How we’re advocating for protection in Iceland
We're taking real, on-the-ground action with local partners to save the Strandir wilderness from the building of several dams, roads, power lines and hydroelectric plants.
With our support, the ÓFEIG Conservation Society (a pro bono organization based in Reykjavík, Iceland) oversees the Reimagining the Westfjords project with the ultimate goal to establish the Norður Strandir region as a protected wildland reserve.
In 2019, ÓFEIG employed a two-prong approach to reaching this goal: raising awareness on the public-facing side of the project and pursuing legal action behind the scenes. Both are ongoing.
Raising Awareness
This awareness campaign uses four interconnected approaches to reach local Westfjord communities and those in other areas of Iceland and beyond:
1. ECONOMIC SOLUTIONS
Introducing alternative means for the community of Strandir to survive and thrive alleviates local pressure to develop area. As a first step, it was important to establish certainty around ÓFEIG’s claim that recreation could in fact provide economic stability and prosperity to the inhabitants of the region. To show instead of tell, My Friend James is exploring the potential for hosting a low-impact, long-distance adventure race in the area in 2020.
Inhabitants live mostly in two fjords at Strandir. In Djupavik, there is an abandoned fishmeal plant.
2. AWARENESS
Many people around the world—even in Iceland—aren’t familiar with this remote area. By showing the natural beauty and wildlife that rely on this wilderness, people will become more aware of what they could be losing and be inspired to fight for it. This advocacy plays a foundational role in all other aspects of the awareness campaign.
The wilderness area is for the most part only accessible on foot.
3. MOBILIZING PUBLIC OPINION
The preservation of wild spaces and forward-thinking environmental policy has the potential to become a source of national pride. Especially at a time when climate change is at the forefront of minds and media, the Strandir region has the potential to serve as a major carbon sink and refuge for species facing environmental pressures. Recreational tourism and beautiful landscapes could also build national pride in the public eye.
4. EMPOWERING POLITICIANS
With increased awareness and favorable public opinion, politicians will be empowered to take a stand with nature. We accomplish this by creating advocates in a politician’s voting base and providing them with the data they need to back positive decisions. Gathering data on this little-known area is helping inform all of our efforts, both public-facing and in court proceedings.
Taking It to the Courts
In June 2019, the Strandir local government issued development consent for the first phase of the Hvalá power plant. While the focus on raising awareness continues, it became clear at that time that the most effective way to stop progression more immediately was battling it with legal means, via a government complaints committee and within the courts.
Around this time, several Strandir landowners also filed suit against the Hvalá power plant, claiming it would infringe on their rights to the land and water basin. ÓFEIG teamed up with these landowners and helped them compose an exhaustive brief to the government Appeal Board for Environmental and Resource matters.
ÓFEIG sent a separate similar complaint in its name and also supported landowners in filing suit with the Westfjord District Court, where they were granted an accelerated trial starting in August 2019.
Since then, briefs have been submitted and the fight continues. A ruling on the admissibility is expected by end of November. As winter settles in on the Strandir region and physical construction of the project is hindered (in part by brave landowners that wouldn’t allow contractors on their land), ÓFEIG and the entire Reimagining the Westfjords team forges on.
This story is gaining momentum and will hopefully be published far and wide to protect the Strandir wilderness. Please do what you can to spread the word!
Check out our 2019 environmental impact report. Experts from the University of Leeds are also partnering up to conduct wilderness mapping of Strandir that will be unveiled locally in Reykjavik end of November and at the international Wild11 Conference in Jaipur, India on March 19-26, 2020.