Field education excursion focusing on climate change

Last week the UNU-LRT fellows went on a three day excursion to the southeast of Iceland. The purpose of the excursion was to provide the fellows with first hand experience on land management issues and the influence of climate change in the region. The characteristic of this region is the close proximity to glaciers, including Europe’s largest glacier Vatnajökull. The consequences of climate change are vividly expressed in the area in the retreat and thinning of the glaciers, which have exposed new land, displaced river channels and changed river discharge, affecting transportation routes, erosion and restoration potential.

In the trip the fellows had the opportunity to discuss with experts about climate change consequences for plants and animals, agriculture-, fishing- and tourism industries, as well as the risk of natural disasters. The Skógey wetland restoration area was visited, where glacial floodwaters brought loads of sediments over the area in last century resulting in sandstorms and consequent destruction of the vegetation during low flow and dry weather conditions. Restoration efforts by the Soil Conservation Service of Iceland, which included construction of levees, spreading of grass seed and fertilizers and exclusion of grazing, have resulted in a new wetland ecosystem.

The photo shows UNU-LRT fellows and the Assistant Park Manager in Vatnajökull National Park standing on a new land that recently appeared from under the Skaftafell outlet glacier.