Wildlife & Ecosystems

Conservation

Protecting Faroese seabird colonies, marine mammals, and natural areas in an era of rapid environmental change.

300+

Bird species recorded

2M+

Seabirds breeding

Protected nature areas

50%+

Puffin decline since 2000

The Faroe Islands' dramatic cliffs and surrounding seas support internationally important populations of seabirds and marine mammals. These species face growing pressure from climate change, which is reshaping North Atlantic ecosystems. Conservation efforts in the Faroes connect local organizations with Arctic and international networks working to protect biodiversity across the region.

Seabird Colonies Under Pressure

The Faroe Islands host some of the largest seabird colonies in the North Atlantic, with over two million breeding pairs of species including Atlantic puffins, common guillemots, northern fulmars, and kittiwakes. These populations face mounting pressure from climate change, which is altering the distribution and abundance of the fish species they depend upon. BirdLife Føroyar monitors colony health while the Natural History Museum conducts research on the causes of decline.

Arctic Biodiversity

As part of the Danish Realm, the Faroe Islands participate in Arctic Council working groups including CAFF (Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna). The Arctic is experiencing the most rapid climate change on Earth, with cascading effects on ecosystems from plankton to polar bears. While the Faroes are sub-Arctic rather than Arctic proper, they share species and ecosystems with higher latitudes, and changes in the Arctic directly affect Faroese wildlife.

Marine Mammals

Faroese waters are home to numerous whale and dolphin species, from harbour porpoises to pilot whales to occasional visits from humpbacks and orcas. These populations are monitored as part of international agreements coordinated through bodies like NAMMCO (North Atlantic Marine Mammals Commission). Climate-driven shifts in prey availability are affecting marine mammal distributions across the North Atlantic.

Protecting Faroese Nature

Umhvørvisstovan administers 21 protected natural areas in the Faroe Islands, safeguarding important habitats for birds, plants, and other wildlife. Conservation in the Faroes must balance environmental protection with traditional land use practices that have shaped the landscape for centuries. International frameworks like the IUCN Red List help prioritize conservation efforts by identifying species most at risk.

Why This Matters

The seabird colonies of the Faroe Islands are part of our natural heritage and a barometer of ocean health. When puffin populations decline, it signals changes in the marine food web that may eventually affect fisheries and human communities. Protecting biodiversity is inseparable from understanding and adapting to climate change.

Essential Resources

Authoritative sources for further reading and research.

Náttúrugripasavnið

Føroya Náttúrugripasavn - Natural History Museum

Faroese Natural History Museum documenting the islands' wildlife, geology, and ecosystems. Research on seabirds, marine mammals, and environmental change.

BirdLife Føroyar

Faroese partner of BirdLife International. Conservation and monitoring of seabird populations including puffins, guillemots, and fulmars.

Arctic Council

CAFF - Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna

The biodiversity working group of the Arctic Council. Circumpolar conservation programs protecting Arctic species and ecosystems.

IUCN

IUCN North Atlantic

International Union for Conservation of Nature's work in the North Atlantic region. Red List assessments and conservation strategies for marine and terrestrial species.

Umhvørvisstovan

Umhvørvisstovan Nature Protection

Faroese Environment Agency's nature protection division. Protected areas, species conservation, and environmental monitoring in the Faroe Islands.