URI Research Drives Global Collaboration to Protect Iceland from Invasive Species

Excerpt from web.uri.edu

Iceland’s striking landscapes—shaped by volcanoes, glaciers, and the North Atlantic—have long benefited from a natural isolation that limited the spread of non-native species. Today, that isolation is no longer enough.

Invasive species are increasingly present, arriving through imported plants and soil, goods moving within the country, organisms entering harbors and rivers, and even seeds carried on tourists’ clothing and shoes. With a population of roughly 400,000 and over two million annual visitors, tourism in particular has become a major pathway for new species, creating risks for both Iceland’s ecosystems and its economy.