Bern Convention

Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats

The Iceland Nature Conservation Association and Fuglavernd BirdLife Iceland submitted a complaint on the construction of a new road through Teigsskógur, one of the largest authentic birch woods (Betula pubescens) in the North-western peninsula of Iceland.

It would also include causeways over the mouth of two fjords: Djúpifjörður & Gufufjörður, and would, according to the complainant, threaten the integrity of the nature reserve. The complainant stated that the planned road (route Þ-H) with three new fjord crossings would be harmful for large areas of intertidal areas of importance to arctic migratory waders and that it would also negatively affect White-tailed Eagle nests (Haliaeetus albicilla), which are protected under Annex II of the Bern Convention.

The Road Authority already initiated the construction of the new road, and according to the complainant, alternative routes have not been considered but would have been better from an environmental standpoint. An on-the-spot appraisal (OSA) was mandated by the 40th Standing Committee to assess the situation at Breiðafjörður Nature Reserve as well as the general state of implementation of the Emerald Network sites at national level. The OSA was delayed and was finally carried out online in 2022, resulting in Recommendation No. 218 (2022).

 Key Timeline

• 2017 - Case registration
• 2022 - Online advisory mission and Recommendation No. 218

 Other countries possibly concerned

• N/A

 Other international organisations involved

• Ramsar
• UNESCO World Heritage
• AEWA

 Documents

Complaint form

OSA reports and recommendations

Regular reports to the Bureau and/or Standing Committee

Please note that all reports received by a Party during one calendar year are included in one single report for that year. Some older reports are not available in digital form.

Other information / documents