News

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.

The Hafnarfjörður Forestry Association holds its general annual meeting on Thursday April 2nd at Apótekið, Hafnarborg, Strandgata 34. The meeting starts at 20:00. A proposal for amending the association‘s bylaws regarding its board will be presented.

Following regular meeting activities the association offers coffee refreshments, followed by a presentation by the product designer Sóley Þráinsdóttir, titled „Forest produce and cleaning products“.

The Icelandic Forestry Association, in collaboration with Lambhagi, will nominate a Norway spruce (Picea abies) at Elliðaárhólmi as the Tree of the Year 2019. A nomination ceremony will be held on Monday, October 14 at 13:30.

Dagur B. Eggertsson, mayor of Reykjavík and Jónatan Garðarsson, the chairman of the Icelandic Forestry Association will give an address, as well as a representative of the sponsor. Lára Rúnarsdóttir will perform music, a certificate will be presented to the city of Reykjavík, a sign marking the tree unveiled and the tree measured. Reykjavík Energy will offer coffee and kleinur for guests.

This is the first time that a Norway spruce has been nominated as the Tree of the Year.

The Hafnarfjörður Forestry Association hosts a mushroom-picking walk through Höfðaskógur on Tuesday, September 17, starting at 17:30. The walk is guided by the natural scientist Helena Marta Stefánsdóttir. The walk starts at the western end of lake Hvaleyrarvatn.

Bring a basket (or paper bag), knife and a book on mushrooms, if you have one.

A new forestry association, the Þórshöfn Forestry Association, was accepted this week as a member of the Icelandic Forestry Association. The Þórshöfn Forestry Association was formally founded on August 29, 2019 and its first chairman is Eyþór Atli Jónsson.

The Icelandic Forestry Association extends its warmest welcome to its newest member and wishes it all the best in the future!

The 2019 General Meeting of the Icelandic Forestry Association starts on Friday, August 30^th and runs through Sunday. This year the meeting is held in Kópavogur and hosted by the Kópavogur Forestry Association, which celebrates it’s 50^th anniversary this year.

The meeting starts on Friday morning. In addition to regular meeting activities the meeting will include lectures and field trips.

Further information on the meeting is on the Icelandic Forestry Associations website (here) and news from the meeting will be posted on the Icelandic Forestry Association’s Facebook– and Instagram pages.

The Icelandic Forestry Association office will be closed on August 1-2 as all staff are on vacation or working outside. If you need to reach a staff member send an e-mail or call their mobile. E-mails and phone numbers are listed under Our people.