2.28 - Vegetation in Snæfellsöræfi wilderness
The purpose of this monitoring is to detect and monitor possible changes in vegetation in areas that might be effected by Kárahnjúkavirkjun power plant. Evaluation was made in permanent vegetation plots in Kringilsárrani, Vesturöræfi wilderness an Fljótsdalsheiði heath in the years 2006-2008, see report in Further reading. Furthermore, the report from Landsvirkjun ( LV-2010/062 ) made by East Iceland Nature Research Centre laid the foundation to possible monitoring using SPOT-5 satellite pictures taken in the summers of 2002, 2007 and 2008. This report represents intended ground state of vegetation in said areas. Currently, monitoring protocol and target is being reviewed.
Progress
Re-observation, East Iceland Nature Research Centre, for comparison to primary data in vegetation plots started in 2015 in Kringilsárrani area, 2016 in Fljótsdalsheiði heath and will be completed in Vesturöræfi wilderness in 2017. Such observations will be repeated every ten years. Extensive geese grazing was recorded in 2015, more noticeable than in former observations. Other changes in vegetation were not detected. Kringilsárrani is a lush pasture compared to other highlands in Iceland and therefor important for grazing. The vegetation research in Fljótsdalsheiði heath in the summer of 2016 took notice of supposed importance of reindeer grazing. According to the counting of reindeer since the year 2000, the heath was favored for summer grazing in 2000-2008 but few animals were found in the area in 2011-2016. The cover of lichens, which only reindeer graze, was substantially reduced between observations in Fljótsdalsheiði but little change was detected within other plant groups. In observation 2017 in Vesturöfæfi Wildernes was a wide range of signs of gees or/and reindeer grazing. Little changes in vegetation occurred since last observation, other than that grassland increased in gravel bed area which had been sown in at North-West part of the observation area. Aeolian deposition from banks of Hálslón lagoon was seen on vegetation and in the air close to the lagoon in observation days in the summer 2017 but no clear pattern of vegetation changes is distinct between observation years in the area where aeolian deposition is visible. Research in the years 2015 - 2017 in these three areas in Snæfellsöræfi wilderness indicate that grazing is probably the one single factor that influences changes in vegetation in the area the most and monitoring of vegetation will most likely be adjusted to grazing aspects in the future. Report on a review of Versturöræfi wildernes was due by mid 2018 ( LV-2018-95 ).
Experts from The Agricultural University of Iceland (LBHÍ) and The Soil Conservation Service of Iceland, SCSI (Landgræðslan), reviewed old vegetation plots within fended areas at Versuröræfi the summer 2017. They will be expected to publish their results in the near future.
Remote sensing or growth intensity measurements are not on the agenda unless the comparison results call for it. Today, satellite data are easily accessible and do not call for special measures.
New continuous vegetation map of East Iceland's highlands.
Since 2010 Landsvirkjun and The Icelandic Institute of Natural History have worked on updating and re-drawing older vegetation maps of North-East Iceland's highlands (further information in Icelandic). Botanical and geographical analysis from previously issued maps, manuscripts and field data was re-drawn and coordinated in a digital database. Also with support from Landsvirkjun over 500 km2 of previously un-mapped land was mapped, mainly in Jökulsdalsheiði heath in relation to reindeer research. The vegetation maps now cover 4400 km2. It consists of 25000 plots of vegetation and land types (figure 1). The map is connected to a GIS database which gives unlimited opportunities to further processing to obtain various information about the nature. The map, now part of a digital vegetation map of the Central Highland of Iceland, is open to all with access to GIS software and all with access to Google Earth should be able to view it from different angles.
Figure 1. Kárahnjúkavirkjun, vegetation map
Monitoring Protocol
Vegetation can change due to various reasons and it is important that monitoring allows for that.
Major influencing factors
- Natural causes e.g. climate changes
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Changed grazing stress
- Reduced sheep grazing in recent years (general development)
- Movement of grazing stress due to grazing areas flooded by Hálslón reservoir
- Pink footed geese grazing
- Future aeolian deposition from Hálslón reservoir.
Metrics: What is measured?
- Vegetation cover, vegetated land and plant species (Project effect: indirect).
Monitoring Protocol
Satellite photos will be used to calculate greenness as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The higher the index, the more density of plant growth (greenness). Data will be gathered every five years.
Vegetation will be monitored by remote sensing (satellite images), at the same time permanent vegetation plots will be used to gather information about changes in species composition and more accurate information about the vegetation than remote sensing gives.
Vegetation plots will be visited every third year to begin with. Labels will be reviewed and obvious changes recorded. Thorough inspection will be done if either the satellite images or the visit call for it.
Criterions for changes in vegetation will be developed in consultation with experts.
Target
Detect and monitor possible changes in vegetation in areas that might be effected by Kárahnjúkavirkjun power plant.
Possible countermeasures
Landsvirkjun initiates action to stop aeolian deposition
Updated October 2017
Baseline
Before preparation for Kárahnjúkavirkjun power plant, exact observations (OS81002/VOD02) (only available in Icelandic) in vegetation were done and because of reindeer research, vegetation the animals choosed above others, was measured (OS-83073/VOD-07 ) (only available in Icelandic). How the research can be used as foundation, depends on if it is possible to locate single findings. The same apply to reserch in the summer 2000which aim to rate the vegetation in biotope (NÍ-01004) and (LV-2001/020).
Vegetation condition was studied in 2006-2008 and cover and growth reviewed using satellite photos 2002, 2007 and 2008. In comparision report “Monitoring vegetation in Vesturöræfi wilderness, Kringilsárrani and Fljótsdalsheiði heath using satellite photos” information about ground state of vegetation in the area can be found (LV-2010/062) (only available in Icelandic).
It is not simple to interpret satellite images to establish vegetation ground state. In particular it is hard to estimate when changes call for further research in permanent vegetation plots. Images from 2002 – 2008 (see figure 2) reveal major changes such as results from revegetation and traces of construction f. ex mineral disposition. In general comparison of the images reveals that the difference between them is similar everywhere and is most likely caused by climate conditions and when they were taken. As a result, deviations beyond that call for further investigations
In establishing ground state it is important to identify potential underlying changes that might have occurred before the construction projects started, whether the changes are related to climate or changes in grazing. In order to learn this 20 – 30 year old vegetation maps will be reviewed with regard to major changes.
Vegetation maps in correlation with reindeer research can reveal information about reindeer grazing areas.
- From there one area will be chosen for further research and comparison to older research.
Figure 1 shows the difference in vegetation index between images from 2002 and 2008. Click for larger image.
Data on vegetation as it appears in research performed 30 years ago seams hard to repeat in order to get accurate view on changes. Permanent well labeled plots laid out in three areas in Snæfellsöræfi wilderness however make it possible to repeat measurements that give information on vegetation changes.
Figure 2 shows locations of permanent plots in Snæfellsöræfi wilderness from different times. The diamonds show locations related to studies from around 1980 on reindeer grazing. Squares represent well marked permanent plots that allow repeated measurements.
Click for larger image.
Rationale for Indicator Selection
Kárahnjúkavirkun power plant's impact on vegetation will be most in the highlands in Vesturöræfi wilderness and Kringilsárrani area. Vesturöræfi wilderness is valuable area since vegetated areas located that high above sea level are not very common and also because animals (sheep, geese and reindeer) utilize the area for grazing. Hálslón reservoir will diminish vegetation in Vesturöræfi wilderness plus erosion in Hálslón's coast could cause aeolian deposition in remaining vegetation closest to the reservoir.
Landsvirkjun will take on extensive protective measures to prevent sand blowing to the surrounding areas. Regardless, monitoring vegetation in the area is considered important in case those preventive measures will not be sufficient. In addition to direct countermeasures research is conducted on means to reinforce vegetation to withstand aeolian deposition, and experiments to react to aeolian deposition f.ex by seeding lyme-grass.
Further reading
Reports on vegetation in Vesturöræfi wilderness published by Landsvirkjun ( Only in Icelandic)
Gróðurvöktun á Fljótsdalsheiði - Samanburður á samsetningu og þekju gróðurs árin 2008 og 2016
Landsvirkjun's report no: LV-2017-054
Gróðurvöktun í Kringilsárrana - Samanburður á samsetningu og þekju gróðurs árin 2006 og 2015
Landsvirkjun's report no: LV-2016-064
Click here to download report.
February 2015: About new continuous vegetation map of East Iceland's highlands.
Gróðurvöktun á Vesturöræfum, Kringilsárrana og Fljótsdalsheiði með notkun gervitunglamynda. Samanburður milli ára 2002, 2007 og 2008
Landsvirkjun's report no: LV2010/062
Click here to download report.
Gróðurvöktun á Fljótsdalsheiði með notkun gervitunglamynda og gróðurreita
Landsvirkjun's report no: LV2009/121
Click here to download report.
Gróðurvöktun á Vesturöræfum með notkun gervitunglamynda - Grunnrannsókn
Landsvirkjun's report no: LV2008/046
Click here to download report.
Kárahnjúkavirkjun, rannsóknir á gróðri í Kringilsárrana.
Landsvirkjun's report no: LV2007/036
Click here to download report.