Protection Status
Vatnshornsskógur Forest was designated a protected area in 2009. The purpose of the protection designation is to conserve a natural, largely undisturbed, and tall-growing birch woodland with rich ground vegetation, together with the genetic characteristics and genetic diversity of Icelandic birch.
The area supports high biological diversity and is home to several rare species, including the only known Icelandic location of the lichen Alectoria sarmentosa ssp. vexillifera.
One of the key objectives of the protection designation is to ensure the continued preservation of the biological diversity of habitats and ecosystems within the area by protecting animal, plant, and other living species, together with their genetic resources and habitats.
The designation also aims to strengthen the scientific, recreational, and educational value of the area.
In establishing this protected status, reference was made to the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern Convention, 1979), cf. Government Gazette C 17/1993, and the Convention on Biological Diversity (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), cf. Government Gazette C 3/1995, Article 2.