GRÓ LRT Fellows Visit Snæfellsnes Peninsula
Photo: Purevbaatar Ganbold
Last week, the 2025 GRÓ LRT fellows went on a one-day study trip to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula to learn about sustainable land use, conservation, and community-based development initiatives.
The visit began in Grundarfjörður, where the fellows met with Mayor Björg Ágústsdóttir and learned about the Snæfellsnes Regional Park—a collaborative initiative between municipalities and stakeholders promoting sustainable development and currently in the final stages of applying to become Iceland’s first UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) Reserve.
The group continued to Hellissandur, where they visited the Snæfellsjökull National Park Visitor Centre. There, Ragnhildur Sigurðardóttir, Park Manager and the driving force behind the region’s UNESCO MAB application, welcomed the fellows and presented insights on the park and its connection to the regional park and the biosphere reserve initiative. They also heard from art teacher Ingiríður Harðardóttir about incorporating nature and culture into local education.
The day concluded with sightseeing stops at Saxhóll crater, the picturesque harbor village of Arnarstapi, and, as a special bonus, a refreshing visit to Ölkelda, a natural mineral spring where fellows tasted iron-rich water straight from the source.
The trip provided the fellows with valuable insights into the interplay of nature conservation, cultural heritage, and sustainable rural development in Iceland.
