Beint í leiðarkerfi vefsins.
Soil Atlas of the Northern Circumpolar Region, 3. juni 2010
The nature of Iceland is fragile. The island is a climatic battlefield with an ongoing fight between the Gulf-Stream and warm air from the south and the bitterly cold Arctic in the north. It is hard to tell which of the forces is doing better, cold spells can last for a long time before warm southerly breezes bring back a promise of better days. It freezes and thaws again so many times each year, even each day, that nowhere on Earth can we find such conditions. In addition, there is volcanic activity, which we are reminded of time and again, causing serious problems if the tephra falls on farmlands.
Human settlement has had a major effect on Icelandic ecosystems. Massive land degradation and soil erosion caused dramatic reduction in the number of inhabitants, especially during prolonged cold spells during the Middle Ages and after the largest volcanic eruptions. The combination of overexploitation of nature, cold spells and volcanic eruptions was devastating, and resulted in collapse of ecosystems and culture.
Icelanders are keenly aware of the importance of international co-operation. Iceland is a full member of the European Union Research co-operation and there is an active interchange among Icelandic and European scientists. But our co-operation is not limited to Europe; geologically speaking Iceland is also part of North- America with a geological fissure through the country, and there is considerable scientific interchange between Iceland and Canada and the USA, with a number of Icelanders receiving their graduate degrees in these countries.
Arctic ecosystems are unique with magnificent wildlife and natural beauty – and human societies. Much of the Arctic soil is permanently frozen while much larger areas experience seasonal frost activity, which shape the surface of the land. While frost may signify reduced biological activity, frost activity is in itself a vibrant force creating distinctive surface features that are so often the main characteristics of Icelandic surfaces, and some of them, like the hummocs and palsas, “þúfur” and “rústir” we call them in Icelandic, are truly magnificent.
The fate of soil, the Arctic, and Earth’s climate are interlinked. Arctic soils store a high proportion of the active terrestrial carbon – carbon that can be released to the atmosphere if the globe continues to warm up. This can in a sense cause a snow-ball effect, accelerating global change at a faster rate than previously anticipated.
The conservation of Arctic soil is a key environmental issue that requires enhanced efforts in both education and research. And all countries involved in Arctic research and conservation need to gather their forces. That is what this meeting is about. It addresses such important issues as how we can better focus on the northern soils in relation to climate change and other environmental issues. And further, how can the northern soils be part of the solution to pressing environmental questions. In this light it is worth mentioning that the Icelandic government is attempting to include restoration of wetlands as a measure to balance green house emissions within the Framework Convention on Climate Change. This could have an important impact on wetland soil and their restoration, but many of the world greatest wetlands belong to the circumpolar region. The effect of frost on Icelandic nature is a intergraded part of natural education and many research programs in Iceland.
We are committed to soil conservation and ecosystem restoration in general. There is an active research programs in land restoration and Icelandic scientists lead a Nordic network program on ecological restoration. Furthermore, there are large programs on carbon dynamics in relation to land restoration in collaboration with several universities abroad. A new Land Restoration Training Program has recently been given a UN University status, signifying that Icelandic scientists have participated in developing the EU Soil Protection Directive and have been active in various European and international soil issues. We acknowledge the need to for enhancing soil research within the EU Framework Programs for research, where the focus has been oriented towards southerly countries, but northerly latitudes, given the importance of circumpolar soils, should be given more attention than previously done.
With our location on the globe, friendship and co-operation among the circumpolar countries is important. And we are therefore honored to host the launch of the Soil Atlas of the Northern Circumpolar Region. This project, coordinated by the European Commission Joint Research Center at Ispra in Italy, is a remarkable exercise in international research co-operation. It brings together a detailed overview of the Circumpolar soils, establishing a foundation for both conservation and the use of Arctic Ecosystems. The Circumpolar Soil Atlas is an important contribution to the climate change forum, bearing in mind the immense importance of Arctic soils in relation to Climate Change. Furthermore, this publication has great relevance for environmental education, by providing suitable material for teaching at all levels, from elemental school to the graduate level, but here in Iceland we plan to put a stronger focus on education on sustainability in a new curriculum.
I hope you have a fruitful day ahead of you.