We’re Bringing Back Iceland’s Forgotten Forests
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- Опубліковано 2 чер 2024
- We are helping reforest Iceland with our latest rewilding project! This is a special place to plant trees as they help fight against desertification and help with the much-needed habitat creation.
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⏱️TIMESTAMPS⏱️
0:00 Intro
0:46 Ecology of Iceland
5:25 Our project
8:31 Where we go from here
🧐 ABOUT THIS PROJECT
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In Autumn 2021, we joined forces with the Iceland Forest Service to restore the native birchwoods of Iceland. Iceland is known for is vast open landscapes shaped by massive volcanos and expansive glaciers, but these woodlands are a vital part of the landscape. They are the only woodland type to form in Iceland, and provide food and shelter for biodiversity, help to stabilise soil, provide windbreaks, and sequester carbon. At one point, it is thought that 25-40% of Iceland was covered in birchwoods. Now, it is a mere 1.5%.
Our project aims to restore birchwoods to a degraded upland area on the west coast of Iceland by planting. While natural succession would likely convert this area to woodland eventually, it could take centuries or even millennia. To speed up this process, downy birch is being planted across the landscape, with some scattered rowan, aspen, and tea-leaved willow to add diversity.
You can read more about it here:
mossy.earth/projects/reforest...
🙌 If you want to support projects by becoming a member you can learn all about it here: mossy.earth/ We really appreciate your support, it is what makes all our work possible :) - Cheers, Duarte
I had question can climbing plants like ivy be helpful in deforestated hill terrains?? Even if they arenot native species of wild that create more problems
I am curious of why not trying to mimic natural dynamics of forest succession via sappling clumps of different species ? why individual trees planted far apart ? it seems to me that more forestry best practice
Any plans for regrowing coral reef?
Are you guys digging any bunds to keep water retained in the landscape and stabilise the soil temp?
Could you do a video about how important mangrove forests are and how important their role to the environment like serving as home and nurseries to fish and more, and preventing floods, etc.
Hey! I'm a PhD student in the Agricultural University of Iceland researching the soil in birch woodlands and I wanted to thank you for this video and your work! Prioritizing native species like Betula pubescens is key for biodiversity here in Iceland. Let me know if you want a collaboration!
Did you get a healthy dose of leftist indoctrination of Marxist ideology along with the PhD?
What did you think of the "soil" type they are trying to plant in? Not being local, it looked like andisitic sands with no "o' horizon. Assuming it was more than a meter deep, what does that tell you about moisture and nutrient retention? I think there is a reason nothing was growing there!
True it does notook good but even if 50 pc survive they wl still havd a forest and insects and worms will move in making it self perpetuating as long as they can keep the sbeep out!
@@toserveman9265 what does that have to do with anything?
@@BeautifuLakesStreamsBiologists well what are you doing
as a native Icelander I think that lupin is crucial when turning old rocky barren soil into it's former glory. I see it as a stepping stone for getting Iceland back it's forests.
Exactly, it is a tricky balance to strike but it can serve a purpose! More on this in our video on the topic :) - Cheers, Duarte
like gorse was used in new zealand
What happened to the forest?
@@moonshinershonor202 Vikings.
@@moonshinershonor202 The climate was also warmer at the Viking age and got colder in the midle ages. Big volcano eruption that spread a spread a thick layer of ash over the whole island must also had it's effect.
So it's not only caused by humans.
My mom grew up in Iceland and I spent part of my childhood there, and we used to have a funny saying "If you ever get lost in an Icelandic forest, stand up." I honestly assumed the harsh climate was inhabitable for most trees but its awesome to be proven wrong and see the country return to its natural state. Great work and thank you!
I own just 1 hectare of land in Tuscany, which used to be pretty barren and overgrazed. Since the grazing animals have gone, in a few years the land is covered in young oak trees. I have an army of planters who cost me nothing: the jays! They bury the acorns as a store for the winter. Those they overlook come up as oak seedlings.
The fact that you prioritize native species of trees, instead of more carbon sucking trees, is something really beautiful. Keep up the good work!
Thank you A.V.J. glad you appreciate that because it is extra effort for us but we think it is really important. - Cheers, Duarte
all trees suck carbon
@@redfishswimming if possible yes. Having big problems with some non drought tolerant trees like birches on mainland Europe. Plus in cities it's becoming/become impossible to plant native species.
@@redfishswimming in New Zealand, most natives are slow growing, so even ecological organisation's use non-natives to kick start the trees especially when we really need to stabilize river banks
The native ecosystem will ultimately store the carbon in the soil and the biomass on the long run. The carbon from the cut-down non-native trees will come back to the atmosphere anyway
Lupine does super well in barren, rocky volcanic soils. It’s super prevalent throughout the Western US. However, it’s very shade intolerant. So, Lupine will naturally die out as a closed-canopy forest forms.
Sounds great for transitioning. When you need it, it can spread fast and when you don't need it, it will get rid of itself.
yooo thats good to hear
Lupines are quite invasive in open sub alpine woodland in Australia as well as a few sheltered areas above the treeline. There was a campaign to eliminate them from ski resorts a few years ago.
So, even though it is invasive and problematic in Iceland, it might end up being useful in the ecological conservation as just a step in the entire process
@@janboreczek3045 it may naturalise if it slots itself into existing ecological processes instead of disrupting them.
i was born in colombia, i have no idea the amount of diversity that colombia has, until i recently start to photograph birds, i cry when i see your videos... because in colombia there is a lot of forest that dissapear daily... your videos inspire me... my life goal its to have a forest planted by my hands.... thank you
Si, lo sientes el mismo. Soy estudianese pero vive en Tunja 5 o 6 meses cada ano y me encanta la naturaleza de Colombia. Currently in the process of looking for a farm or land to buy somewhere in Boyaca.
To create a forest on barren soil you'll need to plant more than just trees. Creating small pockets or islands of vegetation between the trees is essential to bind the soil and help create a forest floor. Start out by creating compost beds of seaweed. Harvest some greenery from the lupins, add straw and other compostable materials. Sow wildflower seed. I'd also suggest you plant trees in the fields of lupins.
You would be right if there was nothing that had ever grown on that soil before, but there was. That makes the process easier so larger plants such as trees will be able to grow
Excellent suggestion!
I was thinking the same. Would be interesting to do a test planting some trees amongst the lupin and some in bare soil. Planting a tree is pointless if it doesn't survive.
Agreed, diversity is important. The crew I worked on always planted shrubs with trees, such as snowberry, sagebrush, etc (whatever the icelandic equivalents are)
Banjo Boy and Jackie Griffiths know significantly more about soil ecology than this organization. Mossy Earth appears to be a group that lacks ecological acumen, but they are great at raising money.
My father was in the Fifth Infantry Division in WWII and a few months after Pearl Harbor they were sent to replace a British garrison defending Iceland. Before they left my father was told there was a girl behind every tree there. He was pretty disappointed when he got off the troopship and looked around.
@@snuurferalangur4357 Hopefully Iceland fared better than Norway. I'm sure Germany would have loved to base submarines out of Reykjavik.
@@snuurferalangur4357 it’s better than the other regime which would’ve invaded
@@joemama-df6cb still illegal, immoral, unethical and so much more. Those soldiers deserve the dath penalty
@@skeptibleiyam1093and I’m sure the Icelandic people would have loved to be free
@@genericname1451 they did become free, which was something that nazi Germany could've used to its advantage if Britain hadn't occupied the island for a few years
The Lupin (Lupinus polyphyllus) is invasive in Sweden too, and there are talks about possibly banning it, because it outcompetes native plants. The Swedish EPA is recommending that people don't plant it in their gardens, but that is about it. You see it alot along the roads here.
Every area is a different case. In Iceland, it recolonises deserts, in other places it can cause problems. We will try to show this in our Lupine video coming next month :) - Cheers, Duarte
@@MossyEarth Looking forward to it!
Yep, here in the western US, Lupine is an excellent first native to plant in disturbed areas because it thrives there. It is one of few types of plant to form symbiotic relationships with nitrogen fixing bacteria!
@@Merlincat007 exactly, due to the fact of fixing nitrogen, it‘s very qualified to be planted on poor soils. Also, if I’m correctly they don‘t like the shade so much. So it would become better over the years, when the birches are getting bigger an starting to spend shade.
In such unbalanced eco systems it’s often very easy for such plants, to become an invasive species.
@@quierounpocodeesto in Iceland the nootka lupine only covers 0.3% of our lands. Almost all of Iceland is shaped by sheep grazing, which has caused severe ecological degradation and desertification. The case with the nootka lupine is not black and white, In my opinion it is doing far more good than bad and also it disappears in 30-80 years after its introduction. The ecosystems that take its place can be anything from fertile flowering grasslands, rich forests and fertile heathlands, depending on site conditions. In a recent study scientists saw that the lupine was mostly staying within areas that it was seeded in, which was somewhat dissapointing for those that hate the lupine haha. And if we want to control its distribution it is fairly easy, you just take these wonderful organic and really tasty lawnmowers (sheep) to the sites were you dont want it. Also 60% of Iceland is used for sheep grazing so I don't think there is much to worry about concerning spreading of lupine. The lupine is not only eaten by sheep btw, in recent years some species of caterpillars and snails have learned to enjoy this great resource. So much so that these tiny critters can at times defoliate large swaths of lupine completeley, thus creating better conditions for other plant species to colonize lupine fields.
Wow. Seeing all those tree seedlings in that polytunnel was incredible. I adore trees. Living in the UK where nature is really struggling I enjoy knowing about other nations doing better.
Use a planting tube not a spade; it is much less consuming to your back. In Finland all the plants are planted with tubes.
I am Icelandic, born and raised. I am a geology major at the university and personally like the lupine but it has its place. A lot of native low growth plants are hurting as a result, especially those that like sandy soil like the lupine.
You ever come to utah for anything?
Why don't Iceland have a national gratitude day towards Norway where they celebrate the freedom Leiv Ericsson gave them? Actually Iceland belongs to Norway but we've let the "Iclandic" people live there for free for hundreds of years. Yet no gratitude is shown.
@@swedishpsychopath8795 wtf are u talking about? 😂😂😂
@@Torsteinsson You just proved my point - no gratitude for the gift from Norway.
@@swedishpsychopath8795 The Kingdom of Denmark, took over Norway, and thereby Iceland. Do you have a gratitude day towards Denmark, in Norway ? Or is there no gratitude for the gift from Denmark ?
Lupin is a good soil amender and a good nursing plant for any trees (with perhaps a bit of help to ensure trees are getting enough light). When a forest grows the lupin will diminish. They will probably always be around and that’s not too bad.
The plant has really received a bad reputation as being "invasive". What people don't understand is that just like dandelions in the U.S., the reason they are "invading" a space, is because the soil is too poor for other plants to grow. Once they are there, the soil begins to heal, which makes it possible for other plants to grow.
There has been lots of concern about the loss of Iceland's forests over many years. Hope your efforts to restore some of those forests are successful.
regarding lupin: In New Zealand a noxious plant gorse actually helps the regrowth of native forest( in areas where it has been removed yet with seeds remaining in the ground) Lupin is also seen as such an incubator plant.
Planting the native birch, rowan, aspen and willow amongst the lupine would be a good tactic. One would have to provide just enough space around the saplings to prevent the lupine from over-shading them and even perhaps add some fertilizer to give them a good head-start. Once the saplings grow tall enough, they would be out of the shade of any lupines, and they would still receive the benefit of the surrounding lupines' enriching the soil and fixing nitrogen into it.
I visited Iceland last fall, and was struck by how treeless it was, on my day drive north to Ólafsvík. Yes, Iceland would be just as beautiful with a lot more trees. Maybe even more beautiful in some places. There's only so much lichen one can look at ;).
Yep Iceland is beautiful but there sure is a lot of lichen! There's definitely space for more downy birch and willows! Cheers, Hannah.
I planted trees in BC, Canada for 10 years in late 70s early 80s. Wish we had ground like that. We called it cream.
Thank you for doing this for my country. I love trees and I think more forests in Iceland is very important.
I remember hearing that the Lupine was spread via a small airplane where they flew over desert/sandy areas and threw the seeds along the land. It is very widespread in Iceland and yes spreads very quickly. I don't advocate getting rid of Lupine since it does improve soil quality which in the long run will benefit Iceland even if it's a type of weed in a way. I'm apart of the reforesting program of the Northwest region of Iceland where we plant birch mainly and take care of the forests we have planted. It makes me very happy to see Mossy earth helping Iceland with the progress of reforesting. If anyone want's to drop question's below i'll answer to the best of my ability!
I have a question: given Iceland's location so close to the Arctic Circle and its many months of darkness, how do any trees survive at all? Do they go dormant for say 8 months and grow for 4 months?
My knowledge of Iceland is somewhat negligible. But I’ve always heard that the wind is notoriously strong there. How do you protect and care for young trees in such windy conditions? In an established forest, I imagine wind would be mitigated by tree cover. But before they’re established, what is done to ensure the trees make it? Thanks for answering questions!
@@JohnnyAngel8 Note that the dark months are in the winter part of the year, the summer has actually nightless months, so your whole "dormant for 8 months and grow for 4 months" doesn't really work that way. Plants go dormant during winter, like they do in most places that have proper winters, and start growing again in spring (though a bit later than in more southern places) and throughout summer, the nights being long in the middle of winter doesn't really change that.
On the other hand, while the darkness or even the cold of winter (the winters here don't actually get that cold) don't cause much problems, the frost spells that come and go throughout spring does kill a lot of trees that aren't hardy enough to survive it. It can also get really windy, which places a part in the desertification, so the trees have to handle that as well.
But most of the trees that have adapted survive well enough, so the problem isn't as big as you might think. The trees that survive, survive, and many of them thrive, and while slow, reforesting goes pretty well. I've been pretty surprised how hardy some tree species are here.
@@ThorirPP Thanks! So much great information.
I live at latitude 54 , and one of the most common trees is what we call " white poplar " . I think it's the same as what the video calls Aspen . Is it the same tree ? If so I think it has a lot of potential for reforesting . It doesn't stand drought very well ( but better than birch ) but once established will spread via roots , grows on good soil and very poor soil , tolerates a lot of cold . I have noticed that if transplanting from more Southern areas it leafs out to early and drops later in fall . Is it part of your program ?
When I was at the Lions Clubs International convention, the incoming international president put up a goal of planting 1 Million trees. We all took this on board and over the year planted over 20 million trees! Great work mate and best wishes for your project.
I was stationed in Iceland back in the 70's, and flew as a crew member on helicopters. I also did alot of field training, and hiking out in the mountains. Iceland is an awesome country, but yes, the only thing missing are the trees. There needs to be a reforesting which would turn Iceland into even more of a beautiful wonderland. I just saw a video of how there was a ground plant introduced to Iceland called the Lupine flower, that is spreading and rejuvenating the soil for other plants and trees. Very exciting to hear about what is happening there.
Good luck to all of you in reforesting. It is horrible what others have done around the world to deforest. The Amazon is one of the largest examples. There are great examples in Israel and other desert areas as to how they have accomplished the same.
Because you focus on native species and you asked about the Lupine I think you should know about Leymus arenarius (or Melgresi in Icelandic). Here I quote from the book Icelandic Flora (Flóra Íslands): "Leymus arenarius is by far the best icelandic soil reclamation plant and the only one who works against unrestrained sand deflation and exactly because of this the governmental revegetation program has from the beginning been based in big part on this hardy and powerful plant". You can see it growing on the sandy beach at 1:06 in the video (if that's not it's non native lookalike Leymus Mollis). It's true that it's not as pretty as Lupine but it was harvested here in Iceland as a wild and healthy grain from the 12th to the 19th century and for this it has been called The Icelandic Corn. Just wanted you to at least know about it if you didn't already. And of course thank you very much for what you're doing! And btw, is there an easy way to volunteer to help you plant all these trees next summer?
Thanks for the information about Leymus arenarius - sounds like a very promising plant! We rely on paid tree planters so that we help to create employment too, so there won't be any opportunities to volunteer unfortunately. I'm not sure if there are other opportunities in Iceland to volunteer but might be worth checking? Cheers, Hannah.
There have also been successfull attempts at creating a hybrid between wheat and melgresi to improve its quality
@@MossyEarth Again and again I see great projects all around the world but apparently it's the hardest thing ever to accept or ask for volunteers. Do I really need to be studying or work in a particular field just to go plant some trees?
Leymus arenarius sounds like a great plant to add to the mix. Do you know of any good nitrogen fixers native to Iceland?
@@oizson98 Right? I’m happy to be a lowly foot soldier! Use my hands, they’re ready and willing and free.
In my area in Finland, there has been a callout to get rid of Lupine at sight, because it is invasive. You cant sell or plant Lupine anymore, in the entirety of the country. But, alot of people think they are so beautiful so not a lot of people really get rid of them.
The "Bad Lupine" trend has passed, now it's all about Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera, "Jättipalsami") and few other Bigger Problems.
Lupin has once again become, mostly, "just a wasteland plant" thanks to destruction campaigns within cities and other communities public areas.
And as said, as a wasteland cleaner, it does wonderful job - and! - it seems to die out quite quickly, if needed, with simple landscaping once Grasses and other Tubes have taken root.
I started to think about areas around my home town. 15-10 years ago there was still LOTS of Lupin - now, almost none. Different plants have taken over even on private land. And I'd swear that there has been no major programs to eradicate it, other than the general "Please do not intentionally plant it in your garden".
Depends EXTREMELY on climate, place and situation - I guess
Try giant hogweed…invasive and burns ya
@@kevingray5646 Oh, yeah, that too! :)
@@kevingray5646 The Giant Hogweed is a giant problem here in the British Isles because it resembles other plants so easily
Ive been to iceland and was very confused as to why there was absolutely zero trees anywhere outside of Reykjavik. It was honestly strange when you showed what old iceland forests looked like because when compared to what I saw it looks almost fake. keep up your good work I hope there are beautiful forests in iceland again and future visitors are able to see the natural wildlife of iceland
The Vikings literally cut down all the trees to use for building and firewood. At least that's the common story
@@aceman0000099 Same thing happened on Easter Island and it led to the downfall of the Rapanui civilisation
As a biologist I would say: keep the invasive specious. It helps increase the biodiversity which is essential for building soil. If you want to heal a land from eroding soil, you need plants which builds soil and keep it there. These plants may not hold as much soil as trees do, but they bind alot of carbon which will fertilize the land and build soil over time.
Iceland is also a harsh climate. Let the plant stay and see if it survives and thrives over time.
The bird is a common snipe, I've heard them aswell when I was in Iceland. The sound is produced by the shape of the tail feathers in combination with the shallow dive and the birds spreading them.
Great work. Keep it going. As for the Lupines, I guess they can help with building soil. I'm not sure if they would grow in a forest, so maybe planting some taller trees there would be a good option.
That is what we figured as well. They make such a weird sound... RE Lupine, will add your comment to our Lupine video. - Cheers, Duarte
Hah yeah, their mating call is even funnier. They fly over our house all the time. They first quack like ducks and then beep like a small songbird, as if they're having an identity crisis.
I think some other sandpipers make similar sounds, it's hard to distinguish them
Fun fact the word sniper comes from the snipe as British Soldiers in India who were able to hunt them were highly proficient in their marksmanship.
Common snipe, yes. It´s a fun bird to meet up in the mountains here in Norway.
@@BlackArtBMX I don´t know where you live, but I believe you mean rugder (Scolopax rusticola). It is typical for them to fly regular rounds at their territory border, shifting between a sound you could call duck-like and a high frequensy "song". Old rugder hunters will often loose their ability to hear the latter sound at the time they can´t hear the grasshoppers enymore either.
Since the Lupin is so abundant I think that keeping the Lupin there would be a good idea, it improves the soil, keeps it from degrading as fast and adds organic matter to the top soil. Although it may be good to remove it if starts to drown out native plants.
It could easily be removed once the trees and undergrowth start to become more abundant
Thats what i was thinking. Soils are a mess in lots of the country. So something at least to stop erosion.
@@Eclispestar Exactly, better something than nothing
Lupin is also a legume, it's root has a symbiosis with nitrogen fixing bacteria, so after the plant dies it enriches the soil with nitrogen and different derivatives of it !
+ LUPINES ARE EDIBLE :)
You can make lupin coffee, cheese, flour and much more …
But still they have to be kept from suppressing natives, as you here already said :)
But unfortunately it isn’t good for native flora and fauna and it is invasive
Fascinating. I visited Iceland 45 years ago - a month-long backpacking trip all around the country. We vividly remember that we only saw a few trees in the area of Hvolsvollur in the south and in Reykjavik. I just traveled to Hvolsvollur on Google Earth and it doesn't look like there are more trees than there were back then! At the time I simply thought the climate and soil weren't conducive to tree growth but of course we have since learned that early settlers were very efficient foresters, to the point of forest eradication, even in Iceland. I won't donate but I wish you Good luck!
It’s crazy how we can witness what happened hundreds, possibly thousands of years ago in Sahara but in another hemisphere. Desertification is dangerous yet very fascinating.
I'm an environmental consultant located in Wisconsin of the United states. My company is focusing on ecological restoration and we run into the lupine problem as well. The plant has become somewhat of a local cultural identity. It is a nitrogen fixer, however, it offers very little other ecological value as it is not the host for any pollinators and the flowers are marginal for pollen. We try and get rid of it where landowners are open and get native flower species back on the landscape. I would try capitalizing on the soil stabilization and amendments they are giving now and eventually try shading them out. Kill off pockets of the lupin and plant within those areas banking on the trees to use the site and eventually win out. Just a thought.
I think you need to be more specific as many species of lupines are native to North America. They are pretty important plants in certain parts of the US.
I remembered when I moved to Texas and everyone was going crazy over bluebonnets, which I had never heard of before. Someone finally showed me one, and I was like "oh, that's just a lupine." I guess people in Texas didn't know that lupinus is pretty widespread, lol. But, I will give them that the bluebonnets are recognized as their own species, l. texensis -- but I've seen better in my home state of Montana 😜
@@Fabdancyou are right, in Wisconsin there is a native lupin, Lupinus perennis, that is the host to the karner blue butterfly but it's native range isn't as far north as where I work. We are dealing with Lupinus polyphyllus, native west of the rockies and not the host to the endangered karner blue. Was brought to this region and is forming monocultures of sub par habitat.
@@nilemerton9558 yeah... L. polyphyllus is a problematic with its hybridizing.
If it's not a host to Icelandic pollinators, it should be considered useless for this project.
@@wouterhofman344 it's not a hard plant to kill with active and passive management. Ecologically nearly useless but think of it as a cover crop.
I really love the fact that you're planting different types of trees in the area plus they are native. I suggest that after the trees become sapling or adult, you should start sprinkle some native flowers here and there and remove the Lupin. (My country doesn't have those invasive Lupins so I cannot answer the question....😊)
Let's see if the native wildflowers come back on their own, but future woodland understory could be something we get involved in Iceland in future! We're already doing something similar in Scotland. Cheers, Hannah
You are doing a noble work and may success attend every effort of yours.Any person who assists Mother Earth assists in the preservation of righteousness.
I am a volunteer planting trees for a charity Heart of England Forest in the UK. I look around and think where's everyone else? We need to do this all around the world. Great work. I also protest with XR to try and save the forest I'm planting from destruction from climate change. I also have a job and family. Busy saving the world
You should keep the lupin there until the forest grows a decent amount. That way you get all the benifits but you still don't keep an invasive species outcompeting local ones.
In theory, when the trees get big enough the canopy will limit the amount of light coming through, which will regulate the amount of Lupine. More about that in the next video! - Cheers, Tom Berry
@@MossyEarth That is the theory. But the old forest you showed before wasn't very dense or dark. It's also possible that the lupin plants will stick around in the undersory, even after the trees grow bigger
Disagree. Don't wait for them to be well established and hogging up all the resources from native trees and plants. Replace them with native ones ASAP.
@@1TrueGem The whole reason they're asking is because they aren't like normal weeds. They help the land, which therefore allows for more growth.
I'm natural resources major that's familiar with the lupine plant.
You can't say you want to do something all native and then just let something very invasive get a complete pass for being in that area. It's much easier to handle it before it spreads more then it will be later down the road. There are plenty of plants, I'm sure native ones included, that could do the same job for the soil.
I volunteered with the Icelandic environmental agency for a couple of months last summer and spend a few days removing lupin. in my opinion they should definitely get rid of it. yes it does stabilise the soil, but it spreads incredibly rapidly and threatens rare habitats. it also distracts people from what the real problem is: overgrazing.
Exactly, it is a very very tricky balance to strike. As is the case with any invasive that has something to offer. More on this in our next video on the topic. - Cheers, Duarte
Nope don't remove it. The lupin will go away once the soil has been enriched by it, this might take many decades nut it's worth it.
The overgrazing is probably the cause of all the environmental degradation and deforestation. If it is not addressed, all this planting will be for nothing.
@masculinist It doesn't allow forests to grow. New saplings are eaten and the forest is not renovated. Grazing kills forests.
Let the plants spread. Let the trees grow. Life attracts and creates more life.
I appreciate all the work you guys do
you could use that inavasive plant to restore the degrated soil and then remove . maybe that way you could plant trees easier with a higher quality soil
Exactly! That is what a lot of people think yes. They could be quite useful as a pioneer to help recolonise the desert. - Cheers, Duarte
The important thing would be whether it will actually get pushed out and disappear by itself over time, as the trees and their canopy grow bigger, or whether it will be a forest with an understory monoculture of Lupin
Yes in NZ this is slowly becoming a trend. Our countryside is overgrown with invasive Gorse. People have been slashing and burning since it arrived, however now it is realised Gorse can be a nursery for our native plants (that usually need to start their life in shade) and once the native trees burst through they shade our the Gorse, effectively killing it.
good luck trying to get rid of lupin 🤣🤣🤣 it's nearly impossible
@@leosun3 Exactly, NEARLY.
I wish you would shed some light on the long-term plans for this forest. It is one thing to plant thousands of trees, but another one to keep them growing (with respect to water, the competition with other plants, deer and other animals eating small trees etc.).
The same applies to your other projects. They all seem really cool, but I'd love to see some details on the long-term management of it. And I think it would also be interesting for all the viewers :)
(additionally, this is one of the main reasons I'm not yet convinced to support you financially)
You can find more detail on our website. However, we will be working on adding the management plans there as each project has the long term management well mapped out. Watch this space. - Cheers, Duarte
Agreed fully. I'm very sceptical of 2€ being enough for one tree. Enough to plant one, maybe, but not enough to care for it for the first years when it's most fragile and vulnerable.
It’s so good to see something encouraging about nature. Thank you.
Agree.
You are doing an incredibly important work thank you so much!
I have a personal connection to Spain because I have been there many times and I love the country and its great variaty of landscapes. I always thought, that all Spain needed was to plant millions of trees to stop the desertification there. Do you have plans do to something in Spain? Or could you imagine to start a planting project there?
Lupin in Iceland story is so interesting to read about, and I am personally interested how they interact with the local ecosystem as land restoration continues.
It is very interesting indeed! This is why we are working on that video to discuss all of this. It is one of those rare occasions where people have an opinion on invasives. - Cheers, Duarte
Wouldn't a shelter belt of hedges make a more resilient pioneer? As for the lupin, if it's not crowding out anything native, doesn't seem like a problem. This looks like volunteer ground cover to me
this is what i think humans are here for. to give back and be the protectors of natural environments. we all can make a difference in our daily lives. this project is awesome. thanks
I am proud to announce that i am now a member of Mossy Earth 💙💚❤
We have Lupen in Oregon here too and I'd say keep it around since it improves the soil quality. If you want to work on it down the road, you can but for now it helps with the deserted land areas.. just a thought.
You might consider improving the bare inorganic soil with an annual grass like rye. Rye does well in a cool humid climate, tolerates poor soils, and doesn't propagate itself well since its a domesticated plant. Also, people have grown it for centuries in Iceland as a crop. Trees planted into a dead sod of rye would likely have a much better survival rate, since the rye would provide some soil structure and some organic matter to hold moisture. A better pioneer might be a mix of rye or oats with field peas, which would add nitrogen as well as more biomass. Oats and field peas are also domesticated plants grown in Iceland for centuries without becoming invasive. If you are concerned, you can always mow or scythe these plants before they set seed.
I recommend you do some experimental plots to figure out the most successful method of reforesting this bare land. You can put a lot of time, money and effort into planting trees only to have minimal survival. A year or more spent improving the soil (actually, establishing some soil) could really pay off in survival of the tree seedlings. Icelandic foresters and farmers would have a lot of practical knowledge that could help you.
Consider studying bare land that is being naturally colonized by native plants. You might want to sow these plants on your bare plots and plant trees only after these pioneers are established and have created some soil. There's a natural progression of succession in any ecosystem from bare soil to grasses and forbs that tolerate dry and nutrient deficient soils through grasslands and then trees. This is a slower process, but a more effective one than going out every year to replant tree seedlings most of which die.
I hope this advice helps. In my younger days I planted tens of thousands of tree seedlings in eastern Ontario mostly on thin sandy soils over shallow to exposed bed rock. Often the difference between 90% survival and 99% mortality was how much rain there was during the week after planting. Establishing a successful stand of trees is more complicated than it seems.
All of the planted tree species are very hardy pioneer plants, so they should have a good survival rate as is. I've seen them grow in gravel near quarrys. And one thing to remember is that Iceland is a volcanic island so the soil contains some nutrients by default. But your approach is valid as well.
So much food for thought! Rain is essential, of course. Also see my comment above - I wrote it before reading yours! 🙂
Thank you for sharing your profound knowledge. I was hoping that someone in the comment section would mention these things because I come from a country with people who know how to care for forests. I have seen with my own eyes how many planted trees actually do not survive If they are not taken care of in the first critical years. How important rainfall is, and how using the existing forests is a great way to help the reforestation.
My father and his father before him worked in forestry and I planted some trees with them as well. I think these people who have managed to make a successful organization in planting trees would greatly benefit from local farmers and people who understand nature. So that their work does not go to waste. I think these people would add more to their legacy by returning to the planted areas and checking if any work or support is needed, to actually ensure their dream comes to reality.
@@kolibrirose7679 100% agreement from me.
Hi! I might be a bit late commenting on this, but I wanted to let you know that I totally support letting lupin to spread. Lupin is a fantastic plant for nitrogen fixation of the soil, and it is protein-rich edible legume that will play a crucial role in the sustainable protein transition.
Wow, these landscapes in Iceland are amazing! Let's cover them up with trees!
I love everything you guys do ! At first i was skeptical and probably still am a little because of all the scams, false projects and simply bad projects floating around lately ... Hope to see the progression !
Scepticism is very healthy but happy to hear you think we are doing a good job :) - Cheers, Duarte
Thank you for an inspiring video. I am excited to see how it turns out. I was a forester for 32yrs. Just a suggestion for soils that are really compromised: If you can get a little forest debris such as rotting wood/leaves, soil, and put a small amount in with the seedling it might help the tree survive and then thrive. As you know, the tree does not take things from the soil, fungus/bacteria/algae around the roots process the resources for the tree to extract them. The tree provides an environment for them, a perfect symbiotic relationship. Keep up the good work!
Great job guys 👍
It's great to see NGO that does some actual work to help nature, not spreading climate alarmism and propaganda without any solution. Planting native trees is a great way forward 👍. I personally believe that deforestation, desertification and poor water management play the major role in climate change and decline of species. I visited Iceland 🇮🇸 in the past and loved it, but I can see the island would benefit from some natural habitat restoration. I like how you describe the burren parts as dessert, which it really is.
As regards lupine, I remember the plant from my work & travel holidays in Yellowstone National Park, where it was omnipresent. Even an employee dormitory was called Lupine.
I think lupine, as most leguminous plants, is capable of fixating air nitrogen and thus improving and fertilizing the soil. I wouldn’t worry much about it not being native. Lupine is surely better than dessert.
This is a major and important restoration act. Its important to the island nation.
Lupins are possibly the most deceptive invasive plant I know of. In my home province Newfoundland, Canada, lupins have out-competed many native plants, reducing their number and range greatly. But most people just see a pretty flower 😆 Looking forward to the Lupin Video!
I didn't know it was invasive in Canada, I would think that they would just spread there naturally
Lupins are a Legume and also Nitrogen fixing which is why they do so well they have set themselves up evolutionary to be one of the master species.
And does your country do something to prevent the endemic plants from extinction? I mean, the species won't be coming back any time soon.
Really glad to hear that you focus on native trees rather than just picking some random quick growing tree that is not native to the land.
Thanks for your support! It's a decision we have to make sometimes - to prioritise biodiversity over maximising carbon sequestration. But we're not just in a climate crisis, we're also facing a biodiversity crisis too. Cheers, Hannah.
im from iceland and i just wanna say thank you so much for the work you are doing! this will be amazing to go visit in 20ish years
More like one century! The probability of survival of each tree is very low. Even worse due to the way they plant it: In nature, trees doesn't appear in the middle of a barren land: They are the last element of a chain where the soil has been prepared by other plants, shrubs. And the trees are usually more grouped together, limiting the effect of winds and harsh environment.
You are probably already aware of this, but aspin trees have the advantage of spreading through root sprouts so that one tree can become a grove.
Pines surrounding aspens would contain that fairly well. I know pine probably isn't native, but come on, just imagine the beauty of a tree filled Iceland with the scent of pine and birch in the air.
The Lupine topic is indeed a very interesting one, on one hand it's an invasive species but on the other it improves the soil of a now slowly degrading area. So the Lupine could aid in creating new forests since the majoity of forests (espacially older forests) want/need a developed soil. As long as the Lupine does not drown out existing/upcoming (important) native plants, it should not be necassary to remove them. However if a forests is already coming along nicely and the undergrowth still exists of a majority of Lupine it would be valueable to decrease the number of indivuals of that species to open up living and breathing space for more native species.
Another attribute of the Lupine which is not really talked about is that it is now holding water in the soil where otherwise the soil would dry out and desertification would probably take place. Wether we want it or not the Lupine (at this moment) is definetly granting us with positive side effects. It all comes down to sustainability, if the local ecosystem can thrive with the Lupine present than that would be a welcome outcome, yet if Lupine is holding back the natural ecosystem and succesion rates then it would become a matter to decrease the Lupine population. Which also provides a new question of the severity of this particular operation.
Exactly! It is a tricky balance. Thank you so much for this comment, so many great points. I have added your comment to be considered for our Lupine video next month! - Cheers, Duarte
You make many great points. If it becomes necessary to remove some of the lupine, perhaps it can be composted and returned to the soil under the young trees so the nutrients can enrich what you're trying to grow. As I write it, this plan sounds labor intensive and expensive, but it might offer a positive outcome beyond the brute force removal of lupine.
The lupine will destroy all native plants from underneath it. I've seen it. That is why it is banned now in Finland.
Lupine is native here on the Kenai Peninsula in Southcentral Alaska. It is hardy and beautiful. Also, our snipes make a similar whirring with their wings. Our snipes fly in huge circles way up high often too far to see but you can hear their circular paths clearly. Hearing them in the evenings is a sure sign of spring here.
It's really sad every time i hear how areas got to the shape they're in because of mankind. I really applaud your actions and initiatives. Can't believe how these world wide projects ran by such good people do not get more attention on tv, radio, social media. I wouldn't mind if land regeneration became the latest global fad.
Edit: To the question of the purple, invasive plant... maybe let nature do its thing after you guys planted the trees ? Good luck !
I think that letting the Lupin spread onto the greatly depleted areas, and letting it enrich the soil, could help prepare the land for native species. It should be carefully managed, so that it doesn't choke out the native species, but letting it be there in a managed capacity could be a really good way to help the environment recover.
There are a lot of places where the invasive, after a time, is succeeded by native plants. Don't waste time eliminating something that will eventually be naturally eliminated.
@@sdrabens that is what people thought would happen too in iceland, but that hasn't been the case
@@sdrabens there are huge spreads of lupine here that have been here for over 50 years with no other plants managing to grow in there because of how thick the lupine is
@@sdrabens lupine will not be naturally eliminated. It eliminated everything where it goes. I've seen it. That is why it is banned in Finland now.
Who knew there could be forests in Iceland?!
You are heroes doing the God’s work.❤
I was in Iceland in 2021 and saw a reforested Icelandic forest. The tree were about 4 feet tall. I was told the short growing season and harsh winters stunt the tree growth. I was also told that a common joke was “what do you do if you’re lost in an Icelandic forest?” “Stand up”
I would suggest to keep the lupin for now, because of it qualities to improve the soil. When there is a forest and no need for soil improvement anymore, you could get rid of the lupin. Suggest in your advantage.
Great! We think it can be useful too. Will add your comment to the list for our Lupine video. - Cheers, Duarte
8:12 in Finnish those birds are called "Taivaanvuohi" or "Sky goat". I've always heard that the noise is actually caused by the tail feathers, and the reason they do it is to attract a mate. :) Also keep up the good work! Planting trees is not only important to prevent desertification and other environmental damage, but it is also very relaxing. I've personally planted a few hundred in my lifetime, mostly in economic forests where trees were cut down for lumber and needed replanting, but also a few in a protected forest to be left there to grow.
Thank you for writing this! I heard that noise near a wetland close to where I live (in Sweden), but I never knew how to identify them! 🐦
That bird is the common Snipe. And yes, it’s “drumming” is caused by the feathers as it dives.
The song from the bird, recorded on Wikipedia, don't sound anything like that of the bird in the video.
My favourite sound - the sound of snipe. People that hunt them are assholes.
@@weallmakechoices7456 "People that hunt them are hungry."
Fixed that for you!
Hi, I live in Northern California and work at Redwood National Park. We have a huge project going on to grow the second growth redwood forest faster. We also have both invasive and non-invasive lupin. We also have other invasive plants such as French broom, Genista monspessulana, which is also invasive. But two things to consider. 1. Lupine and French broom are nitrogen fixers. They will protect the small trees and provide beneficial nitrogen and enhance the soil. 2. These plants require lots of sunlight and are not as shade tolerant. As the trees grow, the canopy will eventually shade out the invasive plants and their former skeletons will die and return to enrich the soil even more. By leaving the lupine you help the trees which will in turn help to remove the invasive plants in the future without too much human intervention. The next step afterward would be to grow native shrubs, forbs, and grasses to plant and get established. You could start planting those in the areas with barren soil.
The best of luck and I look forward to visiting in the future and will seek out these woodlands to enjoy. - Paul
I am a member😊😊👍🏼👍🏼 Hope to see Iceland reforested! Denmark needs it too. Worse deforestation than in Iceland, actually.
I visited a forest on the outskirts of Reykjavík when I visited. It was so beautiful to have some think greenery, and I only hope that when I next visit Iceland, a big impact has been made!
the amount of information given while being as enertaining as possible is great, I love the work you guys are doing. don't stop!!.
Thank you so much for your support! A lot more videos on the way! - Cheers, Tom Berry
God bless you.
🌳 🌴 🌲 🎄 🎋 🌳 🌴 🌲 🎄
This, this is what many are missing, not just planting trees, but most importantly, plant native trees, but thing that also incredibly important, plant variety of trees.
Good if planting some shrubs and smaller plants, but healthy diversity of trees is also good.
Allow the lupines to grow. "Invasives" are nature's way of rebalancing a damaged ecosystem. It's no accident that they are improving the soil, which will eventually support native trees again. As the trees grow, they will shade out the lupines and allow native understory plants to thrive. Sending you positive vibes in your rewilding efforts! 👍
Such beautiful work! I'm going to visit Iceland in August and I can't wait!
I have planted around 50 000 trees. It used to be my summer job at times.
I think it really important that reforst projects care first about recreating the old environment first, great job;
This is fascinating, I did a whole architectural project on this during my time at uni and its great to see someone with a similar mind put those plans into action!
You are doing a great job! we truly need more people like you in this world 🌎
What a great guy. Thanks for all your hard work!
"Invasive", just means that is does very well by itself. My yard here in Hawaii, is full of, "invasive", plants, that are not native, that I did not plant, and if they weren't here, my yard would be a dry, dead, barren place. But I'm soooo GLAD that people introduced these, "invasive", plants that beautify and cool my yard. Let life live. :)
I love that you are working on this project! I remember hearing about this.
Keep up the great work from BC Canada!
I can't explain how much I love you're making all this effort and it makes me feel more hope for the future than anything!
Thank you Zauber, that means a lot to us!- Cheers, Duarte
Build a trench along the line of where
the flowers are to slow down the spreading,
and heavily plant plants and saplings that
will feed and keep your beautiful, native
birds there.
Those little saplings are great...the sheep you're feeding with them say "thanks".
I love this channel. Every time I get a notification for a new video I inevitably look for older videos that I haven't seen yet. Your content makes me feel good and gives me the hope to keep moving forward. Thank you so much!
I'm looking forward to seeing the progress in 5 and 10 years from now.
Nice to see a project that plants trees that actually cares about the type of tree :D
Excellent work for mother earth... May God bless you... Save nature, Save environment
Does the Lupine crowd out the young trees? If you're not sure, could you do some experiments where you remove the Lupine to see if that helps the establishment of the trees you're planting? If it doesn't interfere, keep them! Good luck!
Lupine doesn’t like other plant species, so it actually moves once it encounters competition.
Really excited by this! The few bits of forest that we saw there were such a cool insight into what large areas of the land could be, they felt so much more alive
I couldn't agree more! As I said in the video, while hanging out a the planting area I really tried to visualise how it would look like and now I am really curious to see it evolve!
My buddy was in the U.S. Navy, he was stationed in Iceland. He was told there was a beautiful woman under every tree in Iceland.... imagine his disappointment when he found out there where very few trees!... LOL. Glad you're fixing the problem. LOL.
Lol
In New Zealand there was an amazing documentary where a conservationist was given acres unproductive farm land and he let it fill with gorse naturally which is an invasive weed not native to New Zealand. What it did, was it fixed the soil and provided protection for native nz tree species to seed itself and to naturally grow underneath. When those trees got bigger they blocked the light and the gorse died out and all the native ferns and floor covering plants grew in their place. I'm not sure if lupin is the equivalent. But something to consider. He was wise enough to let nature do its thing.
It’s great to see the old growth forest as the vision for our project. I look forward to the day I can wander through it!
Same here, it was strange to picture a forest growing in the area where we planted it. I am very excited to follow the progress myself :) - Cheers, Duarte
I became a member a few days ago after seeing your 2 videos about flooding forest. I've since binged your video's and I'm amazed at how much you achieve with limited means, and can only imagine what you could do with a lot more members. I'm at 3 times minimum right now, and I'm aiming to increase this as my income grows. Keep up the amazing work! Let's rewild this planet!
There is no reason to not subscribe your channel. Once again you did a great job for the Mother Nature❤ there is no enough possibilitys to donate something or to be their with you😌. But I promise I will try my best at my place ❤
Here in the USA there has been a huge 30+ year effort to develop and reintroduce chestnut trees, which were wiped out by blight a generation ago. Chestnut trees used to be EVERYWHERE and were an important food source for deer squirrels bears and people alike. They finally have some resistant cultivars that are being upscaled and reseeded in some initial areas. Very hopeful.
Things are proceeding more slowly in the war against citrus blight however, and there are problems looming for coffee and banana production too due to climate change and monocultures.
I love how informative these videos are and the complete transparency from member to org. Great work! We can easily tell that your intentions are true and good!