The Icelandic Forest Service ( is, Skógræktin ) (IFS) is a subordinate

agency Agency may refer to: Organizations * Institution, governmental or others ** Advertising agency or marketing agency, a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients ** Employment agency, a business that ...

to the Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources of the

Government of Iceland The politics of Iceland take place in the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the president is the head of state, while the prime minister of Iceland serves as the head of government in a multi-party system ...

. This governmental institution works not only with and for the government but also for the public and other parties interested. The main subjects are research development, consultation work and the distribution of knowledge and know-how within the Icelandic forest sector. Furthermore, the IFS acts as Iceland's representative body for international forest-related cooperation. The Director of IFS as of 2016 is Mr. Throstur Eysteinsson. The Icelandic Forest Research Mógilsá ( is, Mógilsá, rannsóknasvið Skógræktarinnar) is a research division of the Icelandic Forest Service with headquarters located at , near

Reykjavík Reykjavík ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói bay. Its latitude is 64°08' N, making it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. With a po ...

. The head of research is Ms. Edda Sigurdís Oddsdóttir. For over a century the IFS has had two main obligations, one being the protection and expansion of remaining native birchwoods in the country, the other executing afforestation projects throughout the country for the purpose of commercial forestry. Afforestation projects have been put through on IFS lands in different locations in Iceland. Furthermore, state supported afforestation on farms has in recent decades grown to become the main channel for afforestation activity in Iceland. Within the Icelandic farm afforestation grants scheme, contracts are made with landowners, afforestation plans are drawn up for each participating farm, seedling production and distribution are coordinated, education and extension services are provided and grants are distributed. State funding of farm afforestation grants reached a maximum during 2005-2009 but suffered severe cut-backs after the 2008 financial collapse. Planting is now on the rise again after a decade of stagnation. In recent years, with ever clearer signs of global warming,

carbon sequestration Carbon sequestration is the process of storing carbon in a carbon pool. Carbon dioxide () is naturally captured from the atmosphere through biological, chemical, and physical processes. These changes can be accelerated through changes in land ...

has become one of the most important drivers of new afforestation projects in Iceland.

History

Prior to the deforestation of Iceland in the Middle Ages, some 40% of the land was forested. Today, the country is about 2% forested, with the Icelandic Forest Service aiming to increase that share to 10% through

reforestation Reforestation (occasionally, reafforestation) is the natural or intentional restocking of existing forests and woodlands (forestation) that have been depleted, usually through deforestation, but also after clearcutting. Management A debate ...

and natural regrowth.

References

External links

* Government of Iceland Forestry in Iceland {{forestry-stub