Iceland published an updated National Biodiversity Strategy in 2025 and is currently preparing its Action Plan, which is scheduled for publication in autumn 2026. Iceland will submit its fully updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) upon publication. 

The main priorities of Iceland’s Biodiversity Strategy 2026–2030 are to:

• Strengthen the role of biodiversity within the governmental system.
• Protect and restore ecosystems and species.
• Promote the sustainable use of land and natural resources.
• Prevent the spread of invasive species, reduce pollution, and align climate action with biodiversity conservation.
• Encourage public participation and raise awareness of biodiversity.
• Strengthen research, monitoring, and education on biodiversity.

The global status of biodiversity is critical. Nature is declining due to the impacts of climate change, land-use change, pollution, invasive alien species, and other pressures. Iceland’s nature is not exempt from this trend. The protection of biodiversity, the restoration of degraded ecosystems, and the sustainable use of natural resources are therefore fundamental to the country’s key economic sectors.

Iceland’s Biodiversity Strategy is aligned with the policy framework of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), namely the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted in 2022. Iceland sets clear targets for 2030 and participates in the collective global effort to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.

A central objective of Iceland’s Biodiversity Strategy is to ensure that biodiversity considerations are given greater weight in public policymaking, planning, and decision-making at all levels of governance.

By 2030, the aim is for 30% of Iceland’s terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine areas to be designated as protected areas under active management and monitoring. In parallel, the target is for 30% of degraded terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems to be under active restoration by 2030. These are important steps to strengthen biodiversity and are equally significant in the context of climate action, as the protection and restoration of ecosystems serve both mitigation and adaptation purposes.

The strategy emphasizes the importance of addressing invasive alien species and establishing a clear legal and administrative framework for this area.

It further highlights the need to ensure that resource management is guided by the ecosystem approach. This approach promotes a balance between ecosystem conservation, sustainable use, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits. Accordingly, plans for resource use and development—such as those related to energy production, fisheries, agriculture, aquaculture, and mineral extraction—should, alongside economic feasibility assessments, be evaluated with regard to their impacts on ecosystems, ensuring that ecosystem functionality is maintained despite utilization.

The strategy also underscores the importance of increasing public awareness of biodiversity so that society as a whole participates in its conservation. Particular attention is directed toward the business sector and the need to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility for biodiversity protection. Emphasis is also placed on public education and awareness of biodiversity, similar to efforts undertaken in the field of climate change, including the integration of biodiversity education into the school system.

Finally, the strategy addresses the current state of knowledge and data collection. It identifies gaps in data relating to genetic diversity, ecosystem services, and the impacts of specific economic sectors on biodiversity. The strategy therefore calls for improved coordination in data management, preservation, and dissemination.

Iceland’s Biodiversity Strategy 2030 is not solely an environmental matter but a long-term national priority of economic and societal importance. The objective is to halt biodiversity loss, reverse current trends, and ensure that biodiversity is recognized as one of the fundamental resources underpinning society.

Disclaimer: Iceland published an updated National Biodiversity Strategy in 2025 and is currently preparing its Action Plan, which is scheduled for publication in autumn 2026. Iceland will submit its fully updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) upon publication.