Students from the Horticultural School learned about ecological restoration on Hellisheiði

Around 60 students from the Horticultural School visited the Hellisheiði Power Plant this week, where they learned about land reclamation and ecological restoration in ON Power´s power generation areas. During the visit, the students gained insight into the methods ON uses to restore native vegetation, protect biodiversity, and reduce the environmental impact of construction works. 

The students are enrolled in the Ecology course, and the visit was part of introducing them to how nature-based solutions can be used to restore ecosystems in areas where construction has disturbed vegetation and soil. 

Magnea Magnúsdóttir, Environmental and Land Reclamation Manager at ON, welcomed the group and presented the diverse methods the company has used for land reclamation and ecological restoration across its construction and operational sites. 

Important to share knowledge and experience 

For years, ON has emphasized utilizing native vegetation in finishing works and revegetation at construction sites. Among the methods in which the company has been a leader is the relocation of turf mats, where the vegetative cover is preserved and used to restore ecosystems alongside construction. Methods such as seed harvesting and planting willow cuttings are also used. 

"It is very important to have the opportunity to introduce these positive projects, which are a vital part of our mitigation measures for construction disturbance. We have been leaders in using vegetation cover to restore ecosystems alongside construction and have seen how well these methods can work. It is important to share this knowledge and experience so that more people see the benefits and hopefully as many companies as possible adopt these methods," says Magnea. 

During the visit, the students showed particular interest in sustainable riverbank protection in Andakíll and the methodology behind surface restoration using turf mats. 

Following the presentation, Magnea took the group on a field tour of the area around Hellisheiði Power Plant, where the students examined turf mat areas and revegetation sites where, among other things, willow cuttings have been used. 

The visit by the Horticultural School students was a welcome opportunity to demonstrate how purposeful ecological restoration can go hand in hand with energy production and development, and how the knowledge and experience gained from such projects can benefit the wider community.