GRÓ Land Restoration Training Programme under the auspices of UNESCO

The 2026 fellows reached an important milestone this week as they presented proposals for their final research projects in the GRÓ LRT six-month training programme.

The projects cover a wide range of topics and methods — from technical and data-driven studies to interview-based research with local communities and stakeholders.

The fellows all did an excellent job presenting their ideas, and it will be exciting to follow their work over the summer and see the final results at the end of August

We also used the opportunity to celebrate the latest birthdays of the fellows with cakes and songs.

As part of the ongoing GRÓ LRT training programme, the fellows visited Land and Forest Iceland, formerly the Soil Conservation Service of Iceland, to learn more about its work in land restoration and sustainable land use.

The two-day visit included lectures, discussions, field visits and hands-on learning in Gunnarsholt and Reykjavík. Fellows explored Iceland’s history of land degradation and restoration, observed restoration techniques in practice, and reflected on how to link knowledge and action in their home countries.

We sincerely thank the staff of Land and Forest Iceland for their warm welcome and continued partnership with the GRÓ LRT Programme.

Visit from Samarkand State University to GRÓ LRT and AUI

GRÓ LRT and the Agricultural University of Iceland (AUI) were pleased to welcome Dr Shuhrat Valiyev, GRÓ LRT alumnus from Samarkand State University in Uzbekistan, for a visit to Iceland from 4–8 May.

The visit was funded by Erasmus+ and focused on knowledge exchange, professional development, and strengthening collaboration between Samarkand State University and AUI, especially in the field of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and related topics.

During his visit, Dr Valiyev gave a lecture to the current GRÓ LRT fellows, where he shared his professional experience and reflected on how the GRÓ LRT training has supported his career development. He also took part as a panelist in the event From Knowledge to Development Impact, contributing to discussions on the impact of capacity strengthening in land restoration.

The visit also included meetings and discussions on future cooperation in teaching, curriculum development, and academic collaboration.

Dr Valiyev also had the chance to reconnect with Icelandic nature during a few sightseeing trips with GRÓ LRT staff and two friends from Malawi, the GRÓ LRT staff and some current fellows.

We were very pleased to welcome Dr Shuhrat back to Iceland and look forward to continued collaboration with him and his colleagues in Uzbekistan.

GRÓ • Centre for Capacity Development, Sustainability and Societal Change
Samarkand State University
Erasmus+
Landbúnaðarháskóli Íslands
International Office AUI - LbhÍ
Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Alþjóðamálastofnun Háskóla Íslands

From Knowledge to Development Impact

On May 7, the final event in the series “From Knowledge to Development Impact” focused on the impact of the GRÓ Land Restoration Training Programme (GRÓ LRT).

The event took place at the National Museum of Iceland, where GRÓ LRT fellows and alumni shared their experiences and reflected on how training, knowledge, and international cooperation can support real change in land restoration and sustainable land management around the world.

Since the programme was launched in 2007, 240 fellows have graduated from GRÓ LRT, many of whom are now leading experts in their home countries.

The event was opened by Dr Ragnheiður Inga Þórarinsdóttir, Rector of the Agricultural University of Iceland. Speakers were Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and keynote speaker Dr Principal Mdolo, GRÓ LRT alumnus from Malawi.
Dr Mdolo shared how his GRÓ LRT experience has shaped his professional path and strengthened his work in land restoration and capacity building in Malawi.

In a video, alumni from Tajikistan, Uganda, Malawi, Ghana and Ethiopia shared how their GRÓ LRT experience has supported their careers and strengthened their work in sustainable land management back home.

The panel discussion was moderated by Guðrún Guðjónsdóttir, Acting Director of GRÓ LRT. During the discussion, alumni and current fellows spoke about how GRÓ LRT has strengthened their skills, increased their confidence, and given them tools to work on restoration and sustainable development in their own countries.
As one participant put it: “There is something that GRÓ does to your mind so you feel like you can change the world!”

The event was closed by Nína Björk Jónsdóttir, Director General of the GRÓ Centre.

We are proud to see how the knowledge and connections built through GRÓ LRT continue to support important work, collaboration, and impact across the world.

GRÓ • Centre for Capacity Development, Sustainability and Societal Change
Landbúnaðarháskóli Íslands
Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Alþjóðamálastofnun Háskóla Íslands
International Office AUI - LbhÍ

Photos: Kristinn Ingvarsson

Last week, GRÓ LRT welcomed Dr. Principal Mdolo and Dr. Evance Chaima from LUANAR – the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Malawi – through an Erasmus+ funded visit to Iceland 🇲🇼🇮🇸

The visit focused on strengthening collaboration in Restoration Ecology, sustainable land management, curriculum development, and capacity building between LUANAR, GRÓ LRT, and the Agricultural University of Iceland (AUI).

During their stay, the visitors met with AUI specialists, former supervisors, and GRÓ LRT staff, discussed the development of a graduate programme in Restoration Ecology at LUANAR, and explored opportunities for future research and academic cooperation.

Dr. Mdolo also gave a lecture to the 2026 GRÓ LRT fellows and participated as keynote speaker at the event From Knowledge to Development Impact: Ecosystem Restoration and Sustainable Land Management, where he reflected on how the GRÓ LRT training programme has shaped his professional journey and work as a lecturer at LUANAR.

The visit was not all work — the guests also explored some of Iceland’s unique landscapes, including Gunnarsholt, Borgarfjörður, Seltún, Kleifarvatn and Grindavík.

GRÓ LRT has welcomed five fellows from LUANAR since 2015, and we look forward to continuing this valuable collaboration in the years ahead.

GRÓ • Centre for Capacity Development, Sustainability and Societal Change
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Landbúnaðarháskóli Íslands
Erasmus+

Photos from the event: Kristinn Ingvarsson
Other photos: GRÓ LRT staff

The 2026 GRÓ LRT fellows were met with a true Icelandic mix of sunshine and showers as they set off on the annual GRÓ LRT field trip through South and Southeast Iceland last week.

The three-day trip focused on land degradation, restoration and climate change, as well as the realities facing local communities living near Iceland’s retreating glaciers.

In Skaftafell, the fellows hiked up to Skaftafellsjökull glacier in pouring rain and saw firsthand how the retreating glacier has shaped the landscape. Some even jokingly considered claiming the newly exposed land emerging from beneath the ice.

The group also visited the Cultural Heritage Museum of Þórbergur Þórðarson at Hali, Nýheimar Knowledge Centre in Höfn, Hoffell farm Visitor Centre, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Skógafoss waterfall, Þorvaldseyri farm, the Horticultural School in Hveragerði and the ForHot Natural Experimental Site at Reykir.

At Þorvaldseyri, farmer Ólafur Eggertsson told and showed the fellows how the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull affected the farm and the family, and how much work went into clearing ash, rebuilding and bringing the land back into use.

The group returned to Reykjavík with new insights, new experiences and plenty of memories from three eventful days in the south and southeast.

See more here: https://www.grocentre.is/lrt/media-lrt/news/gro-lrt-fellows-visit-south-and-southeast-iceland-on-three-day-field-trip

Last week the fellows focused on sustainable land management through training sessions on stakeholder analysis, problem analysis, and strategy development. These sessions helped strengthen the foundation for the next stages of the work and encouraged thoughtful discussion around long term approaches.

The group also spent a full day in the Kjós municipality conducting stakeholder interviews, gaining valuable insight into local perspectives and priorities. This field engagement was an important step in making sure future strategies are grounded in real community experience and practical needs.

📘 GRÓ LRT in Malawi 🇲🇼🌱

GRÓ Land Restoration Training (GRÓ LRT) recently visited Malawi to meet with partner institutions, interview prospective candidates, and reconnect with our alumni community.

🤝 Acting Director Guðrún Guðjónsdóttir and Project Manager Gunnhildur Guðbrandsdóttir visited LUANAR University, the Ministry of Mines, and the Ministry of Agriculture, where they presented the GRÓ LRT programme, exchanged experiences from past collaboration, and discussed future cooperation aligned with national land restoration priorities. The visit was funded through Erasmus+ staff mobility.

🎓 The visit concluded with an alumni reception, bringing together GRÓ LRT graduates based in Malawi to share experiences and reflect on the programme’s long-term impact.

🌱 We are grateful for the strong partnerships in Malawi and look forward to continued collaboration in capacity building, sustainable land use, and ecosystem restoration.

Our staff mobility to Malawi supported by Erasmus+, strengthens the land restoration training programme by building sustainable academic links and knowledge exchange with LUANAR University NRC CampusLandbúnaðarháskóli Íslands, International Office AUI - LbhÍ