PDF HERE
Poor condition of the land is one of Iceland’s biggest environmental challenges, and the restoration of the degraded ecosystems is an enormous and important task. Land degradation is a global problem and restoring ecosystems is the focus of international treaties. The current decade is dedicated by the United Nations to restoring degraded ecosystems.
Large tracts of land in Iceland have become barren wastelands while much of the remaining ecosystems are in altered and often poor state – because of land degradation. There are areas in good condition, of course, yet too many people fail to consider or recognize the difference. Even those that use the land for agriculture or various other purposes.
This a publication for those that seek to improve their understanding of nature, land condition and the impact that man has exerted on the land. It can be used by anyone interested in nature, land users, agencies, NGO’s as well for teaching. Its content is considered an open-source material. It provides an example that can be adapted to other countries or areas which have underwent severe land degradation.
To Read and Heal the Land is based on an earlier version in Icelandic. The original version icluded discussions on possible solutions, ecological restoration, principles and practices which will be added to this text in the near future for a complete publication (and re-posted here). Posted July 2025
Poor condition of the land is one of Iceland’s biggest environmental challenges, and the restoration of the degraded ecosystems is an enormous and important task. Land degradation is a global problem and restoring ecosystems is the focus of international treaties. The current decade is dedicated by the United Nations to restoring degraded ecosystems.
Large tracts of land in Iceland have become barren wastelands while much of the remaining ecosystems are in altered and often poor state – because of land degradation. There are areas in good condition, of course, yet too many people fail to consider or recognize the difference. Even those that use the land for agriculture or various other purposes.
This a publication for those that seek to improve their understanding of nature, land condition and the impact that man has exerted on the land. It can be used by anyone interested in nature, land users, agencies, NGO’s as well for teaching. Its content is considered an open-source material. It provides an example that can be adapted to other countries or areas which have underwent severe land degradation.
To Read and Heal the Land is based on an earlier version in Icelandic. The original version icluded discussions on possible solutions, ecological restoration, principles and practices which will be added to this text in the near future for a complete publication (and re-posted here). Posted July 2025