Iceland environmental impact study
Strandir wilderness is being threatened.
The remote Strandir in the Westfjords of Iceland is one of Europe‘s largest wilderness areas. It is comprised of majestic waterfalls, unspoiled coastline, pristine heaths and small lakes. This natural treasure is threatened by plans to build three hydroelectric power plants in the Strandir region, which has rekindled the debate over the value of wilderness in Iceland.
Much like other regions in and near the Arctic, Strandir’s vulnerability is the result of its remote and unknown characteristics—few people (even Icelandic people) give these areas much thought. But these attributes are also what make them worth protecting.
The fact is, Iceland has immense untapped sources of renewable energy—the problem is, harnessing this “green energy” effectively destroys this unique, untouched wilderness. Hydropower plants are extremely ecologically invasive structures that require the construction of dams to flood canyons—destroying waterfalls and obstructing fragile ecosystems.
The debate is muddied at times. On one side, conservationists advocate for the protection of this untouched wilderness. On the other side, there are those who want to utilize waterfalls to produce hydropower and drill into hot springs for geothermal energy to provide renewable power for industry. It’s hard to know which side’s position will produce the most favorable result for both people and the environment. We like conservation AND we like renewable energy—so what to do?
We asked the experts, in the form of an independent environmental impact study.
We received the finished report in January 2019 from Environice, a climate change and sustainable development consultancy in Iceland. The document’s aim was to determine the social and environmental impacts of three possible futures for the Strandir wilderness: protection, development for hydroelectric power or no action.
Supporters of the hydropower project advocate for the fate of the wilderness to be left to the locals. Strandir is remote, infrastructure is lacking and the population is shrinking as younger generations move into urban areas to find jobs. Some locals see the hydroelectric industry as an answer to these issues.
It’s not difficult to sympathize with these concerns. And, on the surface, this project does seem as though it could benefit Strandir communities. However, the report shows that, while a few jobs may be created during the building phase of the project, that would likely be the extent of its local benefits. The project is foreign owned and the electricity generated is not destined to stay local. It’s also anticipated to have major impacts on the terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
The effects of the development of wild spaces extends well beyond Strandir—and well beyond Iceland for that matter. Wilderness plays a major global role in our changing world. Protected lands not only help mitigate climate change as carbon sinks, they also provide relatively untouched areas for species to adapt to inevitable changes caused by a warming atmosphere.
We’re not saying that Strandir needs to take the heat for all of us. We think there are other, more socially and environmentally sustainable economic options for the region. One of which is protecting the area for low-impact wilderness recreation. The Environice study concluded that all of the aforementioned pain points of Strandir inhabitants would be better remedied by nurturing an economy based on recreational ecotourism. The report states:
“...protection and the power plant cannot coincide. With the power projects being able to increase the revenue of the municipality significantly in the short-term, at the same time, an important part of the attractiveness of the area would be permanently eliminated and the long-term prospects for long-term business development would be blocked.”
Full report here (English summary on page 8).
This outcome is a victory for people and the environment, both locally and globally. It hasn’t changed course of the project just yet, but it’s changing the hearts and minds of those who make the decisions. Now is the time to keep the momentum moving in the direction that protects wilderness, wildlife and future generations.