Nature conservancy boards are “outdated”

Nature conservancy boards should hand over their authority to the environment minister, who would then be expected to pass on this authority to the Environment Agency. 

This is one section of a nature diversity bill submitted by Javnaðarflokkurin (Social Democrats) and Tjóðveldi (Republicans).

A similar bill was submitted by former environment minister Sirið Stenberg of Tjóðveldi in the previous parliamentary setting, but it fell through when MPs went on their summer break in May last year.

“Outdated” system

The two opposition parties want the new nature diversity law to come into effect on 1 July this year, replacing parts of the nature conservation law which state that localised nature conservancy boards and the National Trust are self-governing institution independent of the national government.

It is a matter of public security, the two opposition parties argue, that decisions made by any authority can be appealed, either to a higher administrative authority or to an appeals board.

Translated by prosa.fo