ESC: Supporting local forestry in Iceland

Name: ESC: Supporting local forestry in Iceland
Start: 2024-05-01
End: 2024-09-30
Location: Iceland

Code: 38054 Copied

Iceland European Voluntary Service Environment European Voluntary Service Environment Fixed dates

About the project

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

The Icelandic Forestry Association (IFA) is a national umbrella organisation for local and regional forestry associations throughout Iceland, who together form one of the largest non-governmental organisations in Iceland. The IFA was founded in 1930, making it one of the oldest environmental associations in Iceland. The IFA is an advocate of all the forestry associations, guards their interests and speaks and acts on their behalf as needed. The goal of the IFA is to further the interests of forestry in Iceland and encourage all kinds of environmental improvements. Publishing and education form a large part of the IFA ‘s activities, but the IFA also supervises and plays a part in various specific forestry projects and provides guidance and information for its member associations, businesses and the general public.

💼 What the programme involves

The goal of the IFA and the other forestry associations in Iceland is to restore Iceland´s lost forest cover, provide green recreational areas, and protect the forest remains of Iceland. IFA will host a group of ESC volunteers for five months, from May to September. Under the supervision of a forestry educated supervisor, the team will conduct a variety of tasks such as plant and fertilize small saplings, thin and debranch older forests and build and maintain infrastructure such as paths and bridges. Most of the work takes place in the countryside in the south of Iceland but occasionally, the participants will travel to other places and work with the local forestry associations for a week or two. The tasks will be physically demanding and the weather conditions can be challenging.

🏠 Accommodation on site

The volunteers´ base camp is situated in Úlfljótsvatn. Participants should be aware that the base camp is located in the countryside and not in a city. The accommodation is rustic farm house with all modern utilities. The Úlfljótsvatn farm is about a 20 min drive from the village of Selfoss were all necessary service is located. Participants get a card to buy food and cook themselves. The National park of Þingvellir is close by as well as many other interesting sites. The volunteer team will have a car that they can use both for work and in their leisure time.

🎒 Leisure activities

Participants will be trained to conduct different tasks during the period such as planting (technique and theory), safety on work location, use of forestry equipment, path making and construction of wood and stone. They will also learn about Icelandic culture and language.

⚠️ Requirements

The Participant profile: Participants should be interested in nature and physical outdoor work. Knowledge in natural sciences is beneficial but not necessary. They need to be able to live and work independently and yet be good team players. Good social skills, a positive mindset and motivation are essential. They must be able to understand and speak English. People with fewer opportunities are encouraged to apply. However, it must be noted that in order to perform the tasks at hand, the participants must be in good mental and physical health. Participants must be able to stay in the program the whole time.
Deadline: Application deadline: 02/02/2024

ℹ️ Additional information

The project is implemented under the European Solidarity Corps Programme, financed by the European Commission.
The participating organisations have to be mindful of these needs as they are responsible for providing a respectful and trusting hosting environment. At the same time, the organisations participating in the initiative devote a great deal of time, energy and resources to set up a high-quality activity; they should therefore expect that European Solidarity Corps participants show a similar level of respect for the local communities and the people that are directly concerned by the activities (https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/mission_en).
What do we provide ?

Training before and after the project
Health insurance during your project
round-trip travel reimbursement
accommodation and food
pocket money
language course
Return Week-end
Youth Pass and SVI international Volunteer passport

Before applying for this volunteering project, you need to enroll yourself at European Solidarity Corps Platform (https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en) and specify your European Solidarity Corps Participant Number (PRN).
This organisation holds a European Solidarity Corps Quality Label.
Contact the ESC coordinator at +32 2 888 67 13 to get more informations.

Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.

📅 Available sessions

IS38054

01/05/2024 → 30/09/2024

Closed

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Deadline: 02/02/2024

ℹ️ Key information

Age required

18–30 years old

Solidarity donation

0.00 EUR

French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).

📍 Location

Úlfljótsvatn Scout Center, 805, Iceland

Iceland

🌍 Location info

Local currency

Iceland Krona (ISK / kr)

Exchange rate

1 ISK = 0.007321 EUR

Rate as of 31/05/2026

Timezone

Greenwich Mean Time

Local time: 21:03 (12/11/2026)

🛡️ Before you leave

Security information

📞 Contact us

[email protected]

+32 2 888 67 13

Contact form

✅ Features

🏠 Accommodation

Collective

🗣️ Languages spoken

English Icelandic German Danish Swedish Norwegian