Iceland Wilderness Management Programme

Lupin is an invasive plant alien in the Icelandic Ecosystem.  One of the main objectives of founding national parks is to ensure that nature develops in accordance with its own laws. In a national park where it may be necessary to counter the process of erosion, species native to the area should be used to restore vegetation. In Skaftafell, lupin seeds were sown in barren areas in the Bęjarstašur forest in order to stop erosion.  After Skaftafell was designated as a national park and protected from the grazing of sheep, the lupin began to infiltrate other plant communities and spread quickly. In the period 1982-1988 the lupin-covered area in Skaftafell increased seventeenfold.

In front of the Bęjarstašur forest, experience shows that the lupin has gained ground at the cost of Icelandic plant species, as it is quick-growing and tall and forms a continuous field. Lupin prevails in competition against species such as birch, arctic riverbeauty and sea pea. In some places where the lupin has spread and filled whole areas the renewal of birch has been a slow and painstaking process.  In 1991, work was begun on cutting the lupin in order to decrease its spreading rate and reclaim natural growth. This effort was successful to some extent, but completing the work will require a host of people for several years. The reason being the great quantity of seeds still in the ground.

 

With the above in mind, the majority of the work you will be doing will include removing lupins to ensure the growth of the parks native plant species.  In addition to this, you will be involved in way marking and trail repair work.

 

The flora and fauna in Skaftafell are varied, owing to the diversity of local conditions between the coast and the glacier. Semi-barren glacial sediment, forested slopes and the Skaftafell heath above, first rather dry, with hillocks and stretches of gravel, but then moist soil covered with tealeaved willow and woolly willow toward the upper reaches. In between is a stretch of wetland featuring various species of starling, cotton grass and other marshland plants. About 220 species of flowering plants and ferns grow wild in Skaftafell.

 

The birdlife in the National Park is varied, with more than 30 species of birds nesting in the area as there are many types of nesting ground: sandy plains, gravel beds, tussocks, marshes and woods. The great skua is the prevailing bird of the sandy plains, ptarmigan are common in heaths and tussocks grown with heather and shrubbery. Ducks and red-throated divers dwell by lakes, snipes in marshland, and falcons and ravens inhabit crags and cliffs. Redwings and redpolls live in the woods, along with wrens often seen near brooks.

 

 

The gulf stream and the south-westerly winds from the Atlantic give Iceland a mild temperature. However, the unfortunate side is that this warm air creates condensation which in turn brings lots of rain!  Summers in Iceland can be very erratic - be prepared for mostly rainy, damp conditions, with occasional sunny spells.  In July, one fine day is the norm! But the next day can be worse with very strong wind driven rain and thick fog!  Temperatures in the summer average about 10 degrees celsius, but remember that it will be mostly light whilst you are there due to the midnight sun phenomenon.  If the sun does come out, the beauty is breathtaking!

 

If you're interested to read more about ex-volunteers feedback on the Iceland Wilderness Management Programme, click here.  We will be happy to provide you with further details if you want to get in touch with some of them.

 

If you are interested in joining this project, you will need to fill out the online application form (you can also print it out and send it to us by post) – to secure a placement on the project, please complete and submit the form including two references and your deposit of £110.  If for some reason, your application is declined, we would reimburse this deposit fully.  However for those who are accepted, the full amount needs to be paid one month before departure.  Once the full sum is paid, you will receive a pre-departure package with all detailed information on your project, Iceland, suggested items to bring etc.