Restoring Icelandic wetlands: challenges in governing complex ecosystems and restoration efforts

The environment and climate are in critical condition with climate change and the breaching of planetary boundaries. Various approaches are being implemented to tackle these issues, including Nature-based Solutions. This thesis looks at the Nature-based Solution of wetland restoration in Iceland and challenges in implementing this approach to reduce emissions and foster ecosystem services, focusing on political, economic, and social aspects of wetland restoration. The research questions asked in this thesis are: what are the challenges within wetland restoration management in Iceland; how do challenges commonly associated with Nature-based Solutions appear within wetland restoration efforts in Iceland? Using the lens of the political economy of natural resources and the concepts of Nature-based Solutions and ecological restoration, challenges were identified with expert interviews and grey literature as the data source. Findings present various interconnected political, economic, and social challenges that significantly overlap with challenges observed with Nature-based Solutions in general. The issues of how wetlands are valued and negatively perceived in Iceland are seen as significant challenges. These challenges act as barriers to increased wetland restoration in Iceland and a more holistic approach to Icelandic wetland management is needed to highlight the multiple ecosystems benefits it can bring.