Iceland boreal birch forests and alpine tundra | |
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Ecology | |
Realm | Palearctic |
Biome | Boreal forest/taiga |
Geography | |
Area | 91,681 km2 (35,398 sq mi) |
Country | Iceland |
Coordinates | 65°45′N 16°15′W / 65.75°N 16.25°W |
The Iceland boreal birch forests and alpine tundra ecoregion (WWF ID: PA0602) covers the island of Iceland in the North Atlantic. The island is volcanic in origin with basaltic soils, and the cold northerly climate prevents any significant crop agriculture. Because the island is young and isolated from larger land masses, species biodiversity is relatively low. Forest cover has been reduced to about 1% of the original birch forest by a long history of timber extraction and soil erosion caused by sheep grazing. Blanket bogs (areas of high rainfall and peat accumulation) are common.[1][2][3][4]