Trip to Snæfellsnes Peninsula

This week, the GRÓ LRT fellows went on a one-day trip to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. The focus of the trip was to look into the relationship between humans and their natural environment; delving into integration of conservation and wise use of natural resources while meeting the needs of local communities.

The trip started with a visit to Snæfellsnes Regional Park where the fellows met with Ragnhildur Sigurðardóttir, the Manager of the Regional Park. The park, which was established in 2014, serves as a collaborative platform for the communities residing in the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. It embraces the wealth of local assets, including nature, culture, and other valuable resources within the area, with the goal of fostering sustainable development for the benefit of society, the economy, and the preservation of nature. The park is also in the process of becoming the first UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve in Iceland (MAB).

The fellows also visited the Visitor Centre of the Snæfellsjökull National Park in Hellissandur which encompasses the westernmost tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. There, Hákon Ásgeirsson, the Park Manager, talked about the parks natural and cultural heritage, and the efforts of the park management team to protect the park while at the same time also improving visitor’s access.

Other activities of the day included sightseeing visits to Kirkjufell mountain, Arnarstapi and Saxhóll crater.