New Approaches to Modelling Wilderness Quality in Iceland

Steve Carver (), Sif Konráðsdóttir, Snæbjörn Guðmundsson, Ben Carver and Oliver Kenyon
Additional contact information
Steve Carver: School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Sif Konráðsdóttir: Attorney-at-Law, ÓFEIG Nature Conservation Society, 107 Reykjavík, Iceland
Snæbjörn Guðmundsson: Icelandic Museum of Natural History, 108 Reykjavík, Iceland
Ben Carver: Wildland Research Limited, Northallerton DL7 8FF, UK
Oliver Kenyon: Wildland Research Limited, Northallerton DL7 8FF, UK

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-28

Abstract: Much of Europe’s remaining wilderness areas are found in Iceland, yet few are formally protected despite ongoing threats from renewable energy exploitation and 4 × 4 usage. Robust and repeatable approaches are required to map wilderness landscape qualities in support of developing policy on designations that meet international standards. We present an approach to mapping wilderness that is based on internationally recognised methods and customised to suit the unique nature of Icelandic landscapes. We use spatially explicit models of wilderness attributes that measure human impact from vehicular access, land use and visible human features rather than relying on proxy measures such as buffer zones. Seventeen wilderness areas are identified across the Central Highlands and surrounding areas, totalling some 28,470 km 2 . These are compared to existing mapping projects. The character of these areas is described using additional spatial data models on openness, ruggedness and accessibility from settlements, together with information on mobile phone coverage and grazing patterns. This is the most detailed mapping of wilderness in Iceland to date and an important step towards the formal definition of boundaries of wilderness areas meeting IUCN Category 1b and Wild Europe Working Definition in Iceland.

Keywords: wilderness quality; wilderness character; Iceland; Central Highlands (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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