Some 500 trees were cut down over the weekend at Öskjuhlíð, Reykjavík’s largest wooded area, and another 900 trees will be cut down soon after, as a part of a plan to make way for planes landing at one of Reykjavík airport’s runways.
Safety concerns
As reported in August 2023, Isavia, the company which operates the airport, told the City of Reykjavík that some hundreds of trees at Öskjuhlíð needed to be cut down in order to make way for medical planes landing at a runway at Reykjavík Airport. More recently, Isavia closed this runway due to safety concerns until such time as the company deemed enough trees had been cleared.
However, the forest is protected both by neighbourhood zoning and as a city park, and is on the national heritage register. It is the largest wooded area within Reykjavík and has been beloved by residents and visitors alike for as far as most can remember. At the same time, the domestic airport being located in the centre of town has been decidedly unpopular, and an agreement was recently reached to move it elsewhere, although a new location has yet to be determined.
In a conversation with RÚV last month, former Reykjavík mayor Einar Þorsteinsson said that the city will only cut down as many trees as absolutely necessary, and that due to Öskjuhlíð’s importance as an outdoor area for the city, new trees will be planted to replace the ones cut down.
Unsure what to do with timber
Nearly 500 trees were cut down over the weekend, MBL reports, with another 900 trees to be cleared soon thereafter. It is still unclear what will be done with all this timber, but it is expected that the city will put it to some use.
The area now needs to be cleaned of fallen trees and other debris. The second phase of the operation will be decided on this week.
