strategy and policy on conservation and sustainable use of the living marine resources is stated in Icelandic legislation and the Government’s Action Programme on Sustainable Development (1). It relates directly to marine environmental protection and together with the Fisheries Management Act stipulates how to work towards sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources.

            The fisheries management system is based on an individual transferable quota (ITQ) system and strict technical regulations such as closed areas, mesh-sizes and selective fishing gear are an important part of the regulatory framework. This catch limitation system is the cornerstone of the Icelandic fisheries management system. The system is intended to limit the total catch and to prevent more fishing from the fish stocks than the authorities allow at any given time.

            The Marine Research Institute (MRI) publishes every year a status report and recommends total allowable catches (TAC) for many stocks (6). One of the main tasks of the MRI is to advice the government on TACs and sustainable fishing strategies. The advice is based on: Long‑term management scheme (catch rules), whis in turn is based on stock assessment, projection of catches and stock sizes.

            An advisory board of scientists scrutinises the assessment work for all the species made by individual scientists of the MRI and makes recommendations on TACs. The MRI advice for some of the major Icelandic stocks are also reviewed by the Advisory Committee on Fisheries Management (ACFM) of ICES.

10. The ministry´s committee report on sensitive marine areas was published in 2005. The report was followed by implementation of protection measures for five coral areas (7).

References

(1) Welfare for the Future. Framework for sustainable development in Icelandic society. Priorities 2006-2009. Report in English. http://eng.umhverfisraduneyti.is/media/PDF_skrar/080224VelferdtilFramtidark2006-2009EnskaEndanleg.pdf

(2) Conservation and recovery of birch woods in Iceland. Report in Icelandic. http://www.umhverfisraduneyti.is/media/PDF_skrar/Birkiskogar.pdf

(3) Strategy for recovery of drained wetland areas. Report in Icelandic. http://www.sjavarutvegsraduneyti.is/media/Skyrslur/votlendisskyrsla.pdf

(4) The Ocean: Iceland´s Policy. Report in English. http://eng.sjavarutvegsraduneyti.is/media/Skyrslur/Hafid_ensk_utg_pdf.pdf

(5) Iceland´s National Programme of Action for the protection of the marine environment from land-based activities. Report in English. http://eng.umhverfisraduneyti.is/media/PDF_skrar/GPA.pdf

(6) State of Marine Stocks in Icelandic waters 2009/2010 – Prospects for the Quota Year 2010/2011. In Icelandic with English summary. http://www.hafro.is/undir.php?ID=26&REF=4

(7) Comittee report on marine protection areas. Report in Icelandic. http://www.sjavarutvegsraduneyti.is/media/Skyrslur/fridunskyrsla_2005.pdf

(8) Conservation of genetic resources in agriculture. Report in Icelandic. http://agrogen.lbhi.is/lisalib/getfile.aspx?itemid=1831