About the project
Peatland LIFEline is an extensive project aimed at restoring wetlands and biodiversity in Iceland. The project is a collaboration between seven institutions and NGOs: the Agricultural University of Iceland, Land and Forest Iceland, the Natural Science Institute of Iceland, Fuglavernd (BirdLife Iceland), the Nature Conservation Agency of Iceland, the Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, and the British bird conservation organisation RSPB. The project is mostly funded by the LIFE Programme, which is part of the European Union's environmental and climate action programme. The project officially began on 1 September 2025 and will run until the end of February 2031, a total of 66 months.
Icelandic wetlands are unique in Europe, partly due to the interplay of young bedrock, volcanic activity, aeolian deposition, and volcanic history. The density of birdlife is high, and several species rely heavily on these areas.
The aim of Peatland LIFEline is to enhance the overview and knowledge of Icelandic lowland wetlands, their ecology, biodiversity, and role in the carbon cycle. A special emphasis is placed on the Icelandic black sedge-brown moss fens, which has a very high conservation value, as well as the bird species black-tailed godwit, redshank, and whimbrel, which are important indicators of wetland health. The critically endangered European eel will also be a focus.
The project is expected to strengthen the overview and increase knowledge of the Icelandic wetlands, their condition and the main challenges in their restoration. In addition, great emphasis is placed on community participation and knowledge dissemination.