Iceland is considered a rather barren country, however, the country's forests have grown considerably over the past decades due to the government’s afforestation plan. Trees now cover nearly 2 percent of the country, reports Vísir.
This development is intact with what is happening in other Northern-European countries, however, according to the World Forestry Congress, the largest and most significant gathering of the world’s forestry sector, large parts of South-America’s, Africa’s, and Asia’s forests are under threat.
Read more: Iceland's tallest tree now measures 27 metres
Trees and woodlands covered around 25-40 percent of Iceland at the time of its settlement in 870. However, around 95 percent of Iceland’s forests were cut down over the course of centuries as the birch woods were an important source of fuel and building material.
Organised afforestation began in 1899 with the planting of the Pine Stand at Þingvellir National Park. The Icelandic Forest Service aims to afforest at least 12 percent of Iceland by the year 2100.
Iceland is considered a rather barren country, however, the country's forests have grown considerably over the past decades due to the government’s afforestation plan. Trees now cover nearly 2 percent of the country, reports Vísir.
This development is intact with what is happening in other Northern-European countries, however, according to the World Forestry Congress, the largest and most significant gathering of the world’s forestry sector, large parts of South-America’s, Africa’s, and Asia’s forests are under threat.
Read more: Iceland's tallest tree now measures 27 metres
Trees and woodlands covered around 25-40 percent of Iceland at the time of its settlement in 870. However, around 95 percent of Iceland’s forests were cut down over the course of centuries as the birch woods were an important source of fuel and building material.
Organised afforestation began in 1899 with the planting of the Pine Stand at Þingvellir National Park. The Icelandic Forest Service aims to afforest at least 12 percent of Iceland by the year 2100.
