BTCV in Iceland
BTCV has worked in Iceland since 1983 in partnership with Icelandic Ministry of Environment – Umhverfisstofnun. BTCV established an office and a seasonal staff member, which has now been taken over and funded by Umhverfisstofnun as part of the management of the protected areas of Iceland. We provide training, expertise and volunteers to support this programme.
The work in Iceland includes:
- Conservation Holidays
- Volunteer Officers
- Iceland Trails Teams
- Local projects
- Training programme
Each summer a programme of Conservation Holidays is organised in partnership with Iceland's Environment Agency. These projects take place throughout the country in national parks and nature reserves, though much of our work is focused on management in popular tourist areas. Projects include work in Skaftafell and Jökulsárgljúfur National Parks, as well as Mývatn and Fjallabak Nature Reserves.
A special project in Fjallabak Nature Reserve combines trail work with trekking trips between mountain huts in the area. A new project in Skaftafell National Park will focus on restoration work on turf buildings in the park and there is also a new four week project for long term volunteers, that includes work on remote sites in the south east of the country.
During the summer months our work in Iceland is supported by a team of Volunteer Officers (VOs). VOs have two main roles during this eleven week programme:
- working with the international volunteer groups
- working with the Iceland Trail Teams
Working with the international volunteer groups means getting involved in every aspect of these projects including: providing logistical support, leading teams, organising food, and planning what to do on days off.
These teams travel throughout Iceland and work on a series of trail maintenance projects within the protected areas. The Iceland VO programme is organised in partnership with Iceland’s Environment Agency and the teams work closely with the national park and reserve staff.
BTCV runs a series of projects each year in partnership with Icelandic institutions and volunteers. The aim of this work is to encourage local volunteer involvement in the management of Iceland's protected areas.
