Act No. 33 on forests and forestry.

The present Act lays down general rules on forest management and conservation. It consists of 6 Chapters divided into 25 articles: I. Objectives and definitions; II. Forestry management, plans and cooperation; III. The country's forests; IV. Forestry on legal farms; V. Protection, restoration, care and utilization of forests; VI. Various provisions.
The purpose of the Act is: (a) to protect the country's natural forests and promote their increased distribution; (b) to protect and restore biodiversity; (c) the cultivation of new forests to build a diverse forest resource for sustainable use; (d) sustainable forest utilization to yield the greatest possible economic, social and environmental benefits for society; (e) that forestry be in accordance with planning plans and nature conservation; (f) to facilitate people's access to forests for outdoor activities and to increase people's knowledge of forestry and forestry issues; (g) to promote carbon sequestration through forestry and their adaptation to climate change; (h) that forestry contributes to soil protection and reduces potential damage due to natural hazards.
The Act contains specific provisions on, among other things: the establishment and roles of the Icelandic Forest Service (Skógræktin); the Executive's duty to adopt a National Plan for forestry; regional plans for forest; cultivation plans; cooperation on forestry; the obligation of the Icelandic Forest Service to keep a forest register of all the country's forests; national forests status; forestry on legal farms and shelterbelt farming; protection and restoration of natural forests; sustainability of utilization; felling permits; prohibition of permanent deforestation; livestock use in forests; etc.
Article 4 of the Act states that the Executive shall adopt at least every five years a national forestry plan for ten years at a time. This national plan shall stipulate the government's policy dealing with the status and future of forests in the country, as well as numbered goals for success in forestry. Moreover, Article 16 states that the Icelandic Forest Service shall promote the protection and restoration of natural forests. The objectives and emphases of protection and restoration shall be defined in the national plan for forestry. Article 17 stipulates the principle that annual felling in the country's forests should not, as a rule, exceed their annual growth. shall provide guidelines for deforestation. The Icelandic Forest Service shall provide guidelines for deforestation.