Our environment
Isafold Travel cares for the nature and does its utmost to minimize the impact of traveling on the environment. Where possible we prefer or recommend healthy physical motion instead of machines.
To reduce the impact of our vehicles on our beautiful but sensitive Icelandic nature we teamed up with Icelandic New Energy (www.newenergy.is) and the Icelandic Carbon Fund Kolvidur (www.kolvidur.is). For every driven kilometer Isafold Travel supports these companies with their ongoing projects here in Iceland. For further information about these projects please read below and visit the provided links of our partners:
Icelandic Carbon Fund Kolvidur (www.kolvidur.is)
The Iceland Carbon Fund was founded by the Icelandic Forestry Association and the Icelandic Environment Association.
The goal of the Iceland Carbon Fund (ICF) is to reduce the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by sequestering carbon in vegetation and soils. The planting done under the auspices of the ICF takes place on designated areas under a long-time (90-year) contract with the ICF. The planting and supervision of ICF forests is performed by local forestry associations or other contractors. The work is certified and audited by KPMG Iceland.
The tree planting takes place at Geitasandur- a sandy plain in the south of Iceland, between the rivers Ytri-Rangá and Eystri-Rangá, or more precisely between the farms Kirkjubær to the west and Stóra-Hof and Minna-Hof to the east. The seedlings planted at Geitasandur are forest tree seedlings (container stock), 1–2 years old (or 10–20 cm). The ICF Forest at Geitasandur will consist of species common to Icelandic forestry, including downy birch, rowan, black cottonwood, alders, sitka spruce and lodgepole pine. Planting several species helps to secure the long-term stability of the forest, as diverse forests are more resistant to stress (e.g. insect infestations, changes in climate) and make better use of resources (sunlight, nutrients, water, etc.). A multi-species forest is also more interesting for recreation than a mono-culture forest, given that the ICF Forest at Geitasandur will be open to the public once established.
Icelandic New Energy (www.newenergy.is)
Icelandic New Energy is the promoter for using hydrogen as a fuel in the transportation sector in Iceland, thereby making it possible to head for an economy which is only run on renewable, local energy sources. The company’s vision is to see the total conversion to hydrogen take place within 2050. INE works as an international project manager in demonstrations and research involving hydrogen applications for transportation and backup-power.
The long term goal of creating a hydrogen society in Iceland is to create a cleaner and more sustainable transport future. By using hydrogen in Iceland instead of fossil fuels, where all the hydrogen is produced from renewable resources, the energy chain becomes carbon free and sustainable. Isafold travel has decided to support hydrogen vehicle demonstration activities in Iceland with financial contribution. This is to encourage further research and demonstration of this clean alternative way of propulsion, as well as to raise public awarness by travellers and the general public regarding cleaner fuels for future generations. The future goal of Isafold Travel is to make tourism in Iceland more sustainable.
Icelandic New Energy is responsible for the fuel cell vehicle part of the SMART-H2 project in Iceland and will use Isafolds contribution for research and demonstration of hydrogen vehicles.
