Johann Stefansson

Landgræðslan / Soil Conservation Service of Iceland

The Soil Conservation Service of Iceland (SCSI, Landgræðslan) was founded in 1907. It is a governmental agency under the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. It operates under the law of soil conservation (155/2018). The main tasks of the SCSI include combating desertification, sand encroachment and other soil erosion, promotion of sustainable land use and reclamation and restoration of degraded land. The work is on different levels, from policy making and research, to extension services and management of large- and small-scale reclamation projects. Ecosystem degradation is by far the largest environmental problem in Iceland. Vast areas have been desertified after over-exploitation – the speed of erosion magnified by volcanic activity and harsh weather conditions. SCSI is dedicated to the prevention of erosion and to reclamation of eroded land. SCSI promotes sustainability and ecosystem approach to revegetation and climate mitigation. The SCSI work covers: Land protection, Sustainability, Climate mitigation, Research and development, Public relations and Administration. The agencies headquarters are at Gunnarsholt in S-Iceland, and district offices are located at Hvanneyri in Borgarfjörður, W-Iceland, Sauðárkrókur, N-Iceland, Ásbyrgi, NE-Iceland, and in Reykjavík the capital of Iceland. Address: Landgræðslan / Soil Conservation Service of Iceland, Gunnarsholti, 851 Hella, Iceland. E-mail: land@land.is - Tel.: +354 488 3000 - Fax: +354 488 3010 Office hours: Monday-Friday 8:00-16:00