Iceland Is Growing New Forests for the First Time in 1,000 Years | Short Film Showcase

The landscape of Iceland has changed a lot in a thousand years. When the Vikings first arrived in the ninth century, the land was covered in 25 to 40 percent forest.

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Within a few centuries, almost all of the island’s trees were slashed and burned to make room for farming. This rapid deforestation has resulted in massive soil erosion that puts the island at risk for desertification.

Today, the Icelandic Forest Service has taken on the mammoth task of bringing back the woodlands. With the help of forestry societies and forest farmers, Iceland’s trees are slowly beginning to make a comeback. Watch this short film by Euforgen to learn more about how their efforts are working to benefit Iceland's economy and ecology through forestry.

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Iceland Is Growing New Forests for the First Time in 1,000 Years | Short Film Showcase

National Geographic

[NatGeo]

Who knew selecting the right kinds of trees to plant could be such a difficult task? What do you think about Pröstur's efforts to combat deforestation in Iceland?

[Adam-ukdh]

Planting new forests should be every countries concerns.

[thePlum]

This is amazing, I always thought that Iceland naturally had no trees, but it makes sense that deforestation has caused it.

[michaeldryden]

They used to say that if you got lost in a Icelandic Forest all you had to was stand up.

[tristondoyle]

“A civilization truly becomes great when old men plant trees in whose shade they will never sit”- Greek proverb.

[chandrashekhar]

Grow trees : it rains better
Grow trees : the air is better
Grow tress : your mind is better
Grow trees : your life is better.

[larshagenDK]

If you get lost in a forrest in iceland.

Just stand up

[LeahandLevi]

Can we all just have a moment to be stoked on some good environmental news! Heck yeah!

[fhddh]

This guy's command of the English language is incredible. Hard to tell it's not his mother tongue.

[nimbuskhannk]

Knowing Iceland, their incredibly resilient and good natured people and the close-to-mother-earth feelings that island evokes, this feels SO right...Respect, Pröstur.

[perolden]

I Live in Norway, when i was a kid forests covered 28 % of our country, today they say it's 35%. It's not actually forests, but they call them that, it's tree plantations. 1000 years ago, 70% of the forests were leafy trees like oak. Today oak is 2%.

It's the barren trees like spruce and fir that dominate.

[thatgirldaniel]

You know, people don't appreciate this wonderful world enough. Nature is Amazing. It's all you can ask for in life.

[badguy]

I always thought Iceland was stark...devoid of trees...and it was Iceland's natural state. I'm glad those forests are starting to thrive. I'm sure it will turn Iceland into an even more beautiful paradise than it is already.

[torh]

I plant many kinds of tree every year on my birthday as much as my age. BTW, I also produce the little trees by myself from the seed I could find around my area.

[tlecki]

Iceland is undiscovred treasure. Its a lovely country with smart and nice people. they don't mess with the others just living like they want to.. God bless them

[IlseMulAuthor]

I like this initiative. It's good to make the planet greener again.

[jinlee]

I used to be a tree planter in Canada, our saying was "one two tree" : )

[joeltilson]

I was stationed at HOFN NAS from 1976-1977 and I'm happy to see Iceland having more trees and forests. Bravo!

[ErnestJay]

Iceland = full of green trees
Greenland = full of ices.

[leecabangbang]

I'm proud to say, I planted a tree in Iceland when I went there for a visit!