Iceland’s current landscape, marked by volcanic rock and moss, was once home to birch forests, according to historical records. When Norse settlers arrived around 874 AD, birch trees covered between 25 and 40 percent of the country, but today they cover only about 1 percent. This dramatic decline was largely due to deforestation and overgrazing by imported sheep, which prevented young trees from growing. As a result, the forests disappeared in less than a century, leading to severe soil erosion and desertification. One of the most visible signs of this environmental change is the Hafnarsandur region, which now resembles a lunar landscape due to its black basalt and volcanic sand. The settlers used wood for building homes and heating, which was essential in Iceland’s harsh climate. However, the greatest threat to the birch forests came from overgrazing by sheep, which repeatedly destroyed young shoots before they could mature. Unlike mature trees, which can regrow from their stumps, young plants have no chance of survival under constant grazing. Scientific studies confirm that birch coverage has dropped from 25 percent to just 1 percent over the past 1,100 years. Adalsteinn Sigurgeirsson, deputy director of the Icelandic Forest Service, highlights this loss: “We have lost 97 percent of the original forests in 1,000 years.” The loss of trees had far-reaching consequences beyond just changing the landscape. Without tree roots to hold the soil in place or foliage to slow the wind and absorb moisture, the land became vulnerable to erosion and desertification. The Hafnarsandur area, covering 6,000 hectares, is a stark example of this degradation. Its black basalt and volcanic sand create a landscape that looks more like the surface of the moon than a typical Icelandic terrain. Local authorities have tasked the Icelandic Forest Service with restoring this area, calling it “one of the worst examples of soil erosion in Iceland on flat terrain.” Despite the long-term damage, Icelanders have not given up on restoring their environment. Reforestation efforts began as early as the 1950s and were significantly expanded in the 1990s. These initiatives have helped some rocky areas regain a portion of their former greenery, showing that it is possible to reverse, at least in part, the damage caused over a millennium. However, restoring forests in Iceland’s harsh climate is a slow and difficult process. Strong winds, cold temperatures, and nitrogen-depleted soil all pose challenges to tree growth. Each hectare of restored forest requires decades of effort and patience, a stark contrast to how quickly the original forests were lost.