Diverse and inter-disciplinary PhD and MS projects in relation to birch woodland restoration in Iceland are open for applications within the research project Restoration of birch woodlands in the 21st century – challenges, approaches and benefits (BirkiVist) funded by the Icelandic Strategic Research and Development Program 2020-2023 on Societal Challenges.

An interesting symbiosis of lupine and birch can be seen on Graystone Heath, a badly eroded site just south of the town of Húsavík, North-Iceland. Where the two species are growing separately, both are struggling to survive. Where they are growing together, on the other hand, they are thriving.

Volunteers will be staying up to 11 weeks doing voluntary work at the Nature Conservation Area Thórsmörk during the summer 2021. Prolonging the stay of voluntary group means fewer International flights in connection with the voluntary work and less carbon emissions. Apart from that, volunteers plant tree seedlings in the Icelandic National Forests to sequester carbon emitted during their travels.

A new book on the commercial grading of timber from Icelandic conifer trees has recently been released. The publication is a product of an ongoing project in Iceland which aims at creating a foundation for the emerging timber industry in Iceland. The project is funded with a considerable grant from the Erasmus+ program.

A new Report, Forest Reference Level 2021-2025: Iceland, has been issued by the Icelandic Forest Service. This report is in accordance with Decision of the European Economic Area Joint Committee, No 269/2019 of 25 October 2019 which is in accordance with Article 8 of European Union Regulation No 2018/841, as incorporated into the EEA Agreement.