Farmers heal the land

Farmers Heal the Land

For each carbon offsetting from travellers, Icelandic Farm Holidays and National Car Rental will give the same amount to a project called Farmers Heal the Land, supervised by Soil Conservation Service of Iceland.

About the project:

In 1990 a new program, Farmers heal the land, was launched by the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), partially based on the Australian Landcare ideology. It was built upon the methodology developed by farmers, sowing suitable species and fertilizing to stimulate existing vegetation for self-regeneration. Farmers receive financial support from the SCS, and do the restoration work themselves. SCS staff acts as advisers and monitoring agents and helping farmers to develop a reclamation plan. The program has proven very successful and a high percentage of farmers living on properties with eroded land have participated, - in all 650 farmers, 22% of all farmers in Iceland.

The aims of the program are many:

• Halt soil erosion
• Recover lost habitats, such as birch woodlands
• Increase biodiversity
• Water management
• Sequestration of CO₂
• Reduce grazing pressure on vulnerable areas.

This is primarily done through use of indigenous species and strengthening of existing vegetation.  Through the program thousands of hectars of eroded or seriously damaged land has been reclaimed or restored.  However, dear guest, you may not notice this as the reclaimed areas soon blend in with the landscape and the original vegetation.  Thus, the grassland, heath or the birch woodland you admire on your journey through the Icelandic landscape may well be the result of  Farmers Heal the Land.