International cooperation
The Natural Science Institute of Iceland is partially or fully responsible for the implementation of several international conventions and resolutions on behalf of the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Climate, and also carries out tasks for regional international organizations. Individual employees at the NSII take active part in a wide range of cooperative projects and international collaborations in the field of science, and many of its research projects are linked to international commitments.
The Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) is an intergovernmental treaty dedicated to the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, Greenland and the Canadian Archipelago and brings together countries and the wider international conservation community in an effort to establish coordinated conservation and management of migratory waterbirds throughout their entire migratory range. AEWA covers most bird species that breed or stop in Iceland. The Natural Science Institute of Iceland is responsible for implementing the agreement in Iceland in cooperation with the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Climate, and has a representative on AEWA’s Technical Committee. The institute also has a representative in the international working group on the sustainable and effective management of goose populations (EGM-IWG).
The Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats is a binding international legal instrument in the field of nature conservation, covering most of the natural heritage of the European continent and extending to some States of Africa. It is the only regional Convention of its kind worldwide, and aims to conserve wild flora and fauna and their natural habitats, as well as to promote European co-operation in this field. It is one of the main foundations of nature conservation in Europe and has had a significant effect on conservation legislation and its enforcement, as well as on how we record, classify, assess, and monitor living nature in Europe. The Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Climate is responsible for the implementation of the convention in Iceland, while employees from the Natural Science Institute of Iceland serve as representatives on its expert committees. These include the committee on invasive alien species and the Emerald Network.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species. CITES establishes a framework of rules concerning trade in endangered species and derived products, to which parties to CITES are required to adhere. The NSII is designated as a Scientific Authority under CITES. This advisory role extends to plant and animal species other than marine species.
The Copernicus Programme is a large-scale initiative led by the European Union. The programme’s role is to monitor the state of the environment on land, at sea, and in the atmosphere, while also contributing to improved safety and security for people around the world. The information services provided are free and openly accessible to users. The Natural Science Institute of Iceland represents Iceland in its steering groups.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is an international network and data infrastructure funded by the world's governments and aimed at providing anyone, anywhere, open access to data about all types of life on Earth. A representative of the Icelandic Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate sits on the GBIF Governing Board. A representative of the NSII acts as node manager for Iceland and participates in the Node Managers Committee.
Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) is a working group of the Arctic Council. All eight Arctic Council Member States participate in CAFF: Canada, Denmark (including the Faeroe Islands and Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. The Natural Science Institute of Iceland appoints Iceland’s representative to the CAFF Management Board and participates in expert groups on circumpolar seabirds (CBird), flora (CFG), protected areas (CPAN), and biodiversity monitoring (CBMP).
The objective of the Ramsar Convention is to promote conservation and wise use of wetlands around the globe, particularly as a biotope for wetland birds. The Natural Science Institute of Iceland provides guidance concerning implementation of the convention in Iceland.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international treaty to which nearly all countries in the world are parties. The Convention has 3 main objectives: The conservation of biological diversity; The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity; The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. The NSII has participated in meetings of the Conference of the Parties (COP) and has a representative in the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)
In addition to the international tasks assigned to the Natural Science Institute of Iceland as part of its regular operations, the institute also undertakes a variety of other multinational projects. These projects typically help establish networks and foster collaboration within the institute’s fields of expertise, both domestically and internationally.
The Arctic Spatial Data Infrastructure (Arctic SDI) is a collaborative partner-based effort of the National Mapping Agencies Canada, Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and USA to lead and guide the development of an Arctic Spatial Data Infrastructure and to provide open access to a coherent and authoritative Arctic reference map and thematic Arctic data through the publication of selected data from their respective holdings and from other sources. The aim of the Arctic SDI is to provide politicians, governments, policy makers, scientists, private enterprises and citizens in the Arctic with access to geographically related Arctic data, digital maps and tools to facilitate monitoring and decision making.
EPOS-Iceland is a collaborative project involving the Natural Science Institute of Iceland, the University of Iceland, Iceland GeoSurvey, and the Icelandic Meteorological Office, which leads the project. Its goal is to develop infrastructure in the form of a robust data service providing open access to important geoscientific data and services from Iceland. The data service is part of the pan-European infrastructure EPOS ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium), operated by EPOS (The European Plate Observing System).
EuroGeographics is an independent international not-for-profit organisation representing Europe’s national mapping, cadastral and land registration authorities. EuroGeographics is committed to providing easy access to, and encouraging greater use of, map, land and geographic information from these institutions. The Natural Science Institute of Iceland is a member of EuroGeographics, actively participates in its activities, and produces and submits data from Iceland to centralized databases.
The European Environment Information and Observation Network (Eionet) is a partnership network of the European Environment Agency (EEA) and its 38 member and cooperating countries. EEA and Eionet gather and develop data, knowledge, and advice to policy makers about Europe's environment. Representatives from the Natural Science Institute of Iceland have participated in the European Topic Centre Biodiversity and Ecosystems (ETC BE).
Global Geospatial Information Management (GGIM) project, led by United Nations Member States, aims to address global challenges regarding the use of geospatial information, including in the development agendas, and to serve as a body for global policymaking in the field of geospatial information management. The Natural Science Institute of Iceland has been an active participant in the project from the beginning and closely monitors the progress of the GGIM initiative.
Nordic Geodetic Commission (NKG), is an association of geodesists from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden. Its primary objective is to facilitate productive gatherings among members, fostering a collaborative exchange of professional insights and experiences.
A Nordic cooperation of mapping and cadastral agencies is an extensive regional collaboration in which the Natural Science Institute of Iceland participates. Nine agencies from all the Nordic countries, including the Faroe Islands and Greenland, are involved in the cooperation, and mapping and cadastral agencies from the Baltic countries participate in certain working groups on a case-by-case basis.
ProGEO (The European Association for the Conservation of the Geological Heritage) is a European non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting the conservation of geoheritage and landscapes, as well as enhancing education and awareness of geological values. The organization collaborates with the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and maintains relations with UNESCO, geoparks, and other nature conservation organizations. The Natural Science Institute of Iceland is a member of ProGEO and represents Iceland within the association.
The Nordic Council Environment Prize is a prize that goes to a company, organisation or individual in the Nordics for exemplary efforts to integrate respect for nature and the environment into their business or work or for some other form of extraordinary initiative on behalf of nature and the environment. Since 2023, the Natural Science Institute of Iceland has held one of Iceland’s two seats on the jury for the Nordic Council Environment Prize.
A UNESCO Global Geopark uses its geological heritage, in connection with all other aspects of the area’s natural and cultural heritage, to enhance awareness and understanding of key issues facing society, such as using our earth’s resources sustainably, mitigating the effects of climate change and reducing natural hazard-related risks. Iceland is home to two UNESCO-recognized geoparks: Katla Geopark and Reykjanes Geopark. A staff member of the Natural Science Institute of Iceland serves on Iceland’s national committee for UNESCO Global Geoparks.
VectorNet is a project of European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which aims to contribute to improving preparedness and response for vector-borne diseases. The Natural Science Institute of Iceland participates in the project through the annual collection of ticks in defined areas, using standardized methods.
The Crop Wild Relatives is a Nordic collaborative project in which the Natural Science Institute of Iceland has a representative.