Faroe Islands islands, along with two other Norwegian island possessions: Greenland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands have been a self-governing country within the Kingdom of Denmark since 1948. The Faroese have control of most of their domestic affairs. Those that are the responsibility of Denmark include military defence, policing and the justice department, currency, and foreign affairs. However, as they are not part of the same customs area as Denmark, the Faroe Islands have an independent trade policy and can establish trade agreements with other states. The islands also have representation in the Nordic Council as members of the Danish delegation. The
Flora of the Faroe Islands the abundance of "Corylus" pollen in deep layers, suggest that at least some local stands of birch and hazel trees were present in the Faroe Islands, prior to human settlement. Four species of willow are still present in the Faroe Islands: "Salix herbacea" is very common in the mountains, but the other three species: "Salix phylicifolia", "Salix lanata" and "Salix arctica" are only to be found in a few places, due to heavy grazing by animals. Only one evergreen, "Juniperus communis" (the prostrate form) grows naturally in the Faroe Islands, and small populations are spread throughout the islands, though for