Two separate parliamentary resolutions have been put forward at the beginning of the current parliamentary session, proposing the creation of a national park comprising the entire central highlands.
Protecting the most precious resource of Iceland
The Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Greens have both proposed parliamentary resolutions which would lay the groundwork for the entire central highlands being turned into a protected national park. Both parliamentary resolutions envision the proposed national park would be formally established in 2018, on the 90 year anniversary of the establishment of the Þingvellir National Park, which was the first national park in Iceland.
The explanatory memorandum with the proposal put forward by the Left Green Alliance points out that the Central Highlands are facing a serious threat from plans for large scale development. The greatest threat to the Central Highlands comes from plans to construct power plants which would destroy either rivers and waterfalls or geothermal areas. Accompanying high voltage transmission lines and roads through untouched areas would irreparably transform the natural beauty of the central highlands.
Read more: See the spectacular waterfalls in Skjálfandi river which would to be sacrificed for more electricity
Great majority of Icelanders support conservation
A poll conducted by Gallup in March of this year revealed that a clear majority of Icelanders, 61.4%, support the idea of creating a National Park covering the entire Central Highlands of Iceland. Only 12.4% were opposed to the idea. Support for the idea has been growing rapidly in the past years, as more and more people realize the value of untouched nature. A similar poll taken in 2011 showed that 56% of respondents supported a Central Highlands National Park.
A number of Icelandic conservation organisations have launched a petition to try and persuade the government to save the highlands from further damage caused by poorly conceived plans for development. You can sign the petition here.
Read more: Organisations start a petition to try and save the highlands from developments
From four separate National Parks to one
The second National park was created in Skaftafell by Vatnajökull glacier in 1967, and the third one in 1973 in Jökulsárgljúfur, the gorges of the Jökulsá river north of Vatnajökull glacier. During the 1997-98 parliamentary session a proposal was put forward to ensure the protection of the largest untouched areas of Icelandic nature and its greatest natural wonders by creating four national parks in the central highlands, each covering the area surrounding the four largest glaciers, Vatnajökull glacier, Hofsjökull glacier, Langjökull glacier and Mýrdalsjökull glacier.
In 2008 one of these national parks was created, Vatnajökull National Park, which comprises the two national parks created in 1967 and 1973. The Explanatory memorandum of the Social Democratic Alliance points out it is important the entire Central Highlands be made into one administrative unit which could ensure any development, as well as growing tourism would not damage untouched areas. Furthermore, the Central Highlands National Park would be prepared in accordance with international standards created by the IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Two separate parliamentary resolutions have been put forward at the beginning of the current parliamentary session, proposing the creation of a national park comprising the entire central highlands.
Protecting the most precious resource of Iceland
The Social Democratic Alliance and the Left-Greens have both proposed parliamentary resolutions which would lay the groundwork for the entire central highlands being turned into a protected national park. Both parliamentary resolutions envision the proposed national park would be formally established in 2018, on the 90 year anniversary of the establishment of the Þingvellir National Park, which was the first national park in Iceland.
The explanatory memorandum with the proposal put forward by the Left Green Alliance points out that the Central Highlands are facing a serious threat from plans for large scale development. The greatest threat to the Central Highlands comes from plans to construct power plants which would destroy either rivers and waterfalls or geothermal areas. Accompanying high voltage transmission lines and roads through untouched areas would irreparably transform the natural beauty of the central highlands.
Read more: See the spectacular waterfalls in Skjálfandi river which would to be sacrificed for more electricity
Great majority of Icelanders support conservation
A poll conducted by Gallup in March of this year revealed that a clear majority of Icelanders, 61.4%, support the idea of creating a National Park covering the entire Central Highlands of Iceland. Only 12.4% were opposed to the idea. Support for the idea has been growing rapidly in the past years, as more and more people realize the value of untouched nature. A similar poll taken in 2011 showed that 56% of respondents supported a Central Highlands National Park.
A number of Icelandic conservation organisations have launched a petition to try and persuade the government to save the highlands from further damage caused by poorly conceived plans for development. You can sign the petition here.
Read more: Organisations start a petition to try and save the highlands from developments
From four separate National Parks to one
The second National park was created in Skaftafell by Vatnajökull glacier in 1967, and the third one in 1973 in Jökulsárgljúfur, the gorges of the Jökulsá river north of Vatnajökull glacier. During the 1997-98 parliamentary session a proposal was put forward to ensure the protection of the largest untouched areas of Icelandic nature and its greatest natural wonders by creating four national parks in the central highlands, each covering the area surrounding the four largest glaciers, Vatnajökull glacier, Hofsjökull glacier, Langjökull glacier and Mýrdalsjökull glacier.
In 2008 one of these national parks was created, Vatnajökull National Park, which comprises the two national parks created in 1967 and 1973. The Explanatory memorandum of the Social Democratic Alliance points out it is important the entire Central Highlands be made into one administrative unit which could ensure any development, as well as growing tourism would not damage untouched areas. Furthermore, the Central Highlands National Park would be prepared in accordance with international standards created by the IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
