Iceland launches wetland restoration project in Ölfus

Icelandic Minister of the Environment, Energy and Climate, Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson, has officially launched a wetland restoration project at Sogni in Ölfus. The initiative aims to restore 225 hectares of wetlands across five state-owned lands this autumn by closing approximately 23 kilometers of drainage ditches.

This project is a priority for the government's climate policy. The restoration is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from drained land, improve water management, increase ecosystem resilience against climate change, and support biodiversity. Previous research at the site since 2019 has already demonstrated that restoration leads to higher groundwater levels and lower carbon dioxide emissions.