Reykjavík’s Grafarvogur Area Granted Nature Reserve Status

2026-03-06 - 13:35

Grafarvogur has been formally designated a nature reserve after Iceland’s environment minister signed a new protection declaration covering the estuary and surrounding mudflats. According to a press release, the measure was approved by Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson in cooperation with Reykjavík City Council and the Icelandic Institute of Natural History. What's the Story? Grafarvogur estuary in Reykjavík designated a nature reserve by Environment Minister Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson Protected area of 0.5 km2 covers the estuary and mudflats inside Gullinbrú Site provides feeding and resting habitat for migratory birds and remains open for public recreation and birdwatching Photo: Þórdís Björt/Nature Conservation Institute Urban wetlands protected The protected zone covers approximately 0.5 km2 and includes the estuary inside Gullinbrú. Grafarvogur is considered ecologically significant because it contains relatively undisturbed mudflats, which are increasingly rare in urban environments. These tidal flats serve as feeding and resting areas for migratory birds, particularly waders, and support birdlife throughout the year. Several species that rely on the area are considered threatened or at risk. During migration seasons, large flocks of birds—including plovers, sandpipers and terns—regularly gather on the mudflats in both spring and autumn. The estuary is also regarded as an important staging site for sandpipers preparing for migration later in the year. The area is widely used by residents for outdoor recreation, including walking and birdwatching. Authorities say the new designation is intended to safeguard both biodiversity and public access to nature within the city. “The estuary is a brilliant example of a nature reserve that promotes biodiversity, because here we secure a home for various bird species that use the estuary to feed and rest. People also enjoy walking along the estuary, and with this nature reserve we ensure that the natural environment remains unchanged, for the benefit of us and the birds.” “The estuary is not only a beautiful cove in the urban landscape, but also part of a larger ecosystem – a stopover on the journey of birds between countries and continents, a key habitat for both breeding and migratory birds that rely on the area for food and rest. Such areas are increasingly rare, especially in urban environments, and therefore their protection is important.” Representatives from the ministry, Reykjavík city authorities and environmental agencies attended the signing ceremony.