Forestry initiatives in North Þing could enhance carbon sequestration, says professor in Iceland

A forestry professor at the Agricultural University of Iceland, Bjarni Diðrik Sigurðsson, claims that forestry initiatives in North Þing, where wetlands were converted, will lead to significant carbon sequestration. According to him, all domestic research indicates that reforestation in dry land effectively increases soil carbon reserves, particularly measurable approximately ten years after planting begins.

Professor of land use, Anna Guðrún Þórhallsdóttir, disputed this, suggesting that existing low vegetation, such as that which was removed in Saltvík, is more effective for long-term carbon storage than newly planted forests. However, Bjarni refutes this claim, referencing around 40 studies conducted throughout Iceland since 1990, which show that soil carbon levels improve with reforestation.

Bjarni argues that claims suggesting that low vegetation stores carbon better than forests do not align with Icelandic research findings. He emphasizes that claims based on foreign studies may not be applicable to Iceland’s unique volcanic soil, which retains carbon differently than other soil types seen in studies from other countries.

Bjarni supports the Yggdrasils Carbon project, asserting that the creation of new forests will sequester more carbon than the emissions caused by land disturbances and that these plans are solid based on existing measurements of forestry impacts.

In a broader context, Ingibjörg Svala Jónsdóttir, a professor of ecology, noted that while efforts for carbon sequestration, like forestry, are vital amidst climate change, they must not neglect biodiversity and other pressing global issues. Ingibjörg stressed the importance of planning and setting clear goals for reforestation, to ensure that it does not exacerbate other environmental problems.