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The Tree of the Year 2020 was formally nominated in a ceremony on Saturday, August 29 and this year the tree is an oakleaf mountain ash (Sorbus hybrida) at Skógar in Þorskafjörður, the first of this species to be nominated.

The ceremony began with an address from Jónatan Garðarsson, chairman of the Icelandic Forestry Association. Next to speak was Halldór Þorgeirsson, representing the Baháʼí community in Iceland who own Skógar and have grown the forest there.

Hafberg Þórisson from the Lambhagi Plant Nursery, who sponsors the Tree of the Year, then presented Böðvar Jónsson, as a representative from the volunteers who have planted trees at Skógar, with a diploma and then Hafberg and Böðvar unveiled a plaque marking the tree.

Next the tree was measured, by Jón Ásgeir Jónsson from the Icelandic Forestry Association and Björn Traustason, from the Iceland Forest Service. The tree turned out to be 5,9 m in height, with a diameter of 26,5 cm at knee-height and 17,3 cm at chest-height, where the tree had split into two trunks.

Böðvar Jónsson then lead a hike through the forest. The ceremony formally concluded with refreshments.

The Icelandic Forestry Association nominates a Tree of the Year each year.

The Tree of the Year 2020.

The Rangæingar Forestry Association holds its general meeting on Monday, June 29, starting at 20:00 at the Hella congregation hall, Dynskálar 8.

In addition to regular meeting activities Auður Ingibjörg Ottesen, editor and publisher of the journal Sumarhúsið og garðurinn, will hold a presentation.

Refreshments on offer, everybody welcome.

Líf í lundi (Life in the grove) is the heading for an outdoor recreation and family day in the forests of Iceland this weekend. Events on offer:

Selskógur (SW-Iceland), June 20, at 10:00-12:00

Gunnfríðarstaðir (N-Iceland), June 20, at 11:00

Eskifjörður (E-Iceland), June 20, at 12:00

Smalaholt (SW-Iceland), June 20, at 13:00-15:00

Seljadalsskógur (Westfjords), June 20, at 14:00-16:00

Álfholtsskógur (W-Iceland), June 20, at 14:00

Höfðaskógur (SW-Iceland), June 20, at 14:15-17:00

Æsustaðahlíð (SW-Iceland), June 22, at 19:30-21:30

Slaga (W-Iceland), June 22, at 18:00-20:00

More information each event is on the Skógargátt website (www.skogargatt.is) and the Líf í lundi Facebook-page – – https://www.facebook.com/lifilundi/

The first issue of the 2020 Journal of the Icelandic Forestry Association (Skógræktarritið) has been published and posted to its subscribers. The issue contains, as usual, a range of articles on diverse aspects of forestry, including path making with wooden slabs, bee cultivation, women and forestry in Vopnafjörður, a forestry field trip to S-Tyrol and memorial gardens, in addition to an article from the chairman of the Icelandic Forestry Association, in honour of the association’s 90 anniversary this year.

The cover picture is of a painting titled “Vigdís”, by Tryggvi Ólafsson, showing Vigdís Finnbogadóttir. Vigdís is an honorary member of the Icelandic Forestry Association and celebrated her 90^th birthday on April 15. It was therefore fitting that a picture of her adorns the cover of this issue, considering the turning point of Vigdís’s election as the first elected female president in the world, but this issue marks a turning point in the history of the Journal, as it’s the first issue in the Journal’s history, dating back to 1933, where the majority of article authors are women.

The Þórshöfn Forestry Association holds its annual general meeting on Tuesday, May 19, starting at 17:00, in the congregation hall of Þórshafnarkirkja.

The programme includes regular meeting activities.

The Forestry and Land Reclamation Association by the Glacier holds its annual general meeting on Sunday, May 17, in the meeting room of KG fiskverkun at Rif. The meeting starts at 16.

The board of the Icelandic Forestry Association (IFA) agreed at a board meeting on May 11 to offer, on behalf of its around 60 member associations, to lead a wide-ranging employment initiative in collaboration with municipalities and forestry associations all over Iceland.

The IFA and its member associations successfully led an employment initiative during the years 2009-2012, creating hundreds of jobs in the forestry sector in forest maintenance and building up recreation infrastructure in forests.

The present employment situation calls for cohesive action and projects that improve the local environment and provide opportunities for young people to work in nature for two to three months. The arrangement for the initiative could be like the arrangement that worked well previously. A trilateral agreement would be set up between the IFA, a local forestry association and a local municipality. The forestry associations would submit proposals for environmental and forestry projects in their areas. The IFA has applied for a 70 million ISK contribution from the government to help cover the cost of materials, facilities, and transportation. The local municipality would hire the workers and pay wages. Municipalities have the option of hiring people from the unemployment register and could request a contribution frome the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

Through this many jobs could be created at a relatively low cost.

The Mosfellsbær Forestry Association hosts its annual general meeting on Tuesday, May 19, starting at 20:00. The meeting is held at the hall of the Kyndill Rescue Team at Völuteigur 23.

On the programme are regular meeting activities. In view of the situation with COVID-19 no refreshments will be offered, nor a presentation given, as is customary. The 2 m distancing rule will be respected and disinfectant provided.

The Garðabær Forestry Association holds its annual general meeting on Monday, May 11 at 20:00 at Kirkjuhvoll congregation hall.

On the programme are regular meeting activities.

Refreshments on offer.

Heed the 2 m distance rule – plenty of space.

Everybody welcome.

The Icelandic Forestry Association offers its heartfelt congratulations to Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, who turns 90 years old today.

Vigdís has been one of the most prominent proponents of forestry and land reclamation in Iceland, both during her presidency and later. For her contribution to forestry Vigdís was made an honorary member of the Icelandic Forestry Association in 1984 and she has always contributed to the Association – been a regular attendee at the Association’s annual general meetings and shown up for those events and works the Association has called her to, always with a smile. The forestry sector in Iceland can be very grateful for having her as part of the team.

Those who wish to honour Vigdís on this occasion can contribute to the Vigdís Finnbogadóttir Institute Fund (https://vigdis.hi.is/en/stofnunin/styrktarsjodur/).

The Icelandic Forestry Association also celebrates this year, but the Association will turn 90 on June 27.