Snæfellsnes: Iceland’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

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Snæfellsnes / Snaefellsnes — Iceland’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve

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Iceland Snæfellsnes / Snaefellsnes peninsula

Iceland has a new reason to be proud: the Snæfellsnes peninsula and Snæfellsjökull National Park have been officially recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve. This is the first such distinction for an area of this type in Iceland. (AP News)

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What does this mean?

The Biosphere Reserve status is more than just nature conservation — it’s about combining actions for:

• environmental conservation,
• sustainable development of local communities,
• research and education. (grocentre.is)

The area covered by this protection is approximately 1,460 km² and includes very diverse landscapes: the Snæfellsjökull volcano with its glacier, lava fields, wetlands, meadows, steep sea cliffs, as well as communities based on fishing, sheep farming, and tourism. (AP News)

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What is UNESCO and what does the Biosphere Reserve status mean

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UNESCO stands for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It is a UN agency established in 1945, whose goal is to support international cooperation in the fields of education, science, culture and communication, as well as the protection of world natural and cultural heritage.

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Biosphere Reserve Status

This is a special distinction awarded by UNESCO as part of the “Man and the Biosphere Programme – MAB”.

🔹 What does it mean?

• An area with special natural and/or cultural values, where actions are taken for environmental protection and sustainable development.
• It combines nature conservation with human activity, e.g., tourism, education, traditional crafts, or agriculture.
• It has the character of a model area where good practices in nature conservation and harmonious coexistence of humans with nature are tested.

🔹 Biosphere reserves are divided into three zones:

1. Core zone – most strictly protected (e.g., national parks).
2. Buffer zone – surrounds the core, allows for e.g., scientific research, education, ecological tourism.
3. Transition zone – an area where people live and the economy is developed in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.

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What do Icelandic media / authorities say about the UNESCO distinction?

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• The Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate emphasized that the Snæfellsnes community has been engaged in actions for sustainable development for years — including through EarthCheck certification, ecological education, and protection of natural resources. (stjornarradid.is)
• The Snæfellsjökull Park Directorate (“Þjóðgarðsverðir”) and local government authorities signed a declaration of intent to establish a UNESCO Man and Biosphere area for Snæfellsnes in 2022. (Snæfellsjökulsþjóðgarður)
• From UNESCO and AP News, it was reported that this area provides “a refuge for seabirds, seals and over 70% of Iceland’s vegetation” — including hundreds of species of flowers and ferns. (AP News)

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Why is this important?

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1. Protection of unique ecosystems — Snæfellsjökull and its surroundings are a place of high natural, geological and cultural value.
2. Responsible tourism — the biosphere reserve status can support the development of tourism that does not harm nature but uses it in a sustainable way.
3. Myth, culture and literature — Snæfellsjökull was a literary backdrop, e.g., for Jules Verne’s “Journey to the Center of the Earth”, and a place of legends and sagas. The UNESCO status will increase its recognition.
4. Sustainable local development — the region’s inhabitants will have greater motivation and support for educational, protective and research activities.

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Challenges and prospects of the Snaefellsnes region

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• Climate change — the Snæfellsjökull glacier is vulnerable to melting; its ice cover is decreasing. This requires monitoring and adaptive actions. (UNESCO)
• Balance between tourist traffic and protection — the greater the number of tourists, the greater the potential risk to delicate ecosystems. It is urgent to design tourist infrastructure in accordance with sustainable development principles.
• Involvement of local communities — it is crucial that residents see benefits in this, not just limitations. Education and cooperation are essential.

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Official nomination and inscription to UNESCO

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• UNESCO announced on September 27, 2025, that among 26 new biosphere reserves (in 21 countries), one of them is Snæfellsnes in Iceland. (AP News)
• In the UNESCO article – “26 new Biosphere Reserves” – we read that “…six countries are seeing the designation of their first biosphere reserve: … Iceland …” — which indicates that Snæfellsnes is the first area of this type in Iceland. (UNESCO)
• In the entry “Storkriket and Snæfellsnes: Two new Nordic UNESCO Biosphere Reserves” it was confirmed that Snæfellsnes was designated as the first biosphere reserve in Iceland: “The two Nordic Biosphere Reserves, Storkriket in Sweden and Snæfellsnes in Iceland, are among 26 new biosphere reserves … the first in Iceland.” (unric.org)

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What area of Snaefellsnes was covered by the UNESCO distinction

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• The reserve area has a surface area of ~ 1,460 km² (564 mi²) and includes diverse landscapes: volcanic peaks, lava fields, wetlands, meadows, grassy fields, as well as the Snæfellsjökull glacier. (AP News)
• The reserve is an important refuge for seabirds, seals and vegetation: it contains over 70% of Iceland’s flora, including 330 species of wild flowers and ferns. (AP News)
• In the context of the local population: the area is inhabited by over 4,000 people, and the region’s economy is based on, among others, fishing, sheep farming and tourism. (AP News)
  

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UNESCO nomination process, local cooperation

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• The submission to UNESCO was formally accepted (or accepted for consideration) as a step forward — although the final decision belongs to the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere programme. (Iceland Review)
• The nomination was prepared in cooperation with the peninsula’s municipalities, non-governmental organizations and local stakeholders. In the Iceland Review article we read: “The nomination highlights decades of pioneering work on sustainability and resource management in Snæfellsnes,” — said Björg Ágústsdóttir, chair of the Snæfellsnes Regional Park.
• The nomination proposal was submitted in September 2024, after years of cooperation between local authorities, businesses and NGOs.
• In the nomination plan: Snæfellsjökull National Park would constitute the core area of the reserve, while the surrounding area (the Snæfellsnes regional park) would serve buffer and transition zone functions, supporting sustainable tourism, research and regional development.

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Global context and challenges of the Snaefellsnes region in Iceland

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• In the UNESCO communiqué, it was emphasized that the concept of biosphere reserves assumes coordination between scientists, residents and authorities, to balance nature conservation with social and economic needs.
• UNESCO indicates that about 60% of existing biosphere reserves face challenges related to climate change, extreme weather events and rising sea levels.
• In environmental media summaries, there is also a note that the applications for new biosphere reserves (including Snæfellsnes) were approved during the 5th UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Congress in Hangzhou, which represents the largest expansion of the network in 20 years. (UNESCO)

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