Governance

The board of Vatnajökull National Park

The board of the Vatnajökull National Park consists of seven members:
- the four chairmen of the area committees
- one member nominated by environmental protection associations
- two members appointed by the Minister for the Environment (the chairman and the deputy chairman)
Outdoor activities associations are entitled to have an observer present at the meetings of the board.

The Board of Directors of the Vatnajökull National Park is responsible for nature conservation in the Vatnajökull National Park. Its main tasks are:

  1. The formulation of policies relating to the National Park

  2. Overall management of the preparation of a proposals for a conservation plan and regulation for the National Park

  3. Preparation of a Park budget, allocation of funds to the four areas and the approval of individual operating plans

  4. Harmonization of operations within the four Park areas

  5. Monitoring the implementation of the Park's rules and the conservation plan

  6. Co-operation with public bodies, local authorities and stakeholders in the affairs of the National Park

 

Regional committees 

The Minister for the Environment has appointed four regional committees for the Vatnajökull National Park. Each committee has six members:

  • three nominated by the local authorities
  • one nominated by tourism stakeholders
  • one nominated by outdoor activity associations
  • one nominated by environmental protection associations

The role of the committees prior to the establishment of the Vatnajökull National Park is to provide advice on a regulatory framework for the Park and to participate in other preparatory work.

In addition, the chairmen of the regional committees will serve on the Park's Board of Directors.

Once the National Park has been established, the role of the regional committees will be to:

  • provide the Park Warden and the Park's Board with advice on the affairs of Park
  • prepare proposals for conservation plans
  • propose operating plans for each area within the cost budget as determined by the Board from time to time
  • submit proposals for the recruitment of Park wardens for each area.