Vikings Razed the Forests. Can Iceland Regrow Them?
- 7 years ago
Vikings Razed the Forests. Can Iceland Regrow Them?
Despite the planting of three million or more trees in recent years, the amount of land
that is covered in forest — estimated at about 1 percent at the turn of the 20th century, when reforestation was made a priority — has barely increased.
“It’s definitely a struggle,” said Mr. Jonsson, a forester who works for the private Icelandic Forestry Association
and plants saplings with volunteers from the many local forestry groups in this island nation of 350,000 people.
Despite the planting of three million or more trees in recent years, the amount of land
that is covered in forest — estimated at about 1 percent at the turn of the 20th century, when reforestation was made a priority — has barely increased.
“It’s definitely a struggle,” said Mr. Jonsson, a forester who works for the private Icelandic Forestry Association
and plants saplings with volunteers from the many local forestry groups in this island nation of 350,000 people.