A new group of master’s students has started their studies in the Restoration Ecology programme at the Agricultural University of Iceland (AUI) this August. This is the second cohort to enrol since the programme was launched in 2023. The group is notably diverse, with students coming from six different countries.
To mark the start of their studies, the students took part in field excursions in the vicinity of the Hvanneyri campus and across South and Southwest Iceland. On these trips, they explored Icelandic nature through the lens of restoration ecology, examining land in various conditions and gaining insight into a wide range of restoration approaches.
Among the sites visited were a restoration experiment established by previous student cohort, wetland restoration areas, and areas where native vegetation is being restored along roadsides and on former mining sites. The group also visited Sagnagarður in Gunnarsholt, which showcases the history of land degradation in Iceland and the efforts to restore the country’s soils and vegetation. There, the students were also introduced to ongoing birch forest restoration activities in the vicinity of Mt. Hekla, led by Land and Forest Iceland.
The aim of the Restoration Ecology programme is to provide students with a deep understanding of natural ecosystems and the skills needed to restore them. Emphasis is placed on both ecological and social aspects of restoration. Such expertise is becoming increasingly important in addressing urgent environmental challenges, including ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change.
