Act No. 60 on the Icelandic Institute of Natural History and Nature Research Centers.

The Act lays down regulation concerning the Icelandic Institute of Natural History and Nature Research Centers, the coordination activities of these entities and cooperation on research and education. The Icelandic Institute of Natural History is an agency of the Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate, and can be made up of up to five centers, each with independent finances. It shall conduct basic research about the country's zoology, botany and geology and organize the systematic collection of records about Iceland's nature. Its research and monitoring activities include: conducting basic and applied research on the natural environment in Iceland, with a focus on botany, ecology, taxonomy, geology, and zoology; maintaining scientific specimen collections and databases, collects literature on the natural history of Iceland, and operating the Icelandic Bird-Ringing Scheme; researching on wild populations of mammals and birds; taking care of bird markings; etc.
as regards Nature Research Centers, the Executive can authorize the operation of up to eight nature centers operating under the auspices of municipalities. The main functions of Nature Research Centers are: to collect data, preserve records about nature and conduct scientific nature research; to promote desirable land use and nature conservation and to provide education on environmental issues and natural science; to take care of general supervision of the nature where it operates; etc.