Hekluskogar
Encyclopedia
Hekluskogar is a reforesting project in Iceland
near the volcano Hekla
. The main objective is to reclaim woodlands of native birch
and willow
to the slopes of Hekla starting with soil fertilisation and grass sowing. This would prevent volcanic ash
from blowing over nearby areas after eruption in Hekla and help to reduce wind erosion. It is the largest reforestation of its type in Europe and is estimated to cover 1% of the area of Iceland.
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
near the volcano Hekla
Hekla
Hekla is a stratovolcano located in the south of Iceland with a height of . Hekla is one of Iceland's most active volcanoes; over 20 eruptions have occurred in and around the volcano since 874. During the Middle Ages, Icelanders called the volcano the "Gateway to Hell."Hekla is part of a volcanic...
. The main objective is to reclaim woodlands of native birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
and willow
Willow
Willows, sallows, and osiers form the genus Salix, around 400 species of deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist soils in cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere...
to the slopes of Hekla starting with soil fertilisation and grass sowing. This would prevent volcanic ash
Volcanic ash
Volcanic ash consists of small tephra, which are bits of pulverized rock and glass created by volcanic eruptions, less than in diameter. There are three mechanisms of volcanic ash formation: gas release under decompression causing magmatic eruptions; thermal contraction from chilling on contact...
from blowing over nearby areas after eruption in Hekla and help to reduce wind erosion. It is the largest reforestation of its type in Europe and is estimated to cover 1% of the area of Iceland.