Iceland moves to formalise wilderness definitions

Iceland’s environment, energy and climate minister has proposed detailed rules defining untouched wilderness and how infrastructure affects it, mbl.is reports.

The concept of untouched wilderness is strongly associated with Iceland’s highlands and the value of undisturbed landscapes for future generations. It has also become important when considering development in remote areas, including power plants and wind power projects whose turbines could be visible over long distances.

Mapping untouched wilderness

Environment, Energy and Climate Minister Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson wants to establish a consistent definition of untouched wilderness. The rules state that the Natural History Institute will create and maintain an official map of such areas.

The rules address whether areas with mountain huts, tracks or the remains of abandoned farms should qualify as untouched wilderness. Until now, there has been no formal definition, and wilderness areas have been recorded differently on different maps.

The regulation defines untouched wilderness as an uninhabited area generally covering at least 25 square kilometres, or an area where people can experience solitude and nature without disturbance from structures or motorised traffic. Such areas should generally also be at least 5 kilometres from structures and other technical traces, including power lines, power plants, reservoirs and developed roads.

The phrase “generally” is significant because different structures and technical traces have different impacts. A small mountain hut does not have the same effect as a developed campsite or a luxury hotel, while a developed road has a different impact from an undeveloped track.

Under the rules, untouched wilderness would be reduced within 3 kilometres of a residential building or farm with year-round habitation. Small buildings covering less than 50 square metres would have a 2-kilometre impact zone, while ruins of old houses or settlements would have no impact zone.

Sprengisandur, one of Iceland’s best-known wilderness routes, would not have its wilderness boundary reduced by the road because the road is undeveloped. However, the wilderness would be reduced by 3 to 5 kilometres around Nýidalur and Versalir, which are well-known stopping places along the route. The regulation does not mention any reduction resulting from an airstrip south of Nýidalur.

Some of the wilderness north of Vatnajökull is also affected by structures. Hut buildings in Kverkfjöll, at Dreki and near Herðubreið reduce the wilderness to some extent, as do structures and power lines connected to the Kárahnjúkar power plant farther east.

Færunestindar in the Skaftafellsfjöll mountains should qualify as untouched wilderness because they are more than 5 kilometres from the national road and the service centre in Skaftafell.