4 April 2013: The Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) has reported that the Government of Iceland has designated three new Wetlands of International Importance, bringing the total number of sites for this country to six.

According to the Ramsar Secretariat, the first site, Andakill Protected Habitat Area, a Nature Reserve and Habitat Protected Area, is located at the estuary of the fjord Borgarfjörður, and features two rivers, a lake, as well as alluvial floodplains, marshes, and managed hayfields. It provide important feeding grounds for waterbirds. Activities carried out on the site include livestock grazing, research and tourism. The main hydrological value of the wetland is flood control, sediments and nutrients retention, carbon storage, and shoreline stabilization.

The second site, Gudlaugstungur Nature Reserve, comprises small streams and glacial rivers, as well as small ponds, and it provides diverse habitats for plants, animals and birds. Activities carried out on the site include traditional grazing, fishing, and tourism. Threats to the site include soil erosion and overgrazing.

The third sie, Snæfell and Eyjabakkar Area, comprises a National Park, Habitat/Species Management Area, and Nature Reserve situated in the northeastern boundaries of the Vatnajökull icecap. It comprises small ponds and lakes, and supports various species of birds. the main activities carried out on the site are grazing and tourism. It is threatened by soil erosion and climate change, which is reducing glaciers, permafrost and palsa formations.

Iceland’s designations contribute to one of the goals contained in the Ramsar Convention’s Strategic Plan for 2009-2015, which is to reach a protected area of 250 million hectares by 2015. [Ramsar Press Release]