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The Icelandic Forestry Association, in collaboration with Lambhagi, will nominate a bird cherry (Prunus padus) located in the old plant nursery site by Rauðavatn in Reykjavík as the Tree of the Year 2021, in a formal ceremony on Wednesday, August 25^th at 16:00.

Programme:

1. Start of ceremony

Music: Erna Ómarsdóttir and Rakel Björt Helgadóttir

2. Address – Jónatan Garðarsson, chairman of the Icelandic Forestry Association
3. Presentation of certificate. Dagur B. Eggertsson, the mayor of Reykjavík, will receive it
4. Address – Jóhannes Benediktsson, chairman of the Reykjavík Forestry Association
5. Measurements of the tree
6. Refreshments sponsored by Lambhagi

Everyone welcome!

The IFA nominates a specific tree as Tree of the Year. The nomination is intended to highlight the good work done in Iceland in the cultivation of trees and forests and point out the cultural, environmental and historical value of trees.

Arion bank and the Icelandic Forestry Association recently signed a contract regarding the banks’ continued support of the Association. The three-year grant will be used for the Skógarvist project which is intended to encourage outdoor recreation and improved public health. The grant will also help with the implementation of the Avenza app, used to manage forestry mapping digitally and thereby provide a better overview of the expansion of new forests and their sequestration.

Arion bank has supported the Icelandic Forestry Association for years and has a history of it dating back to when the bank was Búnaðarbanki Íslands. As a side note, the annual General meeting of the Icelandic Forestry Association will be held at the bank’s meeting room at Borgartún 19, but due to Covid-19 it was not possible to hold the meeting in its traditional format.

Arion bank has set itself ambitious goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and is working with the Iceland Carbon Fund to help offset the rest. The Iceland Carbon Fund planted around 4.700 trees to offset the bank’s emission for 2020 from its operations, i.e. housing, vehicles, air travel and taxis, waste and the travel of employees to and from work.

Brynjólfur Jónsson, director of the Icelandic Forestry Association, Hlédís Sigurðardóttir, project manager for social responsibility and Anna Sigríður Kristjánsdóttir, assistant to the CEO, at the contract signing.

The Annual General Meeting of the Icelandic Forestry Association was scheduled for August 20-22, in Mosfellsbær, with the Mosfellsbær Forestry Association as hosts. Due to current Covid-restrictions the decision was made to postpone the meeting. Further details regarding a new time and organisation for the meeting will be given later (see: https://www.skog.is/adalfundur-2021/).

The Icelandic Forestry Association and the company 66°N have signed a five year contract of collaboration. The goal of the contract is to work jointly towards the cultivation of a recreational forest at Úlfljótsvatn, to increase environmental awareness of 66°N employees, sequester carbon and improve the environment.

The contract was signed in the Úlfljótsvatnskirkja church on Saturday, May 29th. After the signing the people present headed out to plant the first trees, in lovely weather. The day then concluded with a barbecue at the Scout outdoor centre at Úlfljótsvatn.

From left. Jónatan Garðarsson, chairman of the Icelandic Forestry Association and Helgi Rúnar Óskarsson, director of 66°N, shake hands after signing the contract. Photo: BJ

The planters happy with their work! Photo: BJ

The first issue of the 2021 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 the use of poplar cuttings in forestry, the tallest oaks in Iceland, different tree combinations in forestry, forestry at Skálholt, forests as carbon sinks, an anthropological study of the forestry associations, generational shifts in forests, forestry in Reyðarfjörður and the supernatural side of forests.

The cover picture is a painting titled “Gróður jarðar” (Earth vegetation) by the Icelandic artist Tolli.

Skógræktarritið (formerly Ársrit Skógræktarfélag Íslands) is the only regular journal about forestry in Iceland and the main forum of writing by Icelandic foresters and others interested in the various aspects of forestry. The content of the publication is therefore very diverse and extensive.

The Mosfellsbær Forestry Association will be held on Tuesday, May 18^th, starting at 20:00 in the hall of Björgunarsveitin Kyndill in Mosfellsbæ, at Völuteigur 23.

Programme:

1. Election of chairman and meeting secretary
2. Board report 2020
3. Association’s accounts 2020
4. Amendments to the bylaws
5. Membership fee for 2021
6. Election of the board and auditor
7. Other items

Proposals for amendments of the bylaws will be put to the meeting. The proposal can be viewed on the Association’s website – www.skogmos.is

The meeting will conclude with a presentation by Brynjólfur Jónsson, director of the Icelandic Forestry Association, on the status, role and future vision of the Icelandic Forestry Association.

Due to Covid-19 there will be no refreshments on offer. The 2 m rule applies and hand sanitizer will be provided.

The Eyfirðingar Forestry Association will hold its annual general meeting at Hótel Kjarnalundur on Tuesday, starting at 19:30.

On the programme are regular meeting activities.

Due to uncertainty concerning gathering restrictions participants are asked to register at stjorn@kjarnaskogur.is (name, ID-number and phone number). Also possible to phone 866-4741.

The Facebook event for the meeting: https://www.facebook.com/events/373255723934687/

The Borgarfjörður Forestry Association will hold its annual general meeting 2021 at Hotel B59 in Borgarnes on Sunday, May 2nd, starting at 14:00.

Programme:

• Report of the outgoing chairman and future vision. Óskar Guðmundsson
• Annual accounts and membership fee. Laufey Hannesdóttir, treasurer.
• Discussions on the report and accounts.
• Elections and other matters.

The board of the Borgarfjörður Forestry Association.

The Hafnarfjörður Forestry Association hosts a birdwatching event in Höfðaskógur on Saturday, April 24, at 11:00-13:00. Guides are Hannes Þór Hafsteinsson and Steinar Björgvinsson. This event is part of the events of the city festival Bjartir dagar.

Easy hike through the forest and surroundings for the entire family. Don’t forget the binoculars!

The Icelandic Forestry Association wishes you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thank you to everyone who supported us in 2020 and see you in the forest in 2021!