Miljøudvalget 2013-14
MIU Alm.del Bilag 274
Offentligt
5thDanish Country ReportTo the Convention onBiological DiversityMarch 2014
Danish Country Report
ContentsPreamble...................................................................................................................4EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................ 51.Chapter Current Status of National Biodiversity Management, Policies,Strategies, Actions and Financing ....................................................................... 71.1 General land use .................................................................................................................... 81.2 Arable land ............................................................................................................................. 91.2.1Agriculture and the environment ........................................................................... 91.2.2Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen......................................................................131.2.3Organic farming .....................................................................................................161.3 The open natural habitats.....................................................................................................181.3.1Grasslands, heaths, bogs, meadows and saltmarches ..........................................181.3.2Small biotopes ....................................................................................................... 221.4 Forest.................................................................................................................................... 241.4.1Forest are growing and serving multiple purposes ............................................. 241.4.2Biodiversity in the forest....................................................................................... 271.5 Watercourses and lakes ....................................................................................................... 301.5.1Lakes...................................................................................................................... 301.5.2Watercourses......................................................................................................... 321.5.3Biodiversity in lakes and water courses ............................................................... 351.6 The Sea ..................................................................................................................................371.6.1Conservation status of the sea ...............................................................................371.6.2Important fish stocks ............................................................................................ 441.6.3Marine habitats ..................................................................................................... 481.6.4Marine mammals .................................................................................................. 521.7 Endangered species ..............................................................................................................551.7.1Species in decline ...................................................................................................551.8 Ecosystem services and the recreational use of the natural environment ........................ 581.8.1Ecosystem services................................................................................................ 581.8.1Outdoor pursuits, recreational activities and health ........................................... 59Chapter National Biodiversity Policies, Legislation, Strategies, Actionsand Financing .................................................................................................. 632.1 International, EU and national policy framework ............................................................. 642.2 New and emerging nature protection strategies ................................................................ 672.3 Protected nature areas......................................................................................................... 692.3.1Nature areas protected by paragraph 3 of the National NatureConservation Act ................................................................................................... 692.3.2Forests ................................................................................................................... 702.3.3Areas conserved by preservation orders ..............................................................712.3.4Natura 2000 areas and plans ................................................................................732.3.5Aquatic environment plans....................................................................................752.3.6Wildlife reserves.................................................................................................... 762.3.7Ramsar Sites.......................................................................................................... 762.3.8National parks ........................................................................................................772.3.9The sea................................................................................................................... 782.4 Species management and protection .................................................................................. 79March 2014
2.
2
2.52.62.72.83.
Conservation of genetic resources....................................................................................... 82The national monitoring programmes for environment and nature................................. 84Integration of nature considerations into spatial planning ............................................... 86Financing biodiversity conservation ................................................................................... 89
Chapter Achieving the Millennium Development and the Aichi Targets ........... 93
March 2014
3
PreambleThis Danish country report is intended to provide an overview of the current status of biodiversityin Denmark and to present how nature initiatives are managed and prioritised at political andpractical levels.The report is structured in line with the UN Convention on Biological Diversity guidelines, whichdetermine that the report must include a status report on:---biodiversity conditions (Chapter 1)political strategies and priorities, practical initiatives and funding (Chapter 2)progress made towards meeting United Nations biodiversity targets by 2020 (Chapter 3).
The report has been prepared by The Danish Nature Agency with input from The DanishEnvironmental Protection Agency, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries in Denmark, andthe Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.Chapter 1 is based on ongoing work conducted by COWI A/S in preparation for the nextDanishState of the Environment Report.Project manager in charge of preparing the report:Søren Mark Jensen ([email protected])Section for Biodiversity and SpeciesThe Danish Nature AgencyDanish Ministry of Environment
4
March 2014
EXECUTIVE SUMMARYDenmark's nature and biodiversity are the result of landscape development since the Ice Age as wellas of centuries of human impact from agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and urban and infrastructuraldevelopment.Two-thirds of the land area is now agricultural land and the landscape has only a few large natureareas with long-term continuity and favourable conditions for ecological dispersal.From an European perspective Denmark's coastline is of unique natural value and to a certainextent, there is still space here fornatural dynamism.About one quarter of theDanish flora and fauna which have been subject to studies and assesmentsare listed on the national Red List of endangered species as threatened, nearly threatened orextinct. There is, however, also constant migration of new species from neighbouring countries.The forest is the natural habitat which is home to most of this country's endangered species. Manyof the forests are cultivated intensively and their conservation status is unfavourable bad. However,there are some signs of positive development in the shape of new forests with less intensive forestryand there is a transition to more natural stewardship, e.g. an increase in areas of untouched forest.Open natural habitats, including meadows, heaths and commons, are threatened by the impactsfrom nutrientswhich lead to overgrowth and few dominant nutrient-requiring species of vegetation.Other threats are insufficient ruminant grazing, drainage and fragmentation. These impacts causethe demise of species which historically have adapted to live in a rural landscape with open habitats.For instance are many Danish birds species declining - although fortunately not as fast as they didin the past.Nutrient discharge into watercourses, lakes and seas has been significantly reduced since 1990, andthere are signs of positive development in the biodiversity of aquatic environments. Oxygendepletion, however, continues to dog many fjords, which fail to meet goals for better biologicalconditions.In the main, fish stocks are exploited sustainably, with the exception of a small number of stocks,e.g. of herring and cod in certain locations. Many marine habitats are negatively impacted bynutrient substances and, in some cases, by bottom trawling and rock fishing. A project to restorerocky reefs off the island of Læsø and the construction of offshore wind farms have locally createdsuitable habitats for many marine species.Current and future climate changes are expected to bring more pressure to bear on biodiversity andit is also expected that many species will migrate, e.g. if coastal land areas and habitats disappeardue to rising sea levels. Other climate-related issues are increased rainfall and therefore moreintensive outflow of nutrient substances from fields into watercourses, lakes and coastal waters. Inaddition coastal protection measures may eliminate some of the dynamism of coastal nature andissues related to invasive alien species may also be exacerbated by climate change.To sum up biodiversity in Denmark continues to decline in many spheres but there are also someareas in which the speed of decline has slowed and, for some natural habitats and species, there areimprovements on the horizon. Compared with the previous Danish national report to theMarch 20145
Biodiversity Convention four years ago, there are improvements but there are also many challengesyet to be resolved.A large number of international, European and national policies, strategies and legislative measuresare important for and underpin nature conservation in Denmark. In recent years, the provisions ofthe EU Habitats and Birds Directives have played a significant role in nature conservationinitiatives in Denmark. The Water Framework and Marine Strategy Directives also helps frameDanish nature conservation efforts. In the future, new EU directives concerning profit-sharing inconnection with the exploitation of genetic resources and concerning invasive alien species will alsobe important not only for Denmark's biodiversity but also for biodiversity in other parts of theworld.The lions' share of nature initiatives in Denmark until 2015 has beenfinanced througha GreenGrowth agreement (2009/2010). This agreement was complemented in 2013by the presentGovernment in the shape of the Green Transition agreement.The goals set include amongst others the following: Further reduction in nitrogen and phosphorusdischarges from agriculture, a reduction in the use of pesticides and the establishment of 50.000hectares of new nature areas in the shape of buffer zones along watercourses and lakes as well asestablishment of more forests and restoration af wetlands.Several initiatives have also been designed to encourage more organic farming and to activelymanage vulnerable natural habitats, such as meadows, heaths and bogs.Presently, a first generation of Nature Plans for Nature 2000 areas is being implemented andsupports the achievements of several of the nature-related goals anda first generation of AquaticPlans is on way and will further contribute to the achievement of these.In 2013, a National Commission for Nature and Agriculture presented recommendations to secureboth more sustainable and profitable agricultural production and the creation of more robust,richer and less fragmented nature in Denmark. The government is currently considering how bestto realise these.Recently, the government set up an independent nature foundation, thus realising one of thecommission's key recommendations. The nature foundation will be funded by state grants anddonations from two private benevolent funds. The main purpose of the foundation will be to protectand create areas of natural value and to ensure that nature is more cohesive.In 2014, the Danish government has also planned to launch a new National Forestry Programmewhich will guide the future management of forests and address the challenges of ensuring betterconditions for the forest biodiversity.The majority of the EU’s and UN’s targets for biodiversity are to be obtained by 2020. Asdocumented in this report a wide range of activities have been launched to achieve the overall goalof halting the decline in biodiversity, and more particularly to achieve the biodiversity relatedMillennium Development and the Aichi targets.In order to further strengthen these efforts the government will launch an overarching Nature Planfor Denmark in 2014 which will determine and focus the direction of Denmark's future natureinitiatives, including the preparation of a new national biodiversity strategy.
6
March 2014
1. ChapterCurrent Status of NationalBiodiversity Management,Policies, Strategies, Actionsand Financing
March 2014
7
1.1
General land useDenmark is an agricultural country. In 2013, 66% of the land areawas cultivated.The area of open natural habitat has declined over the last fifty yearsand continues to decline.The forest area is growing and has done so since a first forest censusin 1881.
A small country with many stakeholder groupsThe landscape of Denmark is primarily cultural, in the sense that most of the open landscape iscultivated. More than half (66%) of the total land area of Denmark is used for agricultural purposes.The remainder is covered by urban areas, roads and infrastructure (10%), forests (14%), heaths(2%) and meadows, lakes and bogs (7%) [1].The relatively small area of Denmark has to accommodate many different needs. Space must beallowed for farming, urban and business development, energy production,defences against flooding,conservation of cultural environments, larger areas of forest, more preserved nature areas etc.Many factors have to be considered but in some cases it is possible to accommodate severaldifferent needs on the same area of land. For example, establishing wetlands can help to removenitrogen while providing habitat for plant and animal life. The many issues require an holisticapproach to land administration and planning.Forests, nature areas in the form of wetlands, towns, roads and other infrastructural areas aregrowing gradually, primarily at the expense of agricultural land area while the area of open naturalhabitets such as grasslands, heaths and bogs have been rather stable during the last decade.Notwithstanding this development, Figure1-1indicates that the share of cultivated agriculturalland in Denmark remains one of the highest and the share of forest among the lowest, compared toother European Member States.
General land use in 2009100%90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%EUFinlandSverigeSlovenienEstlandLetlandØstrigSlovakietPortugalTjekkietLithuaenLuxemburgPolenTysklandGrækenlandItalienSpanienFrankrigBelgienUngarnDanmarkUKHollandIrlandReferences[1] Denmark in figures, 2013[2] List of initiatives Climate initiatives – potential and cost estimates. Danish Ministry of Climate,Energy and Building, 20138March 2014ECFinland
WetlandsVådområderGreen fieldsBarmarkWaterVandDeveloped areaBebygget areal
ThicketKratGrasslandGræsarealerAgricultureLandbrug
Sweden
SkovForest
Slovenia
Figure 1-1Landcover, land use and landscape in 2009 in the European Union and its memberstates (except Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta and Romania). source: Eurostat (online data code: lan_lcv)
1.21.2.1
Arable landAgriculture and the environmentNutrient discharge into the surroundings has been reducedduring the last 20 years whereas the frequency of pesticidetreatment has increased since 2009.
The atmospheric nitrogen load and the uneven distributionof grazing cattle lead to a loss of biodiversity due toovergrowth in open natural habitats.
Climate change may bring about more nutrient dischargeand increased pesticide use.
Although a number of initiatives have been introduced in order to reduce agriculture's impact onthe environment, intensive agriculture, including the use of pesticides and nutrients, continues toimpact Danish biodiversity, the aquatic environment and drinking water.There is strong focus on achieving a better balance between maintaining profitable agriculture inDenmark and better biodiversity protection, pure drinking water and favourable ecologicalconditions in watercourses, lakes and coastal waters.Inevitably, vast agricultural areas dedicated to farming make a strong impact on nearby natural andmarine environments. The use of pesticides reduces biological diversity in and around agriculturalland, and nutrient discharges (nitrogen and phosphorus) affect natural habitats and the aquaticenvironment due to nitrogen leaching position and discharge via drainage and surface water, whichmay ultimately lead tobloom of algeas and oxygen depletion in lakes, fjords and seas.In Denmark, many of the most endangered and valuable habitats, such as commons, salt marshesand freshwater meadows, depend on extensive agricultural activities such as grazing and cutting.Without these activities, natural areas becomedominated by nutrient-requiring plant species andbiodiversity diminishes. The challenge is to ensure that there is sufficient grazing livestock to grazeon open habitats and that grazing is profitable. Cattle farming is most common in western Denmarkwhereas there are less animals grazing the habitatsin other parts of the country.Habitats are isolated and adversely affected by nutrient substancesFor several centuries, agriculture has dominated Danish nature with its annual crop rotation andareas grazed by cattle. The list of species which depend on extensive grass and areas planted witharable crops is long and included the hare, partridge, lark, stork, wild bee and many plants.Following the industrialisation of agriculture, many of these species have dramatically declined dueto the eradication of small uncultivated areas and the increased use of pesticides and fertilizers.Parallel developments in the form of urbanisation and extension of the infrastructure (i.e. road andrailway systems) have created barriers in the landscape which prevent the free movement of wildanimals and plants.The numbers of species of birds which like to inhabit arable land, such aspartridge, skylark, cornbunting and northern lapwing, continue to decline. Also a rare breeding bird, the little owl,continues to decline rapidly andit is believed that there remains a breeding population of only 40pairs. Recent research indicates that the decline is due to a lack of food in the breeding seasonbecause there are fewer healthy meadows, commons and permanent pastures [1].In the mid-1990s, many hectaresof cultivated fields were laid fallow in connection with EUagricultural policy. Some of these fallow fields quickly became suitable habitats for farmlandanimals and plants. When agricultural policy was changed in 2007/2008, about 80% of the fallowMarch 20149
fields (approx 115.000 hectars) were returned to ordinary farming and the re-established naturalhabitats disappeared [8].Climate changes are expected to produce increased crop yields due to increased CO2in the air,higher temperatures and a longer growing season. These changes will presumably require morefertilizers and heavier and possibly more frequent rainfallcan cause more nutrient substances todissipate into the aquatic environment. A warmer, more humid climate can also be expected tochange plant protection needs, and resulting in more pesticide consumption due to the occurrenceof different plant diseases and other pests [2].
Table 1-1Pesticide Load Indicator (Load units per ha), based on the total sales of pesticides in Denmarkforapplication on the “conventionally” grown area [3).
2007Pesticide Load Indicator (PLI) [Loadunits per ha]Human healthEnvironmental fateEnvironmental toxicityTotal0,890,860,672,41
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
1,081,031,443,55
0,740,641,462,85
0,940,881,573,39
1,060,961,003,02
1,291,392,325,00
Nitrogen load is falling, but use of pesticides is increasingThe quantity of surplus nutrient substances in agriculture is falling year on year. This applies toboth nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). The N-field surplus has been reduced by about 25% since2002, from 101 kgN/ha to 75 kgN/ha, and by about 46% since 1990, where the surplus was 138kgN/ha. The P balance has also fallen since 1992 [5]. Research has shown that there is a clearconnection between the field balance for nitrogen and the land-based deposition of nitrogen intothe seas around Denmark [6]. We must conclude therefore that there has been a significant fall inthe input of nitrogen into our coastal waters.As shown in,Figure 1-2the goal to reduce the Treatment Frequency Index (TFI) to 1.70 by 2009was not achieved. From 2000 to 2012, the TFI is seen to have increased from about 2.58 to 3.96 [7].The increase in sale in 2012 is due to the increased tax introduced from 1. July 2013. The load basedon the first year with pesticides data from the farmers statistic is 2,2 (2011/12). One of the methodsused to reduce the pesticide load is to convert to organic farming, in which only certain pesticideswith negligible or no environmental load may be used and then only to a very limited extent. Thearea farmed organically is increasing but continues to account for only a small share of the totalagricultural area.Atmospheric nitrogen deposition, of which 58% originates from farming, has fallen generally inrecent decades. For a large number of areas which have low-nutrient habitats, the critical load isstill exceeded.
10
March 2014
InsecticidesFungicidesGrowth regulatorsHerbicides
Figure 1-2Treatmentfrequency from 2000 to 2012, calculated on the basis of sales figures.reatmenton[4]
Pesticide statistics in Denmark has been based on reported sales for decades. The resultingstatistics is presented as the Treatment Frequency Index (TFI), and – since 2007 - the PesticideLoad Indicator (PLI), expressing the load on human health and the environment [2 ]. Bothindicators show an overall increasing trend during the period 2007cators2007-2012 (Figure 1-25). Some ofthe pesticides used may end up in our watercourses and may have adverse effects on theorganisms in them. Possible consequences for the watercourse ecolo include deterioration ofecoloybiodiversity and reduced capacity to metabolise organic material.
Figure 1-3Relativedevelopment of Treatment Frequency Index /TFI) and Pesticide LoadreatmentIndicator (PLI) 2007-2012 (2011 = index 100). modified from [2012[7].
References[1] Thorup, K., L. B. Jacobsen, P. Sunde & C. Rahbek. 2007 The Danish Little Owl population2007. Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate, University of Copenhagen.[2] Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries in Denmark,http://fvm.dk/landbrug/indsatsomraader/klima/landbrugetsomraader/klima/landbruget-og-fremtidens-klima
[3] Danish EPA, 2012. The Agricultural Pesticid Load in Denmark 2007 2010. Enironmental review]2007-2010.No. 2, 2012.http://www.mst.dk/Publikationer/Publications/2012/march/978http://www.mst.dk/Publikationer/Publications/2012/march/978-87-92779-96-0.htm0.htm[4] MST, 2013. Pesticide statistics 2012. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency][5] Agricultural catchment monitoring 2011, Novana, Scientific report from DCE, 2012]http://www2.dmu.dk/pub/sr31.pdfMarch 201411
[6] Windolf, J. et. al. 2012, Field balances and diffuse nitrogen drainage. Note from DCE, January2012.[7] Danish Environmental Protection Agency 2013, Pesticide statistics 2012, Treatment FrequencyIndex and pesticide load based on sales statistics and spraying reports[8]http://www2.mst.dk/Udgiv/publikationer/2013/10/978-87-93026-49-0.pdf
12
March 2014
1.2.2
Atmospheric deposition of nitrogenThe atmospheric deposition of nitrogen poses a threat to open naturalhabitats, such as heaths, commons, bogs and dunes, as well as to theperimeters of woods and forests.
Nitrogen is deposited in the atmosphere from agriculture, traffic andindustrial combustion.Increased levels of nitrogen in low-nutrient habitats impede ecologicalconditions for life and lead to suppression of dwarf species of plants,typically vascular plants (tracheophytes), lavers and mosses.
Critical thresholds for low-nutrient nature are exceededAtmospheric deposition, in particular of nitrogen (N), is a threat to vulnerable, low-nutrienthabitats, such as woods, heaths, fens and commons. When nitrogen in the air comes into contactwith water, it can be absorbed via plant roots.The airborne nutrients come in particular from agriculture but also from industrial and trafficsources. They spread by the wind but are most often deposited close to the source, e.g a cowshed orpigsty, chimney or road.The critical load of N for a habitat is a measure of its sensitivity, expressed as the maximum level ofnitrogen deposition the ecosystem assimilate without significant damage or harm. If the maximumcritical load is permanently exceeded, endangered hardy species disappear and are replaced bymore common nutrient-requiring species, such as tall grasses, nettles, creeping thistle, cow parsleyand birch. Maximum critical load levels have been set for atmospheric deposition in differenthabitats (see below).To a certain extent, the negative changes in vegetation can be counteracted by means of naturemanagement or extensive cultivation but in the long run biodiversity is compromised if the quantityof nitrogen is not simultaneously reduced.As 35% of the total nitrogen deposition in Denmark stems from Danish sources and the remainingis the result of long distance transport from abroad, it is important that EU Member States make aconcerted effort to reduce nitrogen deposition so that European low-nutrient habitats can bepreserved.Changes in nitrogen depositionNitrogen deposition has generally fallen in recent decades but the critical limit in many areas withlow-nutrient habitats is still exceeded. In 2011 the average atmospheric background load was14kgN/ha, and total deposition was 60,098 tons of N in land zones. In 2011, the sources ofdeposition in land zones were distributed as 58% from farming and 42% from combustionprocesses [1].Recent research indicates that more than 10% of Danish plant species have declined solely due toatmospheric nitrogen deposition and more than half of these species are the endangered, Red-Listed or characteristic species for their habitats[2].
March 2014
13
Table 1-2Empirical critical loads for habitats and forests. For a number of habitats, the criticalload should be reduced in line with new recommendations [2].
Habitat
Criticalload
Deviations
CommonHeathFreshwatermeadowBog and fen
10-25 kg10-25 kg15-25 kg
acidic common 10-20, chalky common 15-25dry heath 10-20, humid heath 15-25
5-25 kg
raised bogs 5-10, sphagnum basins, peat valleys 10-15, low-nutrient fensand heath bogs 10-20, chalky bogs and springs, high-nutrient fens 15-25
DeciduousforestConiferousforest
10-20 kg
10-20 kg
Figure 1-4Calculatedexceedance of critical load in 2010 based on a criteria stipulating no decline inbiodiversity compared to the reference year 1992. The dots symbolise the intensive novana stationswithin the natura 2000 areas [2]
REFERENCES[1] Ellermann, T., Andersen, H.V., Bossi, R., Christensen, J., Løfstrøm, P., Monies, C., Grundahl,L. & Geels, C. 2012: Atmospheric deposition 2011 NOVANA. Aarhus University, DCE – NationalCentre for Environment and Energy 82 pages. –Scientific report no. 30 by DCE – National Centrefor Environment and Energy.http://www2.dmu.dk/pub/sr30.pdf[2]. Bak, J.L. 2013. Critical loads for Danish nature. Revised national mapping of the critical loadsfor Danish nature and exceedance Aarhus University, DCE –National Centre for Environment and14March 2014
Energy, 94 pages - Scientific report no. 69 by DCE - National Centre for Environment and Energyhttp://dce2.au.dk/pub/SR69.pdf[3]. NOVANA report:http://www2.dmu.dk/Pub/FR708.pdf
March 2014
15
1.2.3
Organic farmingThe area farmed organically has increased about 4.5 times in the last 18years.Organic farming benefits biodiversity.Organic farming reduces the nutrient load.
Transformation is progressing slowlyOrganic farming is required to desist from using artificial fertilizers, pesticides and geneticallymodified organisms (GMOs). Organic farmer fight weeds by crop rotation planning, mechanicalrganic farmersmeans and use natural fertilizers. The transformation from conventional to organic farming isshown to have several positive effects on the environment and on species of flora and fauna in andfaunaaround the agricultural areas. Among other factors, this is due to a lower pesticide load on nearby.loadsmall biotopes [1,4].Nutrient discharge from organic fields is most often less than from conventional fields. In theperiod 2008-2011, Aarhus University calculated that there is 17kgN/ha less leached from organicslessfields [2,3,5].Steps in the right directionOrganic farming in Denmark accounted for 6.9% of t agricultural land in 2012 [6]. However, thethe].share of organic farming is growing. Following strong growth in organic farming in the 1990s and aminor decline in the period 2002-2006, in 2012 the area dedicated to organic farming exceeded the2006,previous record level (which was achieved in 2002). The area dedicated to organic farming hasinincreased from 150,207 hectares in 2007 to 182,930 hectares in 2012.Despite financial crisis in recent years, turnover of organic food products remains relatively high. In2012, 7.5% of total food sales in Denmark was organic. The figures are unchanged relative to 2011sunchanged[7]. The figures cover home-grown and imported food but not farm gate sales, sales via subscriptiongrownfarm-gateand specialist stores. In 2007, the share of organic foods was just over 5%.
Organic farming20000015000010000050000020042006200820102012199419961998200020022004Figure 1-5Developmentin total organic production area 1995Development1995-2012. Source: statbank denmark search for "oeko1".Figure 1-6Organicrapeseed field. Organic fieldsOrganicprovide suitable habitats for a wider variety ofspecies in and around them, due to acircumspect use of pesticides. On the otherhand, yields are lower than from aconventionally farmed field. Image: Aske Thorn
References
[1] Aarhus University, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Department of Agroecology: How organicfarming helps protect nature, the climate and the environment. Note, 23 October 2008.[2] Assessment of Green Growth methods applied and status calculations pertaining to]implementation of the Nitrates Directive. DCA and DCE, Aarhus University 2013.16March 2014
[3] Waagepetersen, J. (2009) Reduced N-leaching in the transformation from conventional toorganic farming. In: Børgesen et al. (2009), s. 176-179.[4] Moreby, S.J., Aebischer, N.J., Southway, S.E. & Sotherton, N.W (1994). A comparison of theflora and arthropod fauna of organically grown winter wheat in southern England.Annals ofApplied Biology.No. 125 pp. 13-27.[5] Esbjerg, P. & Petersen, B.S. 2002.Effects of reduced pesticide use on flora and fauna in theagricultural fields.Research into pesticides by Environmental Protection Agency No. 58, 2002Available on the internet: URL <http://www2.mst.dk/udgiv/publications/2002/87-7972-111-7/pdf/87-7972-112-5.pdf>[6] Organic Farms statistics (2013). Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries in Denmark. TheDanish AgriFish Agency. Available on the internet: URL<http://1.naturerhverv.fvm.dk/oekologi_i_tal.aspx?ID=14646>[7] Statistics Denmark, Nyt (newsletter) no. 204 22 April 2013: Retail turnover of organic food in2012.
March 2014
17
1.31.3.1
The open natural habitatsGrasslands, heaths, bogs, meadows and saltmarchesThe area covered by open natural habitats has declined considerablysince the 19th century but is now stable and covers approx 10% ofDenmark's total area.
Many species associated with open natural habitats continue to decline innumber.
The open natural habitat types – grasslands, heaths, bogs, freshwater meadows, sand dunes andsalt marshes – are natural habitats of types, whose biodiversity, to a great extent, depends ongrazing, clearing or cutting. There are certain species, including orchids, butterflies and ground-nesting birds, which are specially adapted to the ecosystems of open natural habitats.During the past decade, the area covered by open natural habitats has remained stable but theirquality and biodiversity are declining [4].The quality of the open types of natural habitats is under pressure from a combination of factors,including lack of grazing animals/cutting, unnatural hydrology and airborne nitrogen pollutants,the effects of which are to reduce biodiversity and exacerbate overgrowth. Overgrowth of tall,nutrient-requiring species of plants in open natural habitats reduces biodiversity, not only amongplants with low nutrient reguierments plants (often low-growing plants), such as shrubs, orchidsand broad-leafed herbs, but also among the insects associated with dwarf flora.Fragmentation of natural landscape areas and invasive species also represent a threat to thebiodiversity of the open natural habitats.Based on what we currently know about climate change and its potential effects, open naturalhabitats are expected to face specific challenges if they are located in the coastal zone or aredependent on a flow of water containing little nutrient pollution.In the case of salt marshes, which lie between the sea and inland areas, experts are talkingabout“coastal squeeze". Coastal squeeze is understood as a situation in which the salt marshes areexpected to become permanently flooded or increasingly eroded due to rising sea level but areunable to shift further inland due to dykes and other fixed landward boundaries built to protectagricultural land, towns and roads against the rising sea level.In the case of meadows and moors, increased rainwater drainage as a result of more and moretorrential rains is expected to result in more nutrient discharges from adjacent agricultural land.This would lead to less biodiversity in the open natural landscape and to increased risk ofovergrowth.Open natural habitats in Denmark, which cover just under 10% of the total land area, are protectedunder the auspices of the Nature Conservation Act (Paragraph 3) . They are protected regardless ofwhether they are registered as protected or have been inadvertently omitted from the register.Article 3 of the act protects habitats from most changes in their condition, e.g. ploughing, drainage,more fertilizers and spraying, etc.In the case of freshwater meadows protected by paragraph 3 which have been subject toconversion, e.g. every 7-10 years, this practise should preferably continue.It seems that the total area of land protected by Article 3 is not shrinking. Yet the quality of theArticle 3 areas continues to deteriorate due to the effects described above.18March 2014
There are significantly more Article 3-protected natural habitats in municipalities in Central andNorthern Jutland than in the rest of the country. The largest areas of protected natural habitat arefound in a few municipalities, including Thisted, Ringkøbing-Skjern and Varde. This fact isexplained by their agricultural structure and geological conditions, i.e. extensive areas with sanddunes and salt marshes.In addition to natural habitats protected under Article 3, there are other types of open naturalhabitats and other natural environments, such as permanent pasture. Despite relatively intensivefarming, these pastures often encompass small, more natural spots which become the habitats ofbirds, mammals and insects. This means that, in combination with agricultural land, permanentpastures often make a positive contribution to the landscape's ecology. An area corresponding to 4%of Denmark's land area is permanent pasture. These pastures are partly financed by EU agriculturalgrant schemes, which include care requirements.Less than 2% of the land area is dunes, cared for by the Danish Nature Agency's administration(particularly clearing and burning). From the European perspective, the dune areas of Denmark areunique. There are extensive, unbroken chains of dunes, with successive stretches of white, grey andgreen dunes, dune heaths, scrub and dune slacks. Almost 80% of the total EU area of dunes heathsof the type registered as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) is found in Denmark[5].In the wake of decades of serious demise, there are currently no significant changes in permanentpastures and dunes. As for the natural quality of the dunes, there are signs of modest progress indune heaths, while the natural quality of low-nutrient dune slacks is deteriorating. Progress fordune heaths is probably due to more focused and efficient care including comprehensive treeclearing in the period 2004-2009[2].In the latest report to the EU on the conservation status of Denmark's natural environment, onlythree out of 34 terrestrial open natural habitats are assessed to have favourable conservation status.These four are habitats, of whose total area Denmark has only a very modest share [5, 6].More open natural habitats were created by new legislation in 2012, the Buffer Zones Act whichdetermines that a 10-metre buffer zone must be established around every watercourse and lake(area > 100 m2) located in land zone. The Act ensures that an area of 50,000 hectares becomesbuffer zone, in which it is not permitted to grow crops, spray pesticides or fertilize the soil. The Actpermits public access to the buffer zones in accordance with the Nature Conservation Actregulations.
March 2014
19
Figure 1-7Conservation status of 34 open types of natural habitat (occurring in Annex 1 of the EU HabitonservationHabitatsDirective) assessed in the period 2007-2013. Denmark is divided into an atlantic and a continental zone.-2013.Conservation status for the habitat type is assessed for each of these biogeographical zones. A habitat typeervationcounts for two observations if it is found in both zones. The sum of the figures of the four diagrams is thereforegreater than 34 [6].
Figure 1-8Distributionof total area of open natural habitats in Denmark 1996, 2006and 2013. [3]
20
March 2014
Figure 1-9A century's development in Danish open natural habitats 1910-2010 [4].References
[1] Ejrnæs, R. & R. M. Buttenschøn, 2012. Hvordan sikrer vi græslandets og hedens biodiversitetI (How do we conserve the biodiversity of grasslands and heaths? I): Det Grønne Kontaktudvalg(a forum for green, voluntary organisations) Nature in Denmark towards 2020. Stemming theorganisations):loss of biological diversity.[2]Ejrnæs, R. & B. Nygaard. Forests 2011 In Ejrnæs, R., WibergWiberg-Larsen, P., Holm., T.E.,Josefson, A., Strandberg, B., Nygaard, B., Andersen, L.W., Winding, A., Termansen, M., Hansen,M.D.D., Søndergaard, M., Hansen, A. S., Lundsteen, S. , BaatrupBaatrup-Pedersen, A., Kristensen, E.,,Krogh, P.H., Simonsen, V., Hasler, B. & Levin, G. Danmarks biodiversitet – status, udvikling ogtrusler (Denmark's biodiversity – status, development and threats). Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser(a former Danish research institute), Aarhus University. 1152 pages – DMU Scientific Report no.815.[3]HTTP://WWW.NATURSTYRELSEN.DK/NATURBESKYTELSEN.DK/NATURBESKYTTELSE/NATIONAL_NATURBESKYTTELSE/PARABESKYTTELSE/PARAGRAF3/AREALOPGOERELSE/[4]http://naturogmiljoe.dmu.dk/naturbiodiversitet/62/[5]http://bd.eionet.europa.eu/article17/habitatsreport/[6] Extract from national Article 17-reportingreporting.
March 2014
21
1.3.2
Small biotopesSmall biotopes are importasnt habitats for many speciesAlthoug the number of small biotopes occur to be stable e.g. hare andpartridge populations remain small s
Small biotopes are important habitatsIn botanical terms, small biotopes rarely constitute anything more than nutrientnutrient-requiring plants,such as grasses, nettles and creeping thistles. However, small biotopes are excellent habitats andhiding places for the animals that live on arable land, e.g. bees, hares, amphibians, reptiles andmammals. Small biotopes are also stepping stones which help species to spread from one naturalhabitat to the next.Box: What is a small biotope?A small area within an agricultural area, whic is neither part of crop rotation nor fallow, iswhichcalled a small biotope. Some of them are linear (e.g. stone walls, soil dykes, natural hedges,green hedgerows, ditches, small streams, field boundaries, cart tracks and verges) while othersare surfaces, (e.g. natural or artificial ponds, marl pits, barrows and small cops and thickets,e.g.including deer retreats covering less than 2 hectares). The Nature Conservation Act and theMuseums Act protect only stonewalls, dykes and ponds measuring more than 100 m2, a evenandthen only to a limited extent.
Decline is halted but key species on arable land are still not thrivingThere is very little available data regarding the biodiversity of the small biotopes, although there aresome signs that the decline in the total area of small biotopes is halted. The total area fell right uptaluntil the end of the 1980s. Some types of small biotopes are now advancing due to the planting ofgreen hedges and a growing interest in hunting, which may help to preserve and establish smallsmallbiotopes. When establishing new green hedges and deer retreats, the authorities recommend theuse of indigenous species of plant, which are known to attract multiple species of insects.These initiatives have, however, not proven effective in reversing the decline in populations of e.g.reversinghare and partridge, which are specifically associated with open habitat and which need extensivecultivated areas in which to live and forage (See Fig 1-10).Populations of common farmland birds have also experienced a fall during the last decades (Fig 11-11).
22
March 2014
Figure 1-10Huntingquarry of hare and partridge in the period 1941 2012. The total numberunting1941-2012.of days in the hunting season has been reduced in the period. The figures for 1941 2001 are1941-2001based on a five-year average, whereas those for the hunting season 2002/2003 are annuayearannualfigures. [1]
Figure 1-11Calculated index for the population of Danish birds on farmland, in forests and forall common species for the past ten years (2002 2011). The figures are based on bird counts(2002-2011).conducted since 1975 by a number of voluntary observers reporting to the Danish OrnithologicalthologicalSociety [2].References[1] DCE, Natural resources/7.6 Hunting quarry and quarry statistics 2011/2012.][2] Heldbjerg, H, Lerche-Jørgensen, M. & Jørgensen, m.f. (2013): Monitoring common species ofJørgensen,birds in Denmark 1975-2012. Annual report of the bird count project, Danish Ornithological2012.Society.
March 2014
23
1.41.4.1
ForestForest are growing and serving multiple purposesAbout 14.1% of Denmark's total area is forested. About three-quarters offorests are privately-owned.The area of protected forest has increased but the conservation status isunfavourable bad.The proportion of deciduous forest is greatest on clay soils to the east ofthe country, while conifers are dominant on sandy soils.
If it was not for human activity Denmark would be covered by forests. The demand for timber andfor cultivating the soil has over time resulted in the felling of much of our forests. About the year1800, the Danish forests covered 2-3% of the total land area. They have since grown, which becameapparent when the first forestry statistics were published in 1881.Forests have many particularly positive characteristics which means that there is often widespreadpublic support for afforestation projects. The forest helps provide timber, protects ground water,supports cultural, scenic and cultural historical values, provides habitats for many species of plantsand animals, offers venues for recreational activities (e.g. exercise and nature experiences) andstores CO2.While there is a national desire to expand the forested area by means of afforestation, it is achallengeto find space for new forests and woods in an intensively cultivated agricultural landscape.Areas in which new forests are desired or not desired are designated by the municipal authorities,whose decisions are based on an overall assessment of societal factors.Many endangered species live in woods and forests. Many of the Red-Listed Danish species of floraand fauna are associated with dead wood. Intensive forestry presents a threat to the conservationstatus of our forests and their biodiversity while extensive forestry and of course forest with nonintervention management often have multiple positive effects on biodiversity.Status of forested areasThe total forested area in Denmark covers about 608,078 hectares (2012), corresponding to about14.1% of the total area. The forested areas have increased from 493,000 hectares since 1990. Newforests cover 67,000 hectares. However, part of this discrepancy is explained by changes in themethod used to calculate forest area [1].About 75% of the Danish forests has trees of the same age which are planted or has been establishedby natural regeneration. When private forests are planted with state subsidies, the owners areobliged to comply with forest reserve regulations. All public forests are under such regulationswhich implies that the areas must remain forest areas [2]. Owners may fell trees if theysubsequently plant new trees and open natural habitats must bepreserved.About three-quarters of Danish forests are privately-run or owned by individuals or foundations. Inrecent years the local authorities have become involved in projects, in which the state, municipalityand e.g. waterworks join forces to establish forests close to urban areas or to protect groundwater.Such forests also fall under the forest reserves regulations.
24
March 2014
OWNERSHIP OF DANISH FOREST AREAS IS ILLUILLUSTRATED IN
Figure 1-12Danishforested areas – a survey based on satellite image mapping 2011 [2].
Most Danish forests grow in sandy soils where site quality is poor. In those areas of the countrywhere there is most sandy soil, there is a predominance of coniferous trees. The distribution offorest areas per region and type of tree is illustrated in Fig 1-15.
Ownership of Danish forestsPrivatePrivateFoundation orinstitution
Fond eller stiftelseStatsskovforestState-ownedOtherstatsligAndenStateOtheroffentligAndenpublicUnknownUkendt
Figure 1-13OwnershipOf Danish Forests [3Ownership[3]
March 2014
25
Distribution of total forest area90,0%80,0%70,0%60,0%50,0%40,0%30,0%20,0%10,0%0,0%
LøvskovforestDeciduousNåleskovforestConiferousBlandetMixedJuletræertreesChristmasSkov på sandjordeForest on sandy soil
Capital RegionFigure 1-14DistributionOf Forest Areas Per Region And Type Of Tree [3]
References
[1] STATISTICS DENMARK (SKOV11)[2]Http://Sl.Life.Ku.Dk/Erhverv_Og_Myndigheder/Myndighedsbetjening/~/Media/Sl/Erhverv_Myndigheder_Collaboration/Myndighedsbetjening/Evaluering%20biodiv1992%202012net.Ashx[3]http://ign.ku.dk/nyheder/skove-plantager-2012/sp-2012.pdf/
26
March 2014
1.4.2
Biodiversity in the forestForests hold the largest number of Danish species and also the largest number ofendangered species.Biodiversity, particularly in old-growth deciduous forests with no or extensivecommercial activities, is good for biodiversity due to occurrence of many treespecies, natural hydrology, old trees and deadwood which is beneficial especiallyfor insects and fungi.
The most serious threat to the biodiversity of the forests is the loss of habitats dueto drainage, planting and felling, lack of dead wood and the lack of variation inhabitats within the forests, such as forest meadows, forest bogs, etc.
Forests are habitat for most Red-Listed speciesCompared to our neighbours, a relatively small share of Denmark's total land area is forested. TheEU average is 3-4 times more forest area per capita than in Denmark.The size of forests and the extent to which they are commercially exploited is significant forbiodiversity.Some of the Danish forests are rich in biodiversity while many forest are intensivelymanaged and hold much less biodiversity.In general doeslarge continuations of forested land withextensive and varied exploitation offer a far greater number of different habitats than intensiveforestry.In particular old-growth deciduous forest with undulating terrain, varied hydrology and highvolumes of deadwood have higher biodiversity than coniferous forests and intensively manageddeciduous forests. This is due to several factors, including that coniferous forests consist oftreespecies introduced from abroad which do not have the same natural biodiversity associated asDanish deciduous forests.The forests in Denmark provide many different habitats that are beneficial to specialised species ofplants and animals and they are home to a greater proportion of Red-Listed species than any othertype of natural habitat (54.1%).More than 100 species on the Danish Red List are associated directly with deadwood in the forests,especially insects and fungi.The forest is also the ecosystem that contains most species, in particular a wide diversity ofinvertebrate animals and fungi that is much greater than in other Danish ecosystems [1].According to the Habitats Directive, Denmark has ten forest habitats, for which Special Areas ofConservation (SACs) must be designated.Still low biodiversity in Danish forests but increasing volumes of deadwood in someforestsTwo hundred years ago the Danish forest area had shrunk to its smallest and covered less than 3%of the country's total area. The 1805 a Forest Reserve Scheme ( “Fredskovsforordningen”) set offan increase in forest area. Much of the forests are, however, relatively homogeneous in terms of thetrees, herbs, fungi, mosses and birds they support because they are exploited intensively, i.e. theundergrowth is cleared, untouched areas with fallen logs, deadwood and high groundwater level arenot prioritised, and the trees grown are mostly conifers.However, the proportion of deciduous forest is increasing. Deciduous forests account for about 25%of today's total forest area, while coniferous and mixed forests each account for about 36%.Species of trees that are not indigenous to Denmark are predominant in coniferous forests, e.g. instate-owned cornifer plantations in Jutland, while deciduous forest areas contain indigenousMarch 201427
treespecies , such as beech, oak and ash. The increase in the area of deciduous forests has beenspeciestheachieved thanks to targeted afforestation initiatives. In the long term, these are expected to havepositive outcomes for Red-Listed species.Listed
Figure 1-15Thetotal area of forest has increased during the last 40 years, mainly due to aThegrowth in the area with deciduous forest [3] and [4[4].
Figure 1-16Speciesof trees in natural forests in Denmark [4].Species
Populations of butterflies associated with woody glades, coppices, peripheries and woody meadowscontinue to decline. Species such as clouded apollo, duke of Burgundy, large tortoiseshell, blackloudedlackhairstreak and ilex hairstreak are extinct and seven of the remaining endangered species of forestairstreakbutterflies continue to decline. There is a similar decline in populations of other forest insects [1].Populations of forest birds are generally stable or with slight positive developments (see Fig 1-11,11,Chapter 1.3). The populations of the common goldeneye and the sea eagle are growing and benefitommonfrom targeted management, whereas other species, such as the golden oriole and the Eurasianriolewryneck are in decline, a European trend which cannot definitively be attributed to human impryneckimpact[5].28March 2014
The most recent report on Danish nature to the European Union concluded that the conservationstatus of all of Denmark's ten internationally protected forest habitats is unfavourable bad. These.ten forest habitats, which are mainly deciduous forest types and includes managed forest, coverreabout 15% the of total forest area. 21 % of the total area of the Habitat Directive forest types inDenmark are designated as Natura 2000 sites. The reason for the unfavourable bad conservationvationstatus is primarily a lack of large, old trees and deadwood on the forest floor.
Figure 1-17Conservationstatus of 10 types of forest habitats (occurring in Annex 1 of the EUConservationsHabitats Directive) assessed in the period 2007 2013. All forest habitats are assessed to have2007-2013.unfavourable bad conservation status. Data from national Article 17 reporting. Denmark is dividedinto an atlantic and a continental zone. Conservation status for the habitat type is assessed fornentaleach of these biogeographical zones. A habitat type counts for two observations if it is found inboth zones. The sum of the figures of th diagram is therefore greater than 10.the
All state forests are FSC or PEFC-certified and about 15% of the private forest areas are PEFC-certifiedcertified and much less are FSC-certified. These certificates mean that the timber produced comescertified.from sustainably managed forests. Forest management requirements include encouraging naturalforest management, protecting areas of particular natural value, preserving old trees and deadwoodin the forest, protecting historical artefacts and reducing environmental impacts, e.g. caused byrest,using fertilizers and pesticides.References
[1] Ejrnæs, R. & B. Nygaard. Forests. In Ejrnæs, R., Wiberg Larsen, P., Holm., T.E., Josefson, A.,Wiberg-Larsen,Strandberg, B., Nygaard, B., Andersen, L.W., Winding, A., Termansen, M., Hansen, M.D.D.,ard,Søndergaard, M., Hansen, A. S., Lundsteen, S. , Baatrup Pedersen, A., Kristensen, E., Krogh,Baatrup-Pedersen,P.H., Simonsen, V., Hasler, B. & Levin, G. 2011 Danmarks biodiversitet – status, udvikling ogtrusler (Denmark's biodiversity – status, development and threats). Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser(a former Danish research institute), Aarhus University. 152 pages – DMU Scientific Report no.815.[2]HTTP://IGN.KU.DK/NYHEDER/SKOVEEDER/SKOVE-PLANTAGER-2012/SP-2012.PDF/ SIDE 93[3] Statistics Denmark (SKOV11)[4]HTTP://WWW2.SNS.DK/UDGIVELSER/2003/SKOVODGIVELSER/2003/SKOVOGNATURITAL/SKOVOGNATURITAL2003.PDFURITAL2003.PDF[5] Buchwald, E., 2013. Klar fremgang for de rødlistede skovfugle (Increase in the populations of]Redlisted forest birds) – Skoven 11: 498498-503.
March 2014
29
1.51.5.1
Watercourses and lakesLakesMany Danish lakes are affected by the deposition of nutrientsubstances.The Conservation status is unfavourable for five of the HabitatsDirectives' lake habitats and for 13 of the 17 natural habitats associatedwith Danish lakes.
National surveillance in 2011 indicated that there was a generalimprovement in our lakes in the shape of a 50% reduction inphytoplankton, 9% better water clarity and 17% more aquatic plantscompared to the period 1980-1995, when the same parameters were last1995,measured.
One of Denmark's national goals is to have pure, clear lakes. However, most Danish lakes remainpolluted, due, among other things, to deposition of nutrient substances. Surplus nutrients causeolluted,cloudy water and algae growth, which prevents underunderwater vegetation and causes low oxygencontent on the lake bed.There is special focus on phosphorus as a limittrd quantity of phosphorus generally reduces algaegrowth in the lakes, i.e. algae growth is determined by the available quantity of phosphorus whilethere is an excess of nitrogen. Thus, when large quantities of phosphor are deposited,phytoplankton growth is increased, thus shifting the environmental condition of the lake in anunfavourable direction.Phosphorus in the aquatic environment comes primarily from agricultural and natural areas, fromwaste water (in urban and rural settlements alike) and, to a lesser extent, from industry and fishfarms [1].Algae, water clarity and aquatic plantsThe condition of Danish lakes has improved during the last 20 years. Developments in 15 lakesditionacross the country were monitored intensively from 1989 2011. The volume of algae (measured as1989-2011.chlorophyll concentration) had fallen by 50% from 59.4 microgrammes/litre in the period 1989microgrammes/litre1989-1995 to 29.9 microgrammes/litre in 2011. Among other reasons, the fall is due to successfulreduction in nutrient deposition in the most nutrientnutrient-rich of these lakes.
Figure 1-18Chlorophyllconcentration in lakes in the period 1989Chlorophyll1989-2011. The figures areexpressed in microgrammes/litre and based on the average of 15 lakes monitored intensively. [1]30March 2014
As the chlorophyll concentration fell, the water in the lakes became clearer and wa claritywaterincreased from 1.95 metres on average in the period 1989 1995 to 2.15 metres in 2011. Water clarity1989-1995in Danish lakes varies generally from 10-15 cm in polluted lakes to more than 8 m in pure, clean-15lakes.Improved water clarity means that sunlight can penetrate further into the water, creating betterightgrowing conditions for the aquatic plants on the lake bed. Biodiversity, measured as the number ofspecies of aquatic plants in 13 tested lakes, has increased in the period 2004 2011 from 9.7 speci2004-2011speciesto 11.4. Aquatic plants also cover a greater area of the water surface and fill more of the lakes' totalvolume. The average maximum depth at which aquatic plants grow increased from 3.3 m to 3.7 m.
Figure 1-19Underwater vegetation in plant covered area and volume based on tests in 13 lakesplant-coveredmonitored in the periods 2004-2006 and 200720062007-2011. Source: DCE.
According to the most recent report to the EU, despite improvements, all five internationallyprotected types of lake are categorised as having unfavourable conservation status.
Figure 1-20Conservationstatus of 8 protected types of lake and watercourse habitats(occurringhabitats(occurringin Annex 1 of the EU Habitats Directive) assessed in the period 2007-2013. All of thesefreshwater habitats are found in both the atlantic and continental biogeographical zones. Ahabitat type counts for two observations if it is found in both zones. The sum of the figures of thezones.four diagrams is therefore greater than 8. With the exception of the rare mud banks along riversand streams, the conservation status of which is unknown, all the prevalent lake and watercoursehabitats have unfavourable conservation status. Source: data from article 17 reporting.
References[1] DCE, 2012. Lakes 2011. NOVANA. Aarhus University, DCE –National Centre for EnvironmentNationaland Energy, 100 pages. - Scientific report no. 33 by DCE - National Centre for Environment andEnergyhttp://www.dmu.dk/Pub/SR33.pdfMarch 201431
1.5.2
WatercoursesConcentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen in watercoursesfell 50-60% in the period 1989-2011Species of pondweed, some freshwater insects and somespecies of fish are endangered or extinct.Some species of invertebrate animals, birds, trout and otter arethriving.The share of watercourses with a good to excellent animalconservation status has increased by 37% in the period 1994-2011.
Denmark's many watercourses are affected by straightening and, in many cases, also by heavy-handed maintenance and deposition of nutrients and sediment. Many stretches of the watercourseshave an unnatural, unvaried course. In other watercourses, fish migration is prevented byobstructions. A few watercourses run in pipes for parts of their course.Nitrogen and phosphorous in watercoursesThe conservation status of the watercourses indicates that positive progress was made in the period1989-2012 as concentrations of nutrient substances (nitrogen and phosphorus) have fallen.Nitrogen concentration has fallen generally in the watercourses most affected by nitrogen fromarable land or from specific sources, such as purified waste water from towns and industry [1],whereas the volume of nitrogen in natural watercourses is more or less unchanged in the period1989-2003 (data available only until 2003). There was generally only a minor reduction in thenitrogen content in watercourses affected by fish farming.Fish farmingDambrugCultivationNatureDyrketNaturDiagramtitel
Specific sourcesPunktkilder
1210Total nitrogen (mg/l)86420
Figure 1-21Development innitrogenconcentrations inwatercourses since1989. The figureshows the average ofwater flow-weightedannual mean valuesfor watercourses withdifferent impactsclassified inaccordance withconditions prevailingin 1991. Source:DCE.
89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 09 11Year
Phosphorus makes very little difference to the environmental quality of watercourses. However,watercourses transport phosphorus to lakes and fjords. Measuring phosphorus concentrations inwatercourses is therefore important in assessing the quantity and character of such depositions.Since 1989 phosphorus depositions from isolated sources have fallen significantly due to improvedwaste water purification. Emissions from fish farms are lower – primarily due to the closure ofmany fish farms, but also due to more stringent fish feed requirements. There is no significantchange registered for natural watercourses.There has been a modest fall in phosphorus concentrations in watercourses that run throughcultivated areas.
32
March 2014
Fish farmingDambrug
CultivationDyrket
NatureNatur
Specific sourcesPunktkilder
0,70,6Total phosphorus (mg/l)0,50,40,30,20,10899193959799 01Year0305070911Figure1-22Developmentinphosphorusconcentrations inwatercourses since1989. The figureshows the averageof water flow-weighted annualmean values forwatercourses withdifferent impactsclassified inaccordance withconditions in 1991.Source: DCE.
Pesticides and pollutants in water coursesPesticides used in agricultural production represent 90% of Denmark's total consumption ofpesticides [2]. Consumption of herbicides in particular is increasing. In 2011, herbicidesrepresented 83% of total pesticide consumption in agriculture. Some of the pesticides used end upin our watercourses and may have adverse effects on the organisms in them. Possible consequencesfor the watercourse ecologies include deterioration of biodiversity and reduced capacity tometabolise organic material.A number of pesticides and pollutants are included in watercourse monitoring, although not in theperiod 2007-2009. Pollutants were screened in a large number of watercourses in 2008-2009 [2].Screening research conducted in 2008 investigated the presence of a number of pesticides, two ofwhich, Chloropyrifos and Chlorfenvinphos, are on the Water Framework Directive's list of priorityhazardous substances. The use of these substances is, however, no longer permitted in Denmarkand none of these two pesticides exceeded the water quality requirements. (There are no qualityrequirements for the remaining substances.) In general, little is known about pesticide levels inDanish watercourses.Faunaclasses - water coursesThe biological status of a watercourse is described in terms of the small animals living in it. TheDSFI (Danish Stream Fauna Index) measurements show that conditions in about 250 streams haveimproved significantly since 1994. The table (below) shows that the share of watercourses in poor orvery poor condition (fauna classes 1-3) is reduced from 22-26% in the period 1994-1998 to 7-11% inthe period 2008-2011. Similarly, the share of watercourses in a moderate condition (fauna class 4)has fallen from 45-58% to 33-38%. The percentage of watercourses in good to excellent condition(fauna class 5-7) has also increased in the period from 19% in 1994 to 56% in 2011.
March 2014
33
Figure 1-23Developmentin fauna class (Danish stream fauna index) at 91-247 stationsDevelopmentexamined using a standardised method in the period 19941994-2011. Source: DCE.
Small watercourses are under-represented among the approximately 250 stations, which meansrepresentedthat the current shares of the different fauna classes cacannot directly be ascertained for Danishwatercourses overall. However, positive development leading to better ecological conditions inDanish watercourses is a clear trend. To a great extent, improvements are the result of optimisedwaste water purification, which has led to observed, decreasing concentrations of nutrient salts.n,However, physical conditions in the watercourses are also hugely important. The fact that manywatercourses still fail to achieve good ecological status can be attributed to poor physical conditions.hysicalReferences[1] DCE, 2012. Watercourses 2011. NOVANA. Aarhus University, DCE –National Centre forEnvironment and Energy, 70 pages. - Scientific report no. 32 by DCE - National Centre forEnvironment and Energyhttp://www.dmu.dk/Pub/SR32.pdf
34
March 2014
1.5.3
Biodiversity in lakes and water courses
Natural watercourses and lakes sustain rich and varied plant and animal life. In the 19th century,new drainage techniques, damming to create more land area and watercourse straightening meantthat Danish water and wetlands were drained at a great rate. Urban development brought aboutdecades of increased water consumption, which, for example on Zealand, entailed significantchanges to watercourse systems, and water and wetlands. Since then, large lakes with a rich varietyof species and watercourse systems have generally declined and the aquatic environment hasdeteriorated.Intensive farming and waste water emissions from urban areas have also led to an increase innutrient deposition into lakes and watercourses.To rehabilitate lakes and watercourses, attempts are made to recreate the natural, dynamicecosystems which provide good living conditions for species of plants and animals, and thus toreinstate biodiversity. Along the banks of lakes and watercourses, new wetlands (meadows, bogsand reed beds) are created.Rehabilitation also improves the landscape and recreational values of the area. However, the lakesand wetlands continue to be impacted by nutrient substances from agricultural land and, to a lesserextent, by purified waste water emitted from urban areas and industry. Nutrient substancescontinue to impair conditions in the lakes and, ultimately, also coastal waters and the open sea.Consistent watercourse maintenance in accordance with the current watercourse regulations meansthat vegetation is cleared from many watercourses to prevent flooding of adjacent cultivatedfarmland. Vegetation cutting does, however, produce a lower biodiversity of aquatic plants.Certain species of fish which are covered by the requirements of the Habitats Directive, such as thehouting and the eel, and other species, such as the thick shelled river mussel, continue to decline.Barriers in watercourses, the isolation of populations, overfishing and a lack of breedingopportunities still constitute serious threats to these species. In efforts to save the houting fromextinction, barriers have been removed and physical conditions improved in a number of SouthWest Jutland's watercourses, including Varde Å.Furthermore, significant attempts have been made to reduce deposition of nutrients, heavy metals,etc. into watercourses and lakes, thus pushing the natural content of these habitats in a favourabledirection. Also, changes in watercourse maintenance and amendments to regulations are decisivefor the quality of nature in the watercourses.The number of self-reproductive populations of trout is increasing. Several species of stoneflies,caddisflies and mayflies have been observed, for example, in watercourses on Funen, where waterquality has improved significantly [1].Distribution of otters, whose habitat is closely associated with watercourses and lakes, hasincreased (1990-2010), especially due to the establishment of passages under roads, a ban on trapfishing, the introduction of trap flaps, and improved habitats [1]. In addition to otters, provision ofpassages for watercourses and streams under new road systems is beneficial to all the plant life inand along the watercourses.It is believed that current and future climate changes may lead to increased rainwater drainage,possibly further deposition of nutrient substances from the surrounding area and also morehydrologic dynamism. Climate change could have a negative impact on plant and animal life inwatercourses and lakes. Furthermore, species whose southernmost distribution is Denmark mayMarch 201435
disappear. This would apply, for example, to a number of specialised watercourse insects andspecies of fish, adapted to life in low-temperature waters.
References[1] Wiberg-Larsen, P., Baatrup-Pedersen, A. & E. A. Kristensen, 2011. Watercourses. I Ejrnæs,R., Wiberg-Larsen, P., Holm., T.E., Josefson, A., Strandberg, B., Nygaard, B., Andersen, L.W.,Winding, A., Termansen, M., Hansen, M.D.D., Søndergaard, M., Hansen, A. S., Lundsteen, S. ,Baatrup-Pedersen, A., Kristensen, E., Krogh, P.H., Simonsen, V., Hasler, B. & Levin, G. 2011.Danmarks biodiversitet – status, udvikling og trusler (Denmark's biodiversity – status,development and threats). Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser (a former Danish research institute),Aarhus University. 152 pages – DMU Scientific Report no. 815.[2] MST, 2012. Pesticide statistics 2011. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency[3] DMU, 2009. Screening for selected pesticides in watercourses and groundwater. NOVANAscreening. Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser (a former Danish research institute), Aarhus University.22 pages – DMU Work Report No. 252. http://www.dmu.dk/AR252.pdf.
36
March 2014
1.61.6.1
The SeaConservation status of the seaNutrient deposition from Denmark has halved since 1990.Nitrogen concentrations have fallen by 45% in fjords and coastal watersand by 25% in inner, open bodies of water in the period 19901990-2011.Chlorophyll is the benchmark measurement for the impact of nutrientsand fell slightly until 2011 in fjords and coastal water In open bodies ofwaters.water, chlorophyll concentrations have not changed since 1990.
The sea is an important resource for Denmark and a critical part of the country's environment andnature. Many socially important activities impact the marine environment. Nutrient substancesfrom intensive food production and waste water from households and industry end up in the seaandtogether with atmospheric emissions from neighbouring countries. Fisheries, transport, energy andraw materials are important industries and each impacts different parts of the marine ecosystem.Nutrients and chlorophyllDenmark's discharge of nutrients into the sea has fallen significantly since 1990 because wastewater purification has improved (since 1988) and deposition of nitrogen from cultivated fields islower. Discharge of nitrogen and phosphorus into the inner marine waters (i.e. the sea areas southmarineand east of Skagen which are most exposed to eutrophication) have fallen from about 80,000 to40,000 tons of nitrogen and from 5,000 to 2,000 tons of phosphorus (FIGURE 1-24). Annualfluctuations are great due to variable rainfall and outflow from land.
FIGURE 1-24Dischargeof nitrogen and phosphorus from Denmark to the inner marine waters.DischargeSource: DCE [2].
Concentrations of nitrogen in fjords/coastal waters and open, inner marine waters have fallen in theperiod 1990-2011, most distinctly in fjords and coastal wa2011,waters (Figure 1-25). This is explained by acombination of falling depositions originating in Denmark in falling atmospheric depositions (hasfallen by about 30% since 1989) and discharges from the Baltic Sea. The fall in Danish depositionsis most strongly apparent in the fjords and coastal waters, while the reduction in atmosphericdeposition and falling nitrogen concentrations in the Baltic Sea are presumably the main reasonsfor the reduction observed in the open waters.ePhosphorus concentrations have fallen in fjords/coastal waters, although the level has stagnatedsince 1998 (Figure 1-26). The fall in concentrations in fjords and coastal waters from 1988-1998 is1998March 201437
the result of Danish efforts, especially improved waste water purification. In open bodies of waterthere is a trend towards increasing concentrations, which are due to increasing phosphorusconcentrations in the Baltic Sea. Concentrations are increasing here due to longlong-term oxygendepletion and release of phosphorus from constantly increasing areas of the seabed which have dede-oxygenated sediment.Phytoplankton concentrations (measured as chlorophyll) show a slight fall in fjords and coastalwaters, while concentrations remain unchanged in open water bodies during the period 1989 20111989-2011(Figure 1-27). A weak connection between phytoplankton and nutrients in open waters indicatesweenthat other conditions, particularly grazing animal plankton, are increasingly important for thequantity of algae, when nutrient density is falling [1n[1].Nitrogen in the sea
Figure 1-25Concentrationof nitrogen in Danish seas (annual average in surface layer) source:ConcentrationDCE [2]
Phosphorus In The Sea
Figure 1-26Concentrationof phosphorus in Danish seas (annual average in surface layer) source:ConcentrationDCE [2]
38
March 2014
Chlorophyll in Danish seas
Figure 1-27Concentrationof chlorophyll in Danish seas (annual average in surface layer). Source: DCE [2Concentration[2]References[1] Duarte et al (2000) Effect of nutrient supply on the biomass structure of planktonic communities: an experimental]test on a Mediterranean coastal community. MEPS 206: 8787–95,[2] Hansen, jJ.W. (red.) 2012: Marine areas 2011. Novana. Aarhus University, DCE – National Centre for Environment]and Energy, 154 pages. - Scientific report no. 34, DCE – National Centre for Environment and Energyhttp://www.dmu.dk/pub/sr34.pdf
ContaminantsKeeping ahead of emerging contaminantsWhile more conventional contaminants are subject to regulation and as the concentrations are reduced to more or less"safe" levels, new substances with increasingly complex effects are being invented, e.g. endocrine disruptors. Todaycontaminants are assessed individually, i.e. the hazards and risks are assessed for each substance individually andsedenvironmental quality standards are set for each individual highhigh-priority substance. Meanwhile, the environment isimpacted simultaneously by more and different substances from a multitude of sources. There is no consensus as tosubstanceswhether the effects of such combinations, the so called "cocktail effects", should be assessed or regulatedso-calledregulated.Concentrations in animals are falling but standards are not met for all contaminantscontaminantsConcentrations of mercury in fish have been falling in Øresund, where discharges from Copenhagen in the past were highdue to inadequately purified waste water (Figure 1-28). Concentrations of mercury have fallen only slightly because highconcentrations remain in sediment, which are only gradually released into the water and absorbed by fish. Bycomparison, concentrations of mercury in fish in the Great Belt have remained stable since 1980. In Øresund and in theGreat Belt, concentrations of mercury are significantly in excess of the environmental quality standard 20 �g Hg/kg offish meat. However, neither here nor in other Danish waters is the threshold limit for human consumption (500 �gHg/kg) exceeded.
March 2014
39
Figure 1-28Temporalvariation in mercury found in European flounder caught in the Great BeltTemporal(Storebælt) and Øresund. The fall in values in Øresund is expressed as an exponential function.expressedThe horizontal lines show the environmental quality standard level (20 �g hg/kg of fish meat).
Concentrations of TST (a biocide) in mussels have fallen dramatically since 2000 as a result of a ban on its use in smallboats and commercial fishing vessels. The average value for Danish coastal waters and open sea areas is approaching therecommended threshold value of 12 �g/kg (Figure 1-29). Concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) inthe Blue Mussel have fallen to about one third since 2000. Based on a tendency line, the reduction seems to becontinuing. Concentrations of methyl napthalenes (sub(sub-group of aromatic hydrocarbons, PAH) are far below theocarbons,environmental quality standard, which is 2,400 �g/kg.
40
March 2014
Figure 1-29Temporalvariation in organic contaminants in the blue mussel (blåmusling) inTemporalDanish waters. The values are an average of the data from 7 16 stations distributed in inner7-16Danish waters and 2 stations in the Wadden Sea. Only stations with more than seven annualvalues in the period 1999-2012 are included in the average. Tbt and methyl napthalenes are2012shown as concentrations, whereas total pah is shown as relative values (1996 = 1).s
With regard to the combined effects of chemical substances, Denmark is working hard in favour of building a databank inthis field and that combined effects are, where possible, taken into account when individually assessing the risk ofchemical substances.
Oxygen depletionGood oxygen conditions are decisive for varied life at the bottomDenmark has made great efforts to reduce the input of organic material, chemical and nutrientsubstances into the sea. While improvements have clearly been made in some respects, certain seaareas and fjords remain dogged by oxygen depletion. Some oxygen depletion is caused by emissionemissionsfrom neighbouring countries.More than 1000 km3of water flows from the brackish Baltic Sea (surface currents to the North) andsalty Skagerrak (bottom currents to the South) into the inner marine waters, Kattegat and the BeltMarch 201441
Sea. This forms separate strata of heavy, salty water at the bottom and lighter, brackish waterabove. Where the inner waters are deepest, the strata are almost permanent in the period from earlyspring until late autumn, although storms do mix the water column. Stable stratification preventsatmospheric oxygen from reaching the bottom, which means that the inner marine waters areespecially vulnerable to oxygen depletion.Natural oxygen depletionStratification also occurs in fjords, especially in hot summers with little wind. In addition tostratification, high oxygen consumption in sediment due to the high temperature of the bottomwater and large quantities of organic material in the sediment increases the risk of oxygendepletion. In certain sea areas (southern Little Belt) and fjords (Flensburg Fjord and MariagerFjord), oxygen depletion will more or less always be present due to natural conditions, e.g. greatdepth with stagnating bottom water.Failed to meet goals for good oxygen conditionsIn the period 2004-2012, about 70% of the inner waters were affected by oxygen depletion (< 4 mgO2/l) and about 10% by severe oxygen depletion (< 2 mg O2/l) on at least one occasion (Figure1-30). Severe oxygen depletion is particularly prevalent in deep waters and fjords sheltered fromthe wind which also have a strong inflow of freshwater and nutrients (e.g. Skive Fjord).The scope and severity of oxygen depletion varies from year to year, depending primarily onclimatic conditions. The long-term trend indicates that oxygen conditions in the open marinewaters fluctuate in a 13-14-year cycle. In some years the oxygen concentration falls in the saltybottom water as it flows through Kattegat to the Belt Sea because the oxygen is consumed by thesediment. The oxygen concentration is therefore lower in the Great Belt than in Kattegat. Since1989 the concentration of oxygen has fallen to less than 2 mg/l in three out of 21 years in Kattegatand seven times in the Great Belt. This means that goals stipulating that concentrations of less than2 mg O2/l must never occur, are far from being achieved.Figure 1-30Overview of theextent of oxygendepletion (< 4mgo2/l, blue areas)and severe oxygendepletion (< 2 mgo2/l, red areas) ininner marine watersin the period 2004-2012. [2]
References
[1] Danish Ministry of the Environment, 2012. Denmark's Marine Strategy. Environmental GoalsReport.42March 2014
[2] DCE (National Centre for Environment and Energy)[3] IMO - International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-fouling Systems on Ships(enforced October 2001, ban effective from September 2008)
March 2014
43
1.6.2
Important fish stocksMost of the commercially important fish stocks in Danishwaters are exploited sustainably.Stocks of cod in the North Sea and Skagerrak have not yetreached a safe, sustainable level but have increased since2006.
Cod stocks are critically low in Kattegat.Stocks of herring are exploited sustainably in the NorthSea. Stocks have been falling in the western part of theBaltic Sea for some years but continue to be exploited atlevels close to the sustainable level.
Plaice stocks are exploited sustainably in the North Seaand have progressed in Kattegat since 2009.
Sustainable fisheryAcross the globe overfishing threatens to wipe out fish stocks. In Denmark many species are fishedat a sustainable level. However, there are still some species which are not within safe recruitmentmargins. The challenge facing us in the future is to ensure that fishery remains a profitablebusiness in the long term and, at the same time, that sustainable fish stocks are enlarged andmaintained.Some stocks are not fished sustainablyThere are almost 200 species of marine fish in Denmark. As yet we have insufficient data toestablish scientifically founded quotas for all the species that are commercially exploited. Thescientific basis is is, however, growing and it will gradually become possible to set quotas for moreand more species.Fish mortalityof several species in the North Sea has been reduced. For seven outof a total of nine species for which we have sufficient data, it is assessed that stocks are exploitedsustainably in the North Sea and Skagerrak. Three out of six species are exploited sustainably inKattegat and two out of three species in the western part of the Baltic Sea.
Table 1-1Conservationstatus of important species of fish in Danish waters. Assessments arebased on the volume of spawning biomass. (√)indicates that the spawning biomass exceeds thethreshold required for good conservation status and (¶) indicates that biomass is under therequired threshold. Grey indicates that we have insufficient data to assess conservation status orthat there are no stock present in the waters. [1].Common Sole√¶√Norway Pout
Mackerel√
Haddock
Herring
Sandeel
Saithe
North Sea andSkagerrakKattegatWestern part of theBaltic
¶¶√
√√
¶¶
√√
√√¶
√
√
CodHistorically speaking, cod, herring and plaice have been some of the commercially most importantspecies for Danish fisheries. Despite growing stocks of cod in the North Sea and Skagerrak, theyhave yet to reach a safe sustainable level. Stocks of cod in Kattegat are critically low. In the NorthSea cod stocks have improved gradually. Spawning biomass was at an all-time low in 2006 but hasincreased in recent years to around the minimum threshold. In the west part of the Baltic Sea,
44
March 2014
Plaice
Sprat
Cod
stocks have exceeded the sustainability threshold but fish mortality is still too high to be describedas sustainable exploitation.HerringHerring stocks in the North Sea have favourable conservation status. Stocks of spring-spawningherring, which, with cod and sprat, are the most widespread species of fish in the western part ofthe Baltic Sea, have shrunk in recent years. In 2012 they were just at the threshold required forsustainable exploitation. Herring has been subjected to intensive commercial fisheries. Herring is avery valuable source of food for other commercially important fish stocks, sea birds and marinemammals.PlaicePlaice fishing in Kattegat, the Sound and the Belts has fallen to a low level and the spawningbiomass has been increasing since 2009. Current fishing intensity is probably at a level whichensures sustainable exploitation. In the North Sea, fish mortality due to fishing has fallen to asustainable level and the spawning biomass is far above the critical thresholds and continues to rise.
March 2014
45
Plaice in the North Sea
Figure 1-31Catch development for cod in KKattegat (top), herring in the western part of the Baltic Sea (middle)aand plaice in the North Sea (bottom). --- = threshold value for sussustainable exploitation of stocks [1].
46
March 2014
Figure 1-32Spawningbiomass for cod in Kattegat (top), herrattegatherring in the western part of the Baltic Sea (middle)cand plaice in the North Sea (bottom). --- = threshold value for sustainabl exploitation of stocks [1].sustainableReferences
[2] ICES Advice 2013 and 2014 (www.ices.dk/advice/icesadvice.aspwww.ices.dk/advice/icesadvice.asp)
March 2014
47
1.6.3
Marine habitatsMarine habitats are threatened by nutrient discharge, bottomtrawling and acidificationOffshore wind farms have increased the diversity of habitats.The restoration of rocky reefs off the island of Læsø haveincreased the biodiversity of species, including fish and speciesof large algae (seaweed).
The inner marine waters have been mapped to ascertain the locations of specific marine habitats.The mapping includes sandbanks which are permanently flooded with sea water at low tide, reefformations and bubbling reefs [1].Marine habitats can be protected, for example, as designated Natura 2000 protection areas whichcover 17,7% of total Danish waters (9,573 km�). The sandbanks may be barrier reefs or shallowareas with eelgrass beds or seaweed forests. Reef formations primarily include rocky reefs orbubbling reefs, which are limestone formations created in microbiological processes in areas wheregas seeps from the seabed.Impoverished marine oasesMarine habitats are threatened by the discharge of nutrient substances from land to sea because thepresence of nutrients increases plankton production and leads to poor water clarity. Fishery usingbottom trawlers is also a threat. Reefs were threatened by rock fishing in the past, which is nowforbidden.Reefs are very valuable marine oases, which are home to a diversity of species. Such reefs are localareas made up of different sized rocks. They were created as the ice withdrew at the end of the lastIce Age. Reefs are attractive locations for fishing as there are often large shoals of different speciesof fish on and around rocky reefs. Unfortunately, fishing tackle often has a destructive effect on thereefs.Reefs are protected in accordance with the Habitats Directive and are also listed as sites in theNatura 2000 designation platform. The goal for all reefs and their immediate surroundings inNatura 2000 designated areas is to issue a ban on fishing with fishing gear which scrapes the reefbed. The first prohibition orders came into force in 2013.StatusIn the most recent report to the EU, the conservation status of six of the country's seven marinehabitats is described asunfavourable bad.
48
March 2014
Figure 1-33Conservationstatus for eight protected marine habitats (occurring in the Annex 1 ofonservationthe EU Habitets Directive) assessed in the period 2007-2013. Six of these habitats are found in2013.both biogeographical zones in Denmark. Conservation status for the habitat type is assessed fortypeeach of the biogeographical zones. A habitat type counts for two observations if it is found in bothzones. The sum of the figure of the diagram is therefore greater than 8. Only the rare estuarieshabitats are assessed to have favourable conservation status. Source: data from national articleble17 reporting.
Reef restorationThe Blue Reef Habitat Restoration Project has restored and protected a large reef (covering almostroject7 hectares) at Læsø Trindel in a Natura 20002000-designated area 11 kilometres north-east of the islandeastof Læsø in northern Kattegat. An area of about 6 hectares of the pre existing reef is now stabilised.pre-existing86,000 tons of rock were deposited on the reef during the project, which was completed in April2013. The aim was to rehabilitate the reef and provide good living conditions for creatures living onhabilitatethe benthic (seabed-dwelling) algae and fish.dwelling)The effects of the project are monitored, and conditions before and after restoration have beenassessed. It is clear that restoration has generally increased biodiversity on the reef and the numbertionof characteristic species has increased. Total biomass on the reef has increased by about 3 tons ofanimals and 6 tons of algae. Estimates are based on measurements in 2007 and 2012.
Figure1-34Totalnumbers of seaweedsTotaland fish as well as sessile and motileanimals at three depth intervals and atall three depths totally wereinvestigated at Læsø Trindel in 2007and 2012. Animal species were dividedinto four sub-groups: sessile, motile,groups:infauna and epifauna. Source: [2].]
Reinstatement of the reef means that there are now more species of perennial seaweeds in the algaecommunities than there were before restoration and there are signs of greater stability in theMarch 201449
habitat. New species have migrated to the reef. For example, there are now large occurrences of thePlumose AnemoneMetridium senile),a soft coral which was not previously extant on the reef.),
Figure 1-35TypicalseaweedTypicalforest on Læsø Trindel at adepth of 9.5 metres. Image:Karsten Dahl, DCE.
Shoals of cod near the reef have increased since its restoration. The number of fish more closelyassociated with reefs, primarily wrasses (Labridae), has also increased while numbers of flatfishhave fallen in the shallow parts of the reef. No new species of fish have migrated to the reef but theconstellation of species has changed.The results of fish investigations show that Læsø Trindel is increasingly becoming a growth area forbecomingseveral species of fish, such as Cod and Atlantic Pollock, and these tend to attract more fish fromlocal areas which find food on the reef. Reefs are also a favourite habitat for lobster. However, aslobsters grow slowly, it is too early to determine if restoration has been beneficial for this species.Porpoise have been observed more frequently and for longer periods since than before restoration.This is interpreted as an improvement of the reef's ecological standard.Offshore wind turbines as a habitatndIn the past 22 years, 14 offshore wind farms have been built in Danish waters. There are more in thepipeline. The wind farms' effect on the surrounding marine habitat is being monitored.
Figure1-36Existingoffshore wind farms inDanish waters. Source:ENS.
Wind farms have generally increased the diversity of habitats in the marine areas in which they areindbuilt. The number of animals and biomass have increased in these areas. The offshore wind farmsare established primarily in sea areas with a sandy bed. The wind turbine foundations act as spots ofhard seabed, which change conditions on the seabed from a predominance of animals accustomedto living in the sand, to create environments similar to reef communities.o50March 2014
Offshore wind farms do not generally increase the number of fish in the area nor do they cause achange in the species which live there. The construction of the Horns Rev wind farm led only tominor changes in the constellation of different species of fish in the area. Close to each wind turbinefoundation more species of the types that normally inhabit reefs, including Goldsinny Wrass(Ctenolabrus rupestris), Viviparous Blenny (Zoarces viviparous) and Lumpfish (Cyclopteruslumpus), were observed.Offshore wind farms can affect the behaviour of sea birds as they cease to frequent the local areasafter the installation of wind turbines. Effectively, the sea birds lose a habitat. Offshore wind farmsmay also act as a barrier to migratory birds and constitute a collision risk. Birds tend generally toavoid wind turbines, which means that, even after the installation phase, collisions rarely occur.The behaviour of seals and porpoise has been monitored intensively in connection with theinstallation of offshore wind farms and their subsequent operation. It transpires that seals do notchange behaviour as a result of an offshore wind farm. Porpoise at the Horns Rev offshore windfarm were not observed to have changed behaviour. At Nysted offshore wind farm porpoise activitywas reduced not only during installation but also for a period of two years following commissioning.After the first two years, there were no further significant changes in porpoise behaviour [3].References
[1] NST, 2012. Marine raw materials and habitat mapping in Kattegat and the western part of theBaltic Sea 2011. The Danish Nature Agency.[2] Dahl, K. 2013. Blue Reef - Status for biological immigration on the new Læsø Trindel reef in2011. Aarhus University, DCE – National Centre for Environment and Energy Date: 20 June 2013[3] Danish Energy Agency, 2007. Location of future offshore wind turbines – 2025. Committee forfuture offshore wind turbine location April 2007
March 2014
51
1.6.4
Marine mammalsThe population of Harbour Seal has been growing since 1980.Estimates of the porpoise population in the North Sea vary from 41,000 to57,000 and in inner Danish waters from 13,500 to 22,000. As porpoise haveonly been counted for a few years, it is not possible to assess theirdevelopment.
The porpoise population in the Baltic Sea is thought to be small andvulnerable.
Marine mammals as indicators of conservation statusLarge animals, including marine mammals such as seals and whales, are an important part of theecosystem in both coastal and open waters. They are the highest level in the food chain and are thusindicators of the structure and function of and degree of malfunction in the food chain. Theseanimals are therefore chosen as key indicators of conservation status in proposals for Denmark'sMarine Strategy.Two species of seal are common to Danish waters: the Harbour Seal and the Grey Seal, as are threespecies of whale: porpoise, the White-Beaked Dolphin and the Minke Whale. The Harbour Seal isDenmark's commonest seal and porpoise the most common species of whale.Threats facing seals include epidemic outbreaks which have caused a severe decline in the HarbourSeal population in the past. One of the threats facing porpoise is bycatching. Porpoise live inproductive areas of the sea, often in conjunction with good fishing areas. Fisherman often riskfinding porpoise in their nets as bycatches.There is also an accumulation of contaminants in the food chain, which means that concentrationsin whales and seals at the top of the food chain is much larger than in their prey. The porpoise isalso particularly sensitive to noise and the disruptions caused when building bridges or wind farmsand by shipping.Seal populations aregrowingThe total population of the Harbour Seal in Denmark has advanced during the last 30 years. Eventhough, on occasions during this period (1988 and 2002), there were epidemics which killed largenumbers of seals, the long-term trend is a rapidly growing population, developing from about 2,000individuals in the mid-1970s to more than 16,000 individuals in 2012 [1].The four most important populations are found in the Baltic Sea, Kattegat, Limfjord and WaddenSea. The number of seals in Limfjord varies widely from year to year, presumably in line withvariable access to food. Seal numbers are increasing in the remaining areas.Grey Seals are uncommon in Denmark but there are groups at Rødsand (Læsø), on two islands(Anholt and Christiansø) and in the Wadden Sea. The total Danish Grey Seal population isestimated at 240-430 individuals [1]. The Grey Seal has bred in Denmark since 2003.Seals are sensitive to disturbances in their resting places on beaches, sandbanks and reefs,especially during breeding and moulting periods. Seal pups are prone to entanglement in fishingnets and traps.
52
March 2014
Figure 1-37The total number of harbour seals in Danish waters based on aerial counts madein August. The figures for 1976-1978 are estimates (due to non1978non-standard methods ofcounting). The figures stated for 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999 are the result of interpolation.Red arrows indicate epidemic years. Source: Henriksen et al. 2011 [2]
Danish whalesThe porpoise is the only type of whale to breed in Denmark. It is presumed that there are threepopulations in Danish waters; one in the North Sea, one in the inner Danish waters and one in theBaltic Sea. Whales are generally difficult to count and whale counts for the North Sea and innerDanish waters are unreliable.In 1994 the population in the Danish sector of the North Sea was estimated at about 57,000porpoise. In 2005, the estimate was about 41,000 [2] [3]. In 1994, the population in Kattegat,Øresund, the Belt Sea and the western part of the Baltic Sea was estimated at about 22,100sund,porpoise. In 2005, the estimate was about 13,600 [2] [3]. A new investigation from 2012 estimatesthat this population is a little over 18,000 porpoise [4]. The fact th there are relatively few,thatunreliable counts means that it is impossible to assess development in the porpoise population.The population of porpoise in the Baltic Sea is very small, just a few thousand individuals. Thepopulation is thought to be vulnerable.The White-Beaked Dolphin and the Minke Whale live in open seas in the North Sea and Skagerrak.BeakedThere is a total population of about 10,000 whales. The Danish share is unknown, although thepopulation is thought to have favourable conservation ststatus (DCE, 2013).
March 2014
53
Figure 1-38Distributionof porpoise in the period 1997 2007. The figure shows density of satelliteDistribution1997-2007.satellite-trackedporpoise. Green colour denotes porpoise from the population in inner Danish waters. Blue colour denotesporpoise from the North Sea population. There are black lines around high density areas [5].high-density
References
[1] Hansen, J.W. (red.), 2013: NOVANA – Marine områder 2012. DCE Videnskabelig Rapport nr. 77.[2] Henriksen et al., 2011: "Characterising biological conditions in Danish waters". Aarhus University, DCE –National Centre for Environment and Energy DMU Scientific Report for The Danish Nature Agency.Agency..[3] Hammond et al 2013. Cetacean abundance and distribution in European Atlantic shelf waters to informconservation and management. Biological Conservation 164: 107107-122[4] Sveegaard et al 2013. Abundance survey of harbour porpoises in Kattegat, Belt Seas and the WesternBaltic, July 2012[5] Sveegaard et al 2011. High-density areas for harbor porpoises (y(Phocoenaphocoena)identified by satellite)tracking. Marine mammal science 27: 230arine230-246
54
March 2014
1.71.7.1
Endangered speciesSpecies in decline27% of Denmark's plant and animal species which have been studied orassessed are Red-Listed..54% of Red-Listed species are associated with forest habitats.Threats facing these species include fragmentation of populations,deteriorating habitats, disturbances and climate change.
The biodiversity on our planet has always fluctuatedaccording to changing living conditions.Natural processes and events, such as climate change, fire, storms and plate tectonics have meantthat some species disappear, others evolve and others migrate to new locations. In recent millenniahumankind has brought about radical changes to plant and animal habitats. A dramaticallyincreasing human population and the need for more space, energy and raw materials are repressingnatural flora and fauna.The best scientific estimates calculate that species are currently becoming extinct at 100 times therate at which they would have become extinct without humanity [1]. The primary cause of theproblems facing endangered species, globally and in Denmark, is that their habitats aredeteriorating due to overgrowth, nutrient loads, disruption, fragmentation and unnaturalhydrology.Today 1.7 million different species of animals, plants, fungi and micro-organisms are identifiedon our planet, although the true figures are believed to be much higher. Denmark is home to about30,000 species of plants, animals and fungi [1].It is assumed that current and future climate changes will exacerbate some of the issues caused byhuman activity that constitute a threat to biodiversity. We may see changes in birds' migratorypatterns. We may also see species whose southernmost distribution is currently Denmarkemigrating northwards and other species, which were previously indigenous to southern and mid-European countries, coming to Denmark.Some immigrating species may be invasive, i.e. they could outperform local species of plants andanimals that are indigenous to Denmark. Similarly, pressure on existing populations may increaseas new diseases evolve in the shape of fungi, parasites and bacteria not previously occurring inDenmark.27% of Danish species assessed are Red-ListedStatus for endangered and rare species is given in accordance with IUCN (International Union forConservation of Nature) guidelines, which, by means of the Red List, assess the extent to whichindividual species risk extinction. In Denmark the Red List is drawn up by DCE – National Centrefor Environment and Energy at Aarhus University. A total of 8,119 species have been assessed inaccordance with the international Red List criteria (bios.au.dk, 2013) compared to 5,656 species in2009. Of these, 2,226 species (corresponding to 27%) are Red-Listed. Of the Red-Listed species,303 are extinct, 366 are critically endangered, 493 moderately endangered, 640 vulnerable and 415near threatened. More than half (54%) of the Red-Listed species belong to forest habitats.
March 2014
55
Figure 1-39Percentageshare of all redPercentagered-listed species by habitat the totalsum is more than 100% as several species have more than one habitat[2].
Figure 1-40Listof 8119 species assessed in line with Red List principles [2].List
An article entitled "Danmarks Biodiversitet" (Denmark's Biodiversity 2010) estimated that 72 % ofiodiversitet"Biodiversity,a selection of Danish species were in decline. These in particular include species which requireopen, low-nutrient habitats (commons, bogs, heath, sand dunes and meadows) with variednutrientvegetation. Other species associated with oldold-growth forests and large volumes of deadwood areestsalso in decline. Development was described as stable or positive for only 17% of plant and animalgroups.Some species are now so rare at the European level that Denmark has an international coco-responsibility to protect and conserve the . These species are also managed by means of the Naturaotectthem.2000 directives, popularly known as the Habitats and Birds Directives. For internationallyprotected species which have dramatically declined in distribution or numbers and which werewhichassessed in the last report to the EU to remain in decline, the Natura 2000 plans stipulate thatspecific steps must be taken by 2015. This applies, for example, to the following species: the hermitermit56March 2014
beetle, marsh fritillary, marsh Saxifrage, Buxbaum Viridis and the thick shelled river mussel, andarshBuxbaumiaussel,birds, such as the common eider, dunlin, sandwich tern and tawny pipit.unlin,In the latest report on protected species in the EU (Habitats Directive, Appendix II, IV and Vspecies), about one third of a total of 83 species (or group of species) is assessed to have favourableconservation status. This applies notably to mammals (17 of the total 27 species). By contrast, thevast majority of plants, fish and invertebrates have unfavourable conservation status, while thewhileconservation status of a further 25 species is unknown.
Figure 1-41Conservation status of 83 diffeonservationdifferent protected species in the EC, distributed as five,groups of species. Conservation status evaluevaluated in the period 2007-2013. Most bats havefavourable conservation status, while species in other groups of species primarily haveunfavourable status. Denmark is divided into two biogeographical zones, an atlantic and acontinental zone. Species found in both zones are counted twice and the sum of the columns isntherefore more than 83. Source: data from article 17 reporting.
References
[1] Ejrnæs, R., Wiberg-Larsen, P., Holm., T.E., Josefson, A., Strandberg, B., Nygaard, B.,Larsen,Andersen, L.W., Winding, A., Termansen, M., Hansen, M.D.D., Søndergaard, M., Hansen, A. S.,Lundsteen, S. , Baatrup-Pedersen, A., Kristensen, E., Krogh, P.H., Simonsen, V., Hasler, B. &Pedersen,Simonsen,Levin, G. 2011. Danmarks biodiversitet – status, udvikling og trusler (Denmark's biodiversity –status, development and threats). Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser (a former Danish researchinstitute), Aarhus University. 152 pages – DMU Scientific Report no. 815.[2]http://bios.au.dk/videnudveksling/tilhttp://bios.au.dk/videnudveksling/til-myndigheder-og-saerligt-interesserede/redlistframe/artsgrupper/
March 2014
57
1.8
Ecosystem services and the recreational use of the naturalenvironmentEcosystem services
1.8.1
Many parts of Danish commerce and industry dependon Danish natureKey industries are dependent on ecosystem services.Outdoor activities are good for the health of the humanpopulation.Outdoor activities are growing and have indeed done so since1975.
Denmark's natural environment offers a large number of services, commonly known as"ecosystemservices". Ecosystem services are essential to individual human beings and our society. Ecosystemservices give us food, fresh air and clean water, fuel and building materials, as well as the pleasureof engaging in recreational activities. Many parts of Danish commerce and industry depend onDanish nature (agriculture, fisheries, forestry, etc.) and many Danes work with and in nature.Ecosystem services are therefore essential for health, well-being, and the economy.Ecosystem services are typically subdivided into four categories; provisioning, regulating,supporting and cultural services.The EU has a headline target of its own for biodiversity in 202o: "Halting the loss of biodiversityand the degradation of ecosystem services in the EU by 2020, and restoring them in so far asfeasible, while stepping up the EU contribution to averting global biodiversity loss." The strategyexpresses a desire within the EC to encourage sustainable development and nature management inthe Member States.The European Union's biodiversity strategy 2010 includes specific goals to ensure that ecosystemservices are maintained and enhanced by 2020. In 2014, the Danish Ministry of the Environmentwill implement a project to map Danish ecosystems and ecosystem services. This exercise will bebased on an analytic framwework provided by the EU Commision in 2013.The value of ecosystem servicesWhile a more comprehensive mapping and analysis of ecosystems and ecosystem services have stillto be carried out several studies have already confirmed the value of specific ecosystem services inforestry, agriculture and fisheries [1].A recent Danish study sought to calculate the value of insect pollination of arable crops (Figure1-42). This study shows that insect pollination is very valuable and can be calculated at DKK 421-690 million a year [2]. Most of this value is accumulated in the spring, when fruit trees, oilseed rapeand berry bushes are pollinated.
58
March 2014
Figure 1-42Developmentof bee population throughout the season compared to flowering plantsDevelopmentvisited by bees (Axelsen et al. 2011).
In 1997, in connection with planting a total of 160 hectares of forest on agricultural land at VollerupSkov on West Zealand, the socio-economic and budgetary effects of afforestation were calculated.economicTotal socio-economic benefits were calculated at 1,085 DKK/ha/year, or DKK 173,500 a year for theeconomicentire forest [8]. Environmental benefits include, in particular, a reduction in nutrient loads, a.reduction in pollutants, C02 binding, improved opportunities for outdoor pursuits and increasedbiological diversity. The value of binding C02 alone accounted for DKK 117,800 a year.If this had been at a location closer to a town where groundwater protection was more important,the socio-economic benefits would have been significantly greater. C02 binding is an ecosystemeconomicservice, which in principle is of nationwide benefit, while the recreational value of the ecosystemncipleand its groundwater-protective functions are relatively narrowly associated with benefits for theprotectivelocal population.In a multifunctional experimental farm that operates as a n energy-producing agro-ecosystemnetecosystemfeaturing broad belts of protective shelter belt with fast growing deciduous trees, it is calculatedfast-growingthat the total value of ecosystem services may add up to DKK 5,000-8,000 per hectare [9]. The].largest contribution from the ecosystem comes from regulation of nitrogen turnover (N fixation and(N-fixationmineralisation) and production of animal feed and biomass (in shelter belts). Landscape aestheticsis another value which can be attributed to belts of deciduous trees. Some ecosystem values can beattributed to the presence of an insect population, which pollinates plants and combats insectsregarded as pests.Nature protection and nature rehabilitation also provide socio economic benefits, when they aresocio-economiccalculated based on ecosystem services. In 2003 it was assessed [10] that the current value of netices.[10]benefits, i.e. the socio-economic benefits of restoring Skjern River to its natural course would be aseconomicmuch as DKK 200 million over an eternal time horizon, or DKK 30 million on a 2020-year timehorizon. The value depends on the social discount rate.
1.8.1
Outdoor pursuits, recreational activities and healthMarch 201459
Outdoor pursuits in Denmark are many and various. The Danish Ministry of the Environment'sdefinition describes "outdoor pursuits" as "pleasurable human leisure activities, which take placeoutside the home, workplace and sports stadium, and which are a matter of choice. People engagein outdoor pursuits, for example, at sea, along the coast, in the forest and woods, in urban parks,close to lakes and a number of other locations in the open countryside"[3]. People's motivations forengaging in outdoor pursuits are manifold. In this section we will focus on the health-giving effectsof outdoor pursuits.A lack of physical activity is one of the most important factors creating a higher risk of developinglifestyle-related conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, stress, etc. Researchhas shown that spending time in a green environment can have a prophylactic and curativeeffect[4]. This means in effect that outdoor pursuits generally promote public health.Research has shown that there is often a direct correlation between the distance from peoplesresidence to the closest nature area including parks and how often they use the area for walkingsetc. as well as with their experiences with stress.. It is therefore important that there are natureareas close to where people live.Research also shows that even though many animals, plants and nature areas are negativelyimpacted by outdoor activities the society generallyl benefits from increase in outdoor activities .Only in cases with very sensible speciesor ecosystems the negative effects can be so severe thataccess must be regulated or prohibited.The range of outdoor pursuits activities is increasingAccording to Danish laws access to nature is free and unhindered, but only for walks and cycling.Further access depends largely on land owners acceptance.The number of outdoor pursuits activities and facilities is growing. The total number of outdoorpursuits facilities in the state owned nature areas managed by the Ministry of Environment hasincreased from 2,045 to 2,706 in the period 2003-2009[5]. Examples of outdoor pursuits facilitiesinclude birdwatching towers, exercise routes with lighting and signs, mountain bike tracks, sheltersand camping sites. If facilities provided for outdoor pursuits, recreation, exercise, etc. areimproved, activity levels and frequency of visits can reasonably be expected to increase and impactpositively on health and life quality.Nature is used more often for exercise purposes than fitness centres[6]. The forest is the preferrednatural habitat for outdoor pursuits, followed by beach and coast. The popularity of forests mayreflect that Danish forests are relatively widespread and easily accessible, and that there are manypotential experiences to be gained and activities to engage in forests and woods [7].Outdoor pursuits organisations are not only working to improve the opportunities for using thenatural environment but can also help to protect the natural environment and understanding ofnature by providing more information about nature and by better controlling how people usenatural areas. For example, if a off-leash dog area is established in a forest the level of dog-walkingactivities in other parts of the forest is reduced and the wild fauna becomes less disturbed by dogsrunning loose.
60
March 2014
Figure 1-43TheDanish Nature Agency' outdoor pursuits facilities [5]Agency's
With the exception of nature schools, which fell by 2 in the period 20072007-2009, all facilitiesincreased from 2003-2009 [3]. The most important reasons for using the natural environment are2009to experience nature and the landscape and to exercise [11[11].
Figure 1-44Mostimportant reasons for using the natural environment.MostReferences[1] Ravensbeck, L., P. Andersen, B.J. Thorsen & N. Strange, 2013: Ecosystem services and their]value in association with a national network of green spaces in Denmark. IFRO - Department ofFood and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen, Report no. 218.[2] Axelsen, J., A. Enkegaard, B. Strandberg, P. Kryger & P.B. Sørensen, 2011: Pollination]conditions and requirements in agricultural crops. Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser (a former Danishulturalresearch institute), Aarhus University. DMU Scientific Report no. 832.[3] Danish Ministry of the Environment, 2012. Available on the internet: URL]<http://www.naturstyrelsen.dk/pv_obj_cache/pv_obj_id_ECD10249FA3BCD5BD9996D1D1A71CBhttp://www.naturstyrelsen.dk/pv_obj_cache/pv_obj_id_ECD10249FA3BCD5BD9996D1D1A71CB07619A1D00/filename/HftetFriluftsliv1.pdf>[4] <http://curis.ku.dk/ws/files/20650663/de_groenne_omr.pdf>][5] Skov og Natur i tal (Forests and Nature in figures) 2008. Available on the internet: URL]<http://www.naturstyrelsen.dk/pv_obj_cache/pv_obj_id_71635D06D4168D740C4EB322D47FECFF78610400/filename/skov_og_natur_i_tal_2008.pdf > og Forests and Nature in figures. Availableon the internet: URL<http://www.naturstyrelsen.dk/Om+os/Aarsrapporter/SkovOgNaturITal/Friluftsliv.htm>.dk/Om+os/Aarsrapporter/SkovOgNaturITal/Friluftsliv.htm>
March 2014
61
[6]http://www.friluftsraadet.dk/media/519949/fakta_om_friluftslivet_endelig_version_1.0.pdfs.45. Data from Laub, T.B. & M. Pilgaard. 2012. Where do the Danes play sport? Danish Institutefor Sports Studies, Copenhagen.[7]http://www.friluftsraadet.dk/media/519949/fakta_om_friluftslivet_endelig_version_1.0.pdfpage 31 Data from Projekt Friluftsliv 2009 (Project Outdoor Pursuits), The Department ofGeosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen[8] Damgaard, C., E. Erichsen, & H. Huusom, 2001: Socio-economic assessment of the Vollerupafforestation project The Wilhjelm Committee[9] Porter, J.E., L. Sigsgaard, H.S. Sandhu, S.D. Wratten, R. Costanza & B. Dennis, 2010: Shelterbelts providing energy and fields for food production. Jord og Viden (journal) 5: 18-19.[10] Dubgaard, A., M.F. Kallesøe, M.L. Petersen & J. Ladenburg, 2003: Cost-benefit analysis ofthe Skjern River Project. Department of Economics and Natural Resources. Royal Veterinary andAgricultural University[11] http://www.friluftsraadet.dk/media/519949/fakta_om_friluftslivet_endelig_version_1.0.pdfs. 44 Data from Projekt Friluftsliv (Project Outdoor Pursuits) 2009, The Department ofGeosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen.
62
March 2014
2. ChapterNational BiodiversityPolicies, Legislation,Strategies, Actions andFinancing
March 2014
63
2.1
International, EU and national policy framework
The UN Biodiversity Convention from 1992 has exerted strong international influence, not least onthe development of European Union and national policies. In addition to the UN Convention, thereare many more international and regional agreements and conventions in the natural sphere, ofwhich the Bern, Bonn, Ramsar and Washington (Cites) conventions are some of the mostimportant.In continuation of work with the UN Biodiversity Convention, as a Member State of the EU,Denmark is politically committed to comply with EU policies and legislation in the natural sphere.Some of the most important EU instruments are the 1979 Birds Directive and the 1992 HabitatsDirective. The Water Framework and Marine Strategy Directives are also important. New directivesconcerning profit-sharing in connection with the exploitation of genetic resources and invasivespecies will be important in the future.In March 2010, in the build-up to global negotiations related to the Biodiversity Convention, EUEnvironment Ministers adopted a long-term vision for 2050 and new goals for protectingbiodiversity until 2020. The EU 2020 goals for biodiversity include halting the loss of biodiversityand erosion of ecosystem services in the European Union by the end of 2020.Denmark is strongly engaged and works in multiple ways to halt the decline of biodiversity. Policies,strategies and practical activities across sectors like planning, agriculture, forestry and marinemanagement contribute to achieve the target.This chapter will introduce some of the most important current and emerging national and overallnature strategies as well as provide information on how the major components of the nationalbiodiversity (protected areas, species and genetic resources) are managed through specific policies,legislation and actions.Currently, Denmark does not have one specific “National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan”.The government platform (October 2011) drawn up by the present Danish government, however ,clearly states that it will work to meet international and EU biodiversity goals to halt the loss ofbiodiversity and ensure that nature becomes more cohesive and resistant to climate-relatedimpacts.Nature policies and actions are also addressed in several other national policies, strategies andfinancial schemes, some of the most important are:-----------Green Growth (2009/2010)Green Transition (2013)The Government’s Climate Strategy (2013)Action Plan for Climate Proof Denmark (2012)The National Rural Development Programme (2014-2020)The National Forestry Programme (2002)The Danish Climate Policy Plan – Towards aLlow Carbon Society (2013)The Marine Strategy (2012)The Pesticide Strategy (2013-2015)National Planning Report (2013)Den Danske Naturfond (national nature preservation foundation) (2013)
Important new nature policy initiatives are under way, most importantly:---64
A national sustainability strategy (2014)A new National Forestry Programme (2014)Nature Plan Denmark (2014)March 2014
In 2009 the previous Danish government launched a "Green Growth" agreement. This agreementgrants a total budget spending of DKK 13.5 billion on nature and the environment towards 2015.Green Growth has been realised as legislative amendments, adjustments to subsidy schemes andthrough the Danish state's aquatic environment and Natura 2000 plans.With respect to pesticides, the Green Growth agreement was replaced by the “Pesticide Strategy2013-15” in 2012, without major changes in the goals or tools as lined out in Green Growth.Some of themain biodiversity-related goals to be achieved by the nature and aquatic plans as wellas by other initiaitves are:----reducing total N discharge by 9,000 tons by 2015.reducing discharge of phosphorus from agriculture into the environment by 210 tons by2015.reducing ammonia emissions from farm buildings, etc. by means of amendments to theLivestock Act and investments in environmental technologies.reducing utilization and load of pesticides, e.g. by introducing an increased tax onpesticides, which is graduated based on the properties of the pesticides with respect tohuman health and the environment1.stimulating a doubling of the organic farming sector by 2020 by means of additionalsubsidy schemes, etc.
-
Additionally,50.000 hectares of new nature areas in the shape of buffer zones along watercoursesand lakes is being established and more forests are created and wetlands restored.The buffer zones comprise 10 metre-wide areas along watercourses and large lakes, which is to beneither cultivated, fertilized nor sprayed. The objective is to create more and cohesive nature and toreduce discharges of nitrogen, phosphorus and pesticides into the aquatic environment.The agreement also included measures to improve management and maintenance of nature areaswithin and outside existing Natura 2000 areas.Furthermore, in its 2012 Finance Act, the present government decided, via additional state-fundingfor wetlands initiatives, to create a further 1,600 hectares of new nature areas in the period 2012-2013 and ahead, and to make more funding available for state afforestation projects, which haveresulted in 700 hectares of new state-owned forests. A number of these initiatives are co-financedby either the Danish Rural Development scheme or the EU Fisheries Development scheme. Inaddition to the state initiatives, other players make an active contribution to the creation of newnatural habitats. These are primarily local authorities, private landowners, NGOs and privatefoundations, etc.The first generation of plans of “Natura 2000 plans” (for the period 2009-2015) is currently underimplementation and preparations for the second generation of nature plans for the period 2016-2020 are in progress. The”aquatic environment plans” are delayed. A hearing related to the firstgeneration of aquatic environment plans was concluded at the end of 2013.In 2013, the present government adopteda "Green Transition agreement” as part of the 2014Finance Act. This agreement provides funds of DKK 200 mill. annually in 2014-2017 fordevelopment of environmentally friendly technologies, organic farming and other activites that cancontribute to the green transition.
1
For pesticides, the Pesticide Strategy 2013-15 has replaced Green Growth
March 2014
65
The possible impacts of climate change in Denmark have been evaluated, most recently in a 2012report by a Task Force on Climate Change Adaptation: “Mapping climate change – barriers andopportunities for action”, where also the most important impacts for Danish nature are described.In December 2012 an “Action Plan for a Climate-proof Denmark” was launched, which containsseveral initiatives related to the Danish nature. One of the main features evolving in this regard is tocreate synergies between effective local rainwater management and the creation of recreational andvaluable natural areas.In 2013 the current government launched “The Danish Climate Policy Plan”. The climate policyplan states that Denmarkss greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced by 40% in 2020 comparedto the level in 1990. Furthermore,the plan emphasize that greenhouse gas mitigation policies shouldbe achieved as synergies to other policy areas, such as nature and forestry polivcies.The municipalities took over the tasks of nature protection and planning from the former countiesin 2007 when the Danish governance system were reduced from three to two levels: state level andlocal council level. As part of the planning and management of nature areas and the associatedwildlife the municipalities carry out specific projects to maintain or restore important nature sitesand ecological connectivity e.g. by restoring watercourses, reducing the impact of invasive speciesor reintroducing cattle grazing or traditional hay cutting.For around 25% of the generally protected nature areas the municipalities have made assessmentof the natural condition, the negative impact and the need for active management in order to targettheir actions for improving nature and biodiversity.
66
March 2014
2.2
New and emerging nature protection strategies
In the current government platform (October 2011), the Danish government announced itsintention to set up an independentNational Commission for Nature and Agriculture charged topreparing recommendations for resolving the structural, financial and environmental challengesfacing agriculture, including recommendations as to how the agricultural sector can help to reducethe carbon footprint and benefit nature and the environment.The commission was set up in March 2012. In September 2012, it presented its vision for Danishnature and agriculture, and seven indicators towards realising this vision. One of the indicatorstackles the space issue, including finding space for more and larger natural areas and more cohesivenature.In April 2013, the Commission presented its recommendations for comprehensive, interdisciplinarymethods and initiatives which can help to realised an holistic strategy for the green transition ofDanish agriculture and a strengthening of nature in Denmark. The recommendations proposegiving nature in Denmark a significant boost, e.g. by establishing an independent nature foundationand a national nature network. The recommendations are founded on an assessment that there is aneed for more nature in Denmark and for more cohesive links between natural habitats so thatanimals and plants can disperse more easily. There is also a need for better quality in nature and formore, large natural areas with natural variation and dynamism, including more undisturbed forests.The Commission also recommended the introduction of new measures to regulate theenvironmental impact of agriculture to benefit the industry itself, as well as the aquaticenvironment, nature and climate so that Denmark can set new standards in sustainable agriculturalproduction.New National Forestry ProgrammeA new National Forestry Programme is to also to be launched in December 2014. The programmeshall help to balance and where possible to create synergy among the many interests in forestry(timber and energy production, biodiversity, securing ground water, carbon sequestration,recreational values etc). One of the major challenges will be to improve the biological status of theforests.Den Danske Naturfond (national nature preservation foundation)As part of negotiations in connection with the 2014 Finance Act, the Danish government and twoopposition parties, Venstre (The Liberal Party of Denmark) and Det Konservative Folkeparti(conservative people's party), agreed to set up Den Danske Naturfond (national nature preservationfoundation). The foundation will carry out nature and environment projects which will add tonatural biodiversity, protect endangered species, as well as produce a cleaner aquatic environmentand reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The foundation will also encourage more public interest andensure that there is public backing for nature rehabilitation and protection measures.Den Danske Naturfond will be set up as a partnership between the state and two private benevolentfunds: VILLUM FOUNDATION and Aage V. Jensen Naturfond. Den Danske Naturfond will havetotal capital of DKK 875 million to spend on activities, of which sum the state is placing DKK 500million at its disposal. The VILLUM FOUNDATION is donating DKK 250 million and the Aage V.Jensen Naturfond is donating DKK 125 million.Den Danske Naturfond will aim to raise more capital, at least DKK 125 million by 2016, from non-profit-making foundations, and corporate and private donors.
March 2014
67
Nature Plan DenmarkIn accordance with its government platform, the Danish government will present a “Nature PlanDenmark”, which will include relevant recommendations from The National Commission forNature and Agriculture. The objectives of Nature Plan Denmark will be:to ensure that natural diversity, variation and beauty are preserved and developed in waysthat are sustainable and beneficial to public welfare and human well-being in Denmarkto create more nature and more forests – including urban woodlandsto ensure that Denmark remains a varied, interesting and attractive country with richnatural resources, cohesive natural habitats and a clean environment – including themarine environmentto help fortify Danish nature and to make it less vulnerable to the effects of climate changewhich would seem to be inevitableto help reduce Denmark's carbon footprint andto take as its point of departure EU and UN decisions and legislation regarding the marineand aquatic environments, natural conservation and biodiversity.
The Danish government proposes that Denmark will follow up on and strengthen theimplementation of the national, the EU and the international biodiversity targets by means ofNature Plan Denmark. Nature Plan Denmark will therefore become Denmark's official biodiversitystrategy and will determine how EU goals to halt the loss of biodiversity will be reached at thenational level.Nature Plan Denmark is expected to be published in autumn 2014.
68
March 2014
2.3
Protected nature areas
This section will present current policies, legislation strategies and actions targeted at differenttypes of nature areas (which biological and ecological status were described in chapter 1)
2.3.1
Nature areas protected by paragraph 3 of the National Nature ConservationAct
Policy and legislationThe regulations in paragraph 3 of the Nature Conservation Act concerning generally protectednatural habitats, which provide protection for natural habitats all over the country, are one of thecornerstones of nature conservation in Denmark. Para 3 regulations protect lakes of more than 100m2, designated watercourses, heaths, salt marshes, freshwater meadows and biological commonswhen the individual habitat or group of habitats covers an area larger than 2,500 m2. Once an areameets the Act's criteria for plant growth, soil, area, etc., it is automatically protected.Protection measures have been extended successively since 1972 to include more natural habitatsand reduce minimum area requirements in response to shrinking numbers of natural habitats,primarily resulting from more intense agriculture, urbanisation and infrastructural systems.Strategy and actionsFollowing local government reorganisation in 2007, in which the Danish counties were abolishedand most of their nature-related tasks reassigned to the municipalities, and in the wake ofprolonged public debate about local councils' handling of para 3 protection issues, in February2010, the Minister of the Environment announced that there was to be a thorough investigation ofthe implementation of para 3 of the Nature Conservation Act.The results of the investigation were published in autumn 2010. The investigation establishedgenerally that practice with regard to dispensation has not changed and that most changes in status,for which dispensation is given, are related to improving the natural environment.Based on the results of the random sample investigation, the Ministry of the Environment and LocalGovernment Denmark agreed on 23 November 2010 to update the registry of para 3 naturalhabitats in the period 2011-2013 – at a total cost of DKK 36 million. The Danish Nature Agency isnow updating para 3 registration in each municipality using aerial photography supplemented byfield trips. A total of approximately 310,000 localities have been analysed using aerial photographyand about 39,500 field trips have been undertaken.All para 3 protected natural habitats are registered in the Danish Environment web-portal. In placeswhere nature has potentially disappeared, the local authority is obliged to uncover whether this is inline with para 3 protection and the authorities own administration. From autumn 2014, an updatedpara 3 registry will form the foundation for local authorities' administration and planning of areasof natural interest. The updated registry will also be highly beneficial for landowners and otherstakeholders.In 2012 the Danish Government formed the Commission on Nature and Agriculture and asked fortheir recommendations for a richer nature and new environmental regulations and growthopportunities for the agricultural sector. Some of the recommendations from the Commissionfocused on better protection of the para 3 protected nature areas with actions such as designationof these areas, improved acces for the NGOs to file complaints on whether an area is registered asprotected or not, and to prohibit or reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides in the protectedmeadows, saltmarshes and commons. An improved protection in urban areas and areas designatedfor holiday homes are also recommended. Heavier penalties on violation of the nature protection is
March 2014
69
also a suggestion from the commission. The recommendations and actions are under furtherinvestigation and consideration by the government.2.3.2Forests
Policy and legislationDenmark was originally covered by forests and Danish forests are therefore important forindigenous biological diversity. The National Forestry Programme (2002) outlines Denmark'spolicy for the forestry sector. The programme has six overall objectives. The programme ,including a strategy for natural forests, will be revised in 2014.The programme's objectives with specific relation to nature and biodiversity are:Promote efforts for the protection of biological diversity and secure the physicalenvironment and the basis for forest managementoooDevelop and promote a conversion to near-to-nature forest managementConserve natural forest and nature in the forest, including wetlands and keybiotopesBefore 2040, 10 % of the total forest area has biodiversity conversation as theprimary management objective
The objectives for afforestation area maintained and developed with a view towardsstrengthening of the potential for natural habitats and processes in afforestationooIncrease the forest area so forest landscapes cover 20-25 % of Denmark after onetree-generation (80-100 years)The concept of multiple forest management will be further integrated into theafforestation with dur consideration to production, biodiversity, outdoorrecreation, cultural heritage, landscape and environmental protection.
Since 1989 approx. 42,000 hectares forest has been established of which 31,000 hectares areestablished with public grants as private owned forests and about 11,000 hectares are established aspublic owned (mostly state owned) forests. From satellite photos a larger area, (approx. 67-95.000ha) is registered as new forest for the period 1990-2011.The previous government's Green Growth agreement (2009) contains goals to create a total of 800hectares of new state forests close to urban areas and 6,900 hectares of new private forests by 2015.In 2012 and 2013 the present government has granted more funding to support afforestation.Approx. 7.500 ha forest is conserved as “untouched forest”, and a larger area, approx. 40.000 haare managed as uneven aged untouched forest.Strategy and actionsState afforestation has focused primarily on establishing new urban forests with a view to providingspaces for outdoor recreational activities s and natural experiences, as well as forests which can helpto protect vulnerable groundwater resources. Afforestation is a very long term investment in highbiodiversity as it usually takes a very long time (> 100 years) to re-establish nature and biodiversitycorresponding to old-growth forests.In 2013 the Danish Nature Agency commissioned an independent evaluation of biodiversityinitiatives in the Danish forests in the period 1992-2012. The evaluation showed that about 35,000hectares of forest (6% of total forest area) were protected in the period, with protection ofbiodiversity the primary or secondary goal. The protected forests comprise untouched, naturalforests, grazing forests, oak coppices and other forest types of high importance to nature.70March 2014
A large proportion of these areas are on land owned by the Danish Nature Agency. Furthermore,since 2005, all the agency's forested land, an area of about 107,000 hectares, has been subject to atransition to near-natural forest management and certification by both the FSC and PEFCstandards.While the Danish Nature Agency uses several millions of DKK annually for biodiversity projects inthe state owned forests t the evaluation concluded that the forest initiatives could have been morefocussed and have targeted more on especially threatened species. At the same time the evaluationacknowledged that in the long term many of the initiatives will result in better conditions fornature, including better conditions for a number of endangered species.Biodiversity data from around 1992 is too scanty to allow a direct assessment of the effect of theinitiatives, with the exception of data concerning endangered birds. Threatened and red listedspecies of woodland birds have shown a positive population trend during the last 20 years inDenmark.Future initiatives should focus more on securing the survival of threatened species, structures andhabitats based on better data mapping of the locations in which threatened species are found.The Danish forests were hit twice by storms in the autumn of 2013. Most of the downed deciduouswood and a proportion of the conifers were decided left for biodiversity purposes in the State ownedforests after the storms. In this way the amount of deadwood in the forests will grow for the benefitof special saproxylic species besides for birds and animals eating insects.Different grant schemes for protection of biodiversity in private owned forests has been launched,and resulted in approx. 2.700 ha forest with special care and 2.200 ha of protected oak coppice.Grants for private owners to draw green management plans has resulted in approx. 200.000 hawith green management plans, which are considered as a first step towards certification
2.3.3
Areas conserved by preservation orders
Policy and legislationThe Nature Conservation Act gives authorities a provision to designate individual sites bypreservation order. The registered areas are an important tool for natural conservation as they arehome to wild animals and plants, and offer some of the most important landscape, cultural andhistorical, biological, scientific and educational values. Moreover, para 3 in the National NatureProtection Law ensures that the general public has access to enjoy these values.Preservation orders can be served to safeguard the objectives of the Nature Conservation Act.Preservation orders are primarily issued if protection is not provided by other legislation. InDenmark there are about 5,000 preservation orders, which cover a total area of about 230,000hectares, corresponding to just less than 5% of Denmark's total land area. Every year newpreservation areas safeguard an additional 2,000 hectares.Only the municipalities, The Danish Society for Nature Conservation (a private organisation with125.000 members) and The Danish Nature Agency can propose new preservation orders. TheDanish Society for Nature Conservation in the period 2004-2011 put forward about 50% of theproposals and was involved in 69 % of all proposals.
March 2014
71
The number and area of preservationorders 1900-2010.
Preservation orders may be issued for different purposes. The key objectives of new proposedpreservation orders in the period 2004-2011 are listed below. Categorisation of the key objectives ofpreservation orders is subject to interpretation, and individual cases often have multiple objectives.The sum of percentage shares in the figure is therefore more than 100.
Strategy and actionsIn cooperation with The Danish Society for Nature Conservation and Local Government Denmark,The Danish Nature Agency has prepared a Preservation Order Action Plan (2013).The Action Plan proposes prioritisation of the following key objectives in work with preservationorders:Gems – unique localities of national value and importance, setting additional focus onmaintaining these with stringent preservation orders.Larger, cohesive nature areas. This proposal is intended to counteract a tendency towardsfragmentation of natural habitats, to ensure more robust natural conditions, in whichspecies can live and disperse and to allow the general public to enjoy nature.March 2014
72
Preservation orders to protect large areas of virgin landscape, including protection ofparticularly beautiful and characteristic landscapes from urbanisation, cultivation, changesto terrain, etc.
Preservation orders distributed by IUCN categories
The figure shows the number of preservation orders distributed by the IUCN categories..Protected churches and areas surrounding churches, urban parks, individual trees andmonuments are not included in the figure as they are not categorised in the IUCN categories. Thefigure is based on 1,843 preservation orders.IUCN subcategories include the following types used in the figure:Ia –Strict Nature reserve)Ib - Wilderness Area)II - National park)III –Natural Monument)IV -Habitat/Species Management Area)V - Protected Landscape)
2.3.4
Natura 2000 areas and plans
Policy and regulationThe term "Natura 2000 " describes a network of protected natural habitats in the European Union.Natura 2000 areas are designated in accordance with the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. Thedesignated areas must preserve and protect natural habitats and wildlife (flora and fauna) specieswhich are rare, endangered or characteristic for EU Member States. There are 252 Natura 2000designated areas in Denmark.They account for about 8.4% of Denmark's land area. Marine Natura 2000 areas account for about17% of Danish waters.
March 2014
73
Danish Nature 2000 areas.Denmark is one of those countries which have designated the lowest relative share of its land areabut also one of the countries that has designated the highest share of its waters. To a great extent,the designations reflect the Danish landscape, in which, due to intensive exploitation (especiallyagriculture), there remain few nature areas with species and natural habitats that, in the EUcontext, can be described as sufficiently worthy of protection to be designated. Similarly, the highproportion of marine areas reflects the international importance of Danish waters, e.g. for largeflocks of migrating birds. Protected areas of habitat and protected birds' habitats tend to coincide.In Denmark there are legal regulations pertaining to environmental assessment of theconsequences of new plans and projects which may affect the Natura 2000 areas and permission isnot given to activities which may compromise the integrity of Natura 2000 area.Denmark's obligation to protect and manage Natura 2000 areas in accordance with the EUDirective has resulted in six-year Natura 2000 plans for each individual Natura 2000 area (there isan exception for woodlands and forests protected by Danish protected forest regulations, which aremanaged through 12-years plans).Natura 2000 planning processes are provided for by law. These plans are subject to wide publicconsultations and include long-term goals for the individual Natura 2000 area and identifyrequirements and prioritise a list of conservation methods which may be used to accommodate theorganic needs of species and natural habitats.Natura 2000 plans are to ensure resolute and active management by local and state authorities..Strategy and actionsThe first-generation Natura 2000 plans (for the period 2010-2015) stipulate first and foremost thatinitiatives must halt the decline in species and habitats indicated in their Natura 2000 designation.The basic initiatives are the first inevitable steps towards meeting the Directive's goal to secure orre-establish favourable conservation status. Standard initiatives comprise not only comprehensivemaintenance but also "one-off" events, e.g. improved hydrology, reducing disturbances and takingsteps to prevent the destruction of forest habitats and marine reefs. The initiatives actuallyperformed in individual area rely on a specific assessment.The Natura 2000 plans for the first plan period (2010-2015) stipulate the following:
74
March 2014
Maintenance of about 130,000 hectares (all registered open natural habitatsincluding peripheral fragmented areas, etc.).More natural water conditions will be established in a further 14-16,000 hectares(in particular raised bogs, fens and salt marshes).30-34,000 hectares will be cleared with a view to subsequent improvements toaquatic conditions or in preparation for maintenance work.20,000 hectares of forest are protected from felling, and extensive forestry isensured (all registered forest areas). Initiatives will continue until the end of2021.Disturbances reduced for birds and marine mammals. (The Hunting and WildlifeManagement Act's provisions relating to reserves).Marine reefs will be protected from bottom-trawling equipment (Fisheries Act).Impact of ammonia will be reduced (Livestock approval legislation wastoughened in 2011).
Instruments include voluntary subsidy schemes under the auspices of the Rural DevelopmentProgramme, which makes available subsidies for eco-friendly agriculture to support grazing andcutting, subsidies to improve hydrology and subsidies to encourage more extensive forestry andprotection of woodland habitats. Furthermore, there are also initiatives to prohibit hunting and tocreate disturbance-free zones. The scope of active nature administration stipulated in current planscosts a total of about DKK 1.8 billion. It is too early to evaluate the effect of the plans.The second-generation Natura 2000 plans (for the period 2016-2021) are currently on the drawingboard.
2.3.5
Aquatic environment plans
Policy and legislationThe EU Water Framework Directive established a firm framework within which to protect surfacewater and groundwater. One of the key objectives of the directive is to prevent deterioration andimprove the status of surface water and groundwater. The EU Member States are required tointroduce programmes of initiatives with a view to achieving specific environmental goals. In thisconnection, the Member States are obliged to ensuring that aquatic environment plans are drawnup for the aquatic environment in every relevant district.Requirements in the directive to achieve “good ecological conditions” in surface water ecosystemswill subsequently benefit e.g. the status of natural habitats and wild populations of plants andanimals.The Water Framework Directive stipulates that the first generation of aquatic environment planswere to be published in December 2009, and subsequently revised and updated every six years, i.e.the plan periods are 2009-2015, 2015-2021 and 2021-2027.Strategy and ActionThe first generation of aquatic environment plans are delayed. The draft version of first generationof aquatic environment plans was overrules and declared null and void as, in December 2012, theEnvironmental Board of Appeal determined that The Danish Nature Agency had set too short adeadline for the public hearing of the plan.. The first generation of aquatic environment plans hasjust been sent for a second public hearing. The Danish Nature Agency is currently evaluating thehearing statements received and it is expected that the aquatic environment plans will be passedduring autumn 2014.While work on the first generation of aquatic environment plans is still in progress, a preparationfor the second generation of aquatic environment plays is already under way. New water planningMarch 201475
legislation has also been drawn up to create a new water planning concept in Denmark, which ismore closely aligned with the EU Water Framework Directive.2.3.6Wildlife reservesA total of 95 reserves have been created in Denmark. Most of these (75) are inside Natura 2000areas. These reserves cover a total area of about 340,000 hectares, of which about 30,000 hectaresare rural.Wildlife reserves can be set up in pursuance of the Hunting and Wildlife Management Act and/orThe Nature Protection Act in land areas, in fresh water and in fishing territories to protect and aidwildlife populations and to ensure that there are resting and foraging areas for migrant birds.Wildlife reserves may be established in private and publicly-owned areas. On private areas, ownersand users may be entitled to compensation for any loss incurred. Compensation, establishment,maintenance and inspection of wildlife reserves are financed by the Danish Nature Agency.Strategy and actionsThe Nature Agency has initiated a process to align the management and activities in the wildlifereserves with the implementation of the Natura 2000 plans. This process is expected to be finalizedbefore the end of 2016. The amendments of the purposes and of management activities in thewildlife reserve will ensure a focus on the protection of Natura 2000 nature types and speciesagainst human disturbance, for instance by prohibition of public access during birds breedingseasons on small islands.
2.3.7
Ramsar Sites
Policy and legislationThe Kingdom of Denmark has under the Ramsar Convention designated 43 wetlands ofinternational importance covering app. 23.150 km2 (within the geographical coordinates 54◦,38’Nto 81◦,10’Nand 54◦,14’E to 08◦09’W)– including large coastal areas. 3 sites are designated in theFaroe Islands (63 km2) and 12 sites are designated in Greenland (15.600 km2). The 28 sitesdesignated in Denmark (7.500 km2) are legally managed as Nature 2000 sites.Strategy and actionsIn 2013 the 43rdDanish Wetland of International Importance –Lille Vildmose– was designated.73,4 km2 blend of bogs, forest, lakes and meadows holding important flora and fauna characteristicof large bogs, including Sphagnum mosses and rich in European protected bird species. This site isalso important for carbon storage, groundwater recharge and climate regulation. It is worth notingthat the site has been designated in part under Criterion 1 in the Convention, especially under thespecification that wetlands can be selected for their hydrological importance including influence inthe context of at least regional climate regulation or stability. Thus the designation of Lille Vildmoseas a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance signals that the Ramsar Convention reflects thegrowing need to protect nature sites helping to combat the consequences of Climate Change.A large part of the raised bog has been drained, cultivated and used for at turf industry. Peatextraction ceased in 2011, however, and restoration plans supported by the EU LIFE+ funds haveimplemented by the owner (Aage V. Jensen Foundation for nature conservation and wildlifeprotection). The restoration of Lille Vildmose is expected to reduce CO2 emission with 14.000 tonsper year.Denmark is an active player in the Ramsar Convention. In the Ministerial Council Declaration at theTrilateral Danish-Dutch-German Governmental Conference on the Protection of the Wadden Sea inFebruary 2014 is stated the intend to list the Wadden Sea Ramsar sites asTrans-boundary Ramsarsite “Wadden Sea”on the Ramsar List of international importance and thus contribute to theongoing efforts of the Ramsar Convention to promote the trans-boundary aspect of the protection76March 2014
and the management of wetlands (Article 5 of the Convention and Resolution VII19(1999) oninternational cooperation).
2.3.8
National parks
Policy and legislationDenmark's national parks include some of Denmark's most outstanding areas of natural beauty andlandscapes. These are areas of importance to the Danish people and which either gain or will gaininternational attention and importance. Our national parks help to develop, protect and conserveDenmark's nature and landscapes as well as our cultural and historical values. By setting upnational parks, we seek to prevent the loss of landscapes, geological formations as well as of culturaland historical values, and to ensure that these features are preserved, well-known and of benefit tomany.The National Park Act was adopted by the Danish Parliament in May 2007. The National Park Actsets up the rules for the establishment and development of Danish national parks. In June 2007 theDanish Government decided to begin the establishment of a network of national parks and selectedThy in North West Jutland as the first national park. “Thy National Park” was established in August2008. In August 2009 the area, Mols Bjerge, was also established as a national park. In September2010 the third national park was established in and around the Danish part of the Wadden Sea.Each national park is established by a designation order which determines the boundary and setsup the objective and goals for the development of the park.
Strategy and actionsEach national park is governed by a National Park Board which is tasked to elaborate andimplement a national park plan. .Each national parks have to make 6 year plan for the development
March 2014
77
of the parks including all purposes outlined in the Danish National Park act. Each of the nationalparks receives DKK 7,5 mill. a year to undertake their work.In National Park Thy there have been projects concerning reestablishment of natural hydrology onheat land. In National Park Mols Bjerge there have been projects concerning improvement of statusof commons and in National Park Vadehavet there have been projects regarding conservation ofmeadow birds.At the moment 2 more areas have been selected as potential national parks – Roskilde-Lejre andKongernes Nordsjælland. These will be established step by step over the next couple of years underthe condition, that public consent is achieved.
2.3.9
The sea
Policy and legislationThe first Danish Marine Strategy was finalized in 2012. The marine strategy comprises an initialassessment of the environmental status of Danish waters, an economic and social analysis of the useof the waters, a determination of good environmental status and a set of environmental targets andassociated indicators.On March 13, 2012 the EU Commission proposed legislation to create a common framework forMaritime Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal ManagementThe aim of the Commission's proposal is to ensure a better coordinated use of marine and coastalareas and help clarify the uncertainties on access to the maritime space in order to promotesustainable growth in the marine sectors, in particular by improving cross-border cooperation. TheCommission expects that Maritime Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Management will boostsustainable maritime growth by facilitating the spatial development of emerging sectors, such asrenewable energy or aquaculture, whilst taking into account the health of marine eco-systems.Danish legislation in this area is expected to deliver an integrated approach to the management ofmaritime activities. This approach will be governed by ecosystem-based management. Integratedmanagement of all maritime activities is also expected to encourage investment in the maritimebased businesses by instilling predictability and transparency.In Denmark, Maritime Spatial Planning and Integrated Coastal Management are still tools in theirinfancy. Work in this area is ongoing and will evolve over the coming years to better meet the needsof all stakeholders while ensuring good environmental status in the marine waters.A marine monitoring programme by mid-2014Adequate monitoring must be implemented to ensure ongoing assessment of the environmentaltargets and associated indicators so that they may be adapted to the situation concerned, e.g. theeffects of climate change. Adequate marine monitoring is also expected to deliver an ongoingassessment of the environmental status of Danish marine waters in general. Denmark is undergoingwork to this effect and expects to have a marine monitoring program in force by mid-2014.Marine Natura 2000 areasFor many of the other impact areas, a raft of rules and regulating mechanisms are already in force,which in the long term will contribute to the achievement of good environmental status in marinewaters. These regulations comprise existing marine protected areas – the marine Natura 2000which covers 18 pct. of the Danish marine waters.Strategy and actionsProgramme for good environmental status by 2016
78
March 2014
By 2016 Denmark is also expected to have in place a program of measures to achieve or maintaingood environmental status. The initial assessment and years of national surveillance has shown thatfor certain aspects of securing the marine environment, new measures may be foreseen. Forexample measures may be necessary in order to mitigate the effects of fishing activities in order notto threaten the overall distribution and biological diversity of the bottom dwelling fauna. A nationalworking group is considering measures in the form of protected areas to this effect.Discarding (i.e. the practice of throwing unwanted fish overboard)- will be phased out with a precisetimeline for implementation (progressively between 2015 and 2019) and the individual EU memberstates will have to ensure that the fleet capacity (number and size of vessels) is in balance with thefishing opportunities in a given area. Targeted actionplans are in place to address the needs of thecritically dangered cod in the Kattegat.Other challengesThere is a need for more knowledge and a better understanding of the scope of the challenges thatwe face and the opportunities to reduce the effects, particularly with regard to non-indigenousspecies, effects of fishing activities on marine ecosystems, marine litter and underwater noise. Workas to gaining insight on these subjects is being undertaken towards the next marine strategy thatwill be finalized in 2018.In a report from this year the EU Commission assesses the first phase of implementation of theMarine Strategy Framework Directive and emphazises on the need for more knowledge and abetter better understanding of the challenges member states face in securing healthy oceans for thenext generations to come whilst stating that European Seas are not in “good environmental status”.This report will serve as guidance for present efforts and for the efforts to finalize the next marinestrategy.
2.4
Species management and protection
Policy and legislationThe legislative protection of Danish plant and animal life is assured primarily by the NatureConservation Act, the Hunting and Wildlife Management Act and by provisions in the Fisheries Act.A large number of species have also achieved protection via EU directives and internationalconventions. Species-specific initiatives are achieved by means of direct conservation initiatives, e.g.preservation orders or prohibition applicable to hunting and fishing, special initiatives defined inspecific species management plans as well as by means of indirect protection, i.e. conservation ofhabitats.About 310 species are covered by the Preservation of Species Executive Order, the legal basis ofwhich is the Nature Conservation Act and the Hunting and Wildlife Management Act. Some of thesespecies are also covered by the provisions of the EU habitats and birds directives. The directivesprotect these species, for example, from collection. Furthermore, trees that are the nesting places ofspecific species must not be felled at certain times of the year. Hollow trees are also protected byspecial regulations. Protected plants may neither be removed from their habitat nor damaged.Whole areas can also be protected in order to preserve specific species and e.g. to determine specialcare and maintenance measures to benefit these species. For example, in 2004 a preservation orderwas issued on a specific area to protect the marsh fritillary, an endangered butterfly.Strategy and actionsThere are specific national management plans for a number of individual species. Managementplans are conventionally prepared with a view to protecting the relevant species. To date, there areissued management plans for the following species: The common dormouse, northern birch mouse,beavers, otters, porpoise, seals (grey seal and harbour seal), hare, partridge, all 17 Danish species ofMarch 201479
bat, the cormorant, corncrake, meadow birds (primarily the dunlin, the black-tailed godwit and theruff), the red kite, salmon, the houting, the marsh fritillary and the marsh saxifrage.In addition to management plans, specialplans of actionhave been prepared to combat invasivealien species. There are such plans for to combat raccoon dogs and mink.As extraordinary follow-ups on the EU Habitats Directive, management plans are being preparedfor the sand lizard, European green toad and natterjack toad.I 2012, the wolf re-migrated from the Eastern part of Germany and Western part of Poland toDenmark. Denmark expects to adopt a management plan for wolves in 2014, which establishes theframework for management of wolves in Denmark. A draft management plan has been made by therelevant organizations and associations and the plan has been sent to the Minister of Environment.According to this the wolves may only be regulated in exceptional circumstances, for instance ifregulation is justified by prevention of serious damage to livestock or humans. The finalmanagement plan may also address the issue of an permanent compensation for damages for loss oflivestock caused by wolves and the possibility to receive subsidies to protect livestock.Denmark expects to revise the management plans for seals by 2016. The revision will be carried outon the basis of research projects investigating among other issues, damages on fishery caused byseals.The management plan for cormorants and the management plan for beavers will also be revised onthe basis of the latest data.In 2014, the hunting seasons will be revised, as is the case every 4th year, to ensure that hunting isconducted in a sustainable manner. The revision is based on recommendations from anindependent board of represenrtatives of the larger relevant NGO´s, and is expected to changeespecially the hunting season for geese, gulls, common eider, goosander and smew.Specific projects for threatened speciesApart from the above initiatives, in recent years, a number of projects have been targeted to protectspecific threatened species. These projects are funded by the state, local authorities, foundationsand privately, often with support from subsidy schemes, etc., including EU co-funding, in particularfrom EU LIFE.Meadow birds are some of the most seriously endangered species of birds in Denmark. Since the1970s numbers of breeding meadow birds and suitable breeding areas have declined dramatically.In the period 2006-2009, a project improved conditions in particular for the dunlin and the ruff infour of Denmark's most important breeding grounds for meadow birds: Vestlige Vejler, HarboøreTange, Nyord and Vestamager. The project has also provided aid to complete the nationalmanagement plan for meadow birds in Denmark. The project was carried out by the Danish NatureAgency in cooperation with The Danish Ornithological Association. The total budget for this projectwas DKK 10.6 million. It was co-funded by the EU LIFE Nature Fund.The North Sea houting is a white fish which lives only in the Wadden Sea area. It is one of the mostseriously endangered species of fish in the EU. It is Red-Listed and also on the EU list of animal andplant species of community interest in need of strict protection (Annex IV). Denmark receivedsupport from the EU LIFE Nature Fund to complete a project costing about DKK 120 million, whichaims to prevent the houting from becoming extinct. Support from EU LIFE was about DKK 60million. Other projects which received LIFE support include a project to save the marsh fritillarybutterfly and a salmon project financed by nature management funding.Re-introduction of species
80
March 2014
Denmark has reintroduced species to enrich the Danish biodiversity with native species, which havebecome extinct in Denmark, and to ensure a positive effect on the biodiversity in general.In 1999 was the European beaver reintroduced in Klosterheden Forest District in Jutland and in2009-2010 in the landscape of Northern Zeeland. Since then the beaver populations have grownand there is now an estimated population of 160 individuals in Jutland and about 25 individuals inin Zeeland. The beaver contributes to biodiversity in the landscape by damming streams and swampforests.In 2012 was the European Bison introduced on Bornholm. Seven bisons from Poland were releasedand the first calf was born in 2013. The bisons were released into a 200 hectare area of fenced forestand the plan is to take away the fence within a period of five years. The bison creates a dynamicecosystem conducive to biodiversity for instance by creation of openings in the forest.In 2013 was lucanus servus (the most well-known stag beetle) reintroduced by release of adultindividuals and larvae in Dyrehaven north of Copenhagen while at the same time efforts were madeto create more dead wood at the location (the habitat of lucanus servus).New initiatives regarding invasive speciesA number of species present in Danish nature are not indigenous but have rather been introducedby human beings. A small number of these species are invasive, i.e. they can repress indigenousspecies and thus represent a threat to their survival.There is a Danish plan of action against invasive species, which recommends many possible ways inwhich to react. Special initiatives have been drawn up to combat two invasive species, the Americanmink and the raccoon dog.In September 2013, the European Commission announced proposals for regulations governinginvasive alien species (IAS), the purpose of which is to prevent, minimise and contain the loss ofbiodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the wake of the introduction anddissemination (whether intended or inadvertent) of alien invasive species. The Member States areobliged to combat invasive species. With certain reservations, the regulations propose a ban onentry , transport, trade, cultivation, keeping, using, allowing to escape and planting, etc. of the listedalien invasive species.
March 2014
81
2.5
Conservation of genetic resources
Policy and legislationIn 2004 Denmark ratified the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food andAgriculture and in 2007 Denmark ratified the Interlaken Declaration on global action plan forconservation of animal genetic resources.The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries (MAFF) is responsible for conservation and use ofgenetic resources for food and agriculture. The Danish AgriFish Agency is the acting authority onthe matter.Plant genetic resources for food and agricultureIn 2004, a strategy for future work on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture waspublished. It has been followed-up by action plans for periods of thee years which guide MAFF’sactivities on plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. The current action plan covers theperiod 2011-13, which will be prolonged to 2014 and contains activities on conservation and use ofplant genetic resources as well as awareness-raising and research. To guide its activities, MAFF hasestablished a plant genetic resources advisory board where relevant stakeholders are represented.National and Nordic activitiesDanish Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture are conserved bothex situandin situinDenmark andex situthough NordGens vault on Svalbard.a)Ex situconservationIn Denmark, vegetative propagated material like fruit and berries are to a large extent conserved innational clone archives, whereas seed propagated material is conserved in the joint Nordic genebank, NordGen. NordGen is an institution under the Nordic Council of Ministers. Nordiccooperation plays a very important role in the field of ensuring the maintaining of the variety ofNordic genetic resources for food and agriculture.b)In situconservationA large number of wild or weedy Danish species are related to crop plants and are thus plant geneticresources for food and agriculture. A list of high priority species has been selected and the status ofconservation of these species is currently being mapped. In Pometet at Copenhagen Universitythere is a collection of native apple- and pear treesc) Legislative mattersLegislation allowing for the marketing of old crop varieties has been implemented.Strategy and actionsInternational activitiesAs a consequense of the ratification of the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources forFood and Agriculture Denmark participates in meetings of its governing body. The treaty’s accessconditions are applied to plant material in NordGen. Denmark is also member of the EuropeanCooperative Program on plant genetic resources, ECPGR, and Denmark is involved in various EU-activities relating to plant genetic resources.Animal genetic resources for food and agricultureThe Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries has newly approved a new Committee: TheCommittee for the Conservation of Animal Genetic Resources of Rare Danish Breeds (CC), whichhas a breeder majority elected though direct election. The task of the Committee will be to take careof and coordinates all governmental efforts on Conservation of Animal Genetic Resources inDenmark, including Gene bank, breeder support and information activities.
82
March 2014
In 2014, CC will prepare a new Strategy for the future work on conservation of animal geneticresources for food and agriculture. The Strategy will be structured in accordance with the 4Strategic Priority Areas, which can be found in FAOs Global Plan of Action for Farm Animal GeneticResources and Interlaken Declaration.National activitiesFarm animal genetic resources for food and agriculture are conserved bothex situandin situinDenmarka)Ex situconservationThe Danish Gene bank is financed though the Danish Budget and managed though CC. It containssemen from native bulls, boars, stallions, billy goats and rams of endangered breeds and embryosfrom native endangered cattle, pigs and sheep. Each year, new material is collected and stored inthe Gene bank.b)In situconservationIn Denmark, around 150 breeders (private and public) participate in thein situconservation of theendangered native Danish Breeds. CC supports the endangered breeds every year, by providing thebreeders with national funds. Furthermore, support is provided to approx. 20 beekeepers and theirorganization engaged in the breeding of the small, remaining population of the black (A. m.mellifera)subspecies of honeybee.c) Legislative mattersCC has made a national scheme to support the endangered breeds and the various small societiesfor breeders.International activitiesDenmark is represented at meetings arranged by the European Regional Focal Point.The Danish National Coordinators for Animal Genetic Resources is a member of the expert groupunder NordGens division for Farm Animal Genetic Resources, which gives advice to NordGensBoard.Conservation and exploitation of woodland genetic resources.The Danish Nature Agency has set up a genetic conservation programme specifically for trees andbushes. Various initiatives, including an established network of conservation areas and a series ofpropagation programmes for trees and bushes, may be utilised in connection with afforestation andother planting initiatives in nature and landscape contexts. These initiatives will continue and theywill be further developed in the light of challenges that certain issues, such as climate change, areexpected to present.
March 2014
83
2.6
The national monitoring programmes for environment and nature
Policy and legislationIn 2004 Denmark established a system by which to monitor both aquatic and terrestrial nature andenvironments, called NOVANA (National Aquatic Environment and Nature MonitoringProgramme). The programme comprises eight sub-programmes and administered a total budget ofDKK 242 million in 2012.In addition to the national NOVANA monitoring programme, there is an independent nationalprogramme which monitors Danish forests and woodlands. The framework for monitoring theforests is established in the Forestry Act's Section 35.Strategy and actionsNOVANAIn connection with local government reorganisation in 2007, the former counties’ ' monitoringinitiatives were transferred to the state. The overall planning and structure of monitoring natureand the environment has been adjusted as a response to e.g. the implementation of the EU WaterFramework and Habitats Directives. The NOVANA 2011-2015 programme ensures that themonitoring programme is even more closely synchronised and adapted to implementation of theWater Framework and Natura 2000 Directives, including an objective to ensure that the necessaryknow-how is available to prepare both Water Framework and Natura 2000 plans.In connection with the monitoring programme, a needs assessment was conducted by the Ministryof the Environment to study the political/administrative requirements of monitoring. NOVANA2011-15 states that the programme aims to make available the necessary material and knowledge tosubstantiate the following:Denmark's obligations vis-à-vis EU and national legislation regarding the monitoring ofnature, the aquatic environment and air quality.The effects of and degree to which the goals of national plans of action for the aquaticenvironment and nature, including the Aquatic Environment and Natura 2000 plans inpursuance of the Act on Environmental Goals, initiatives in the agricultural field and theDanish Air Quality Monitoring Programme, are achieved.Monitoring in pursuance of international conventions on nature and the environment.
The NOVANA monitoring program was revised in 2011 and while there was a reduction in costs theprogramme became at the same time more targettet and efficient. The programme for 2011-2015includes eight sub-programmes for lakes, watercourses, seas and fjords, species and terrestrialnature, land use monitoring, groundwater, air and specific sources of pollution. All are described inthis report.National forest inventory (NFI)The forest inventory programme meets a requirement stipulating that sustainable forestry must bedocumented. This requirement resulted from several ministerial conferences on the protection offorests in Europe. Data collection and reporting are structured in accordance with the ministerialconferences' requirements. Data is collected under the following headings: Forest resources, (area,deadwood and carbon stock), forest health (loss of needles/leaves, forest damage, air pollution),productive functions (growth, felling, carbon sequestration, etc.), biological diversity (diversity ofspecies, operations and biodiversity, peripheral areas, deadwood, native species, preserved andprotected forests, etc.), the forest's protective functions (groundwater and aquatic environment),socio-economic functions (timber consumption, finance and employment, education, outdoorpursuits, cultural values, etc.) and international conditions (area and deadwood mass). The forestinverntory is assimilated into the NOVANA forest monitoring programme.
84
March 2014
An overall report is published for each five-year measurement period. Forest inventory is conductedfor The Danish Nature Agency by the Department of Geosciences and Natural ResourcManagement at the University of Copenhagen.
March 2014
85
2.7
Integration of nature considerations into spatial planning
Denmark has a simple, unequivocal planning system which maintains a strictly decentraliseddistribution of responsibility. The local council is responsible for overall area-regulating municipalplanning and local planning, which is binding on landowners. The regional council prepares astrategic regional development plan. The Minister of the Environment is responsible for ensuringthat national planning work is conducted in line with the state's best interests.Objectives of the Planning ActThe Planning Act ensures that the overall planning reconciles the interests of society with respect toland use and helps to protect the country’s nature and environment so that sustainable socialdevelopment with respect for human living conditions and the conservation of wildlife andvegetation is secured.National planningNational planning regulations were introduced in 1974 and stepped up in connection with the localgovernment reform in 2007. National planning is realised as reports, binding guidelines,instructions and intervention in planning at the municipal level when topics or projects are ofinternational, national or regional interest.National Planning Report:After every general election, the Minister of the Environment mustpresent a national planning report. This is a periodical report on comprehensive regional policy foruse in municipal planning. The national planning report must be tabled as a motion. The Ministerthen invites public debate and finally, on behalf of the government, the Minister presents the finalreport. The national planning report contains visions and perspectives for current planning themeswith a plan of action for their realisation.Nature and environment policy report:At least every four years, the Minister of the Environmentmust publish one or more reports on Denmark's environmental status, and nature and environmentpolicy. National environmental, industrial, labour market and consumer organisations are activelyinvolved in the process.List of state interests – specifically in relation to nature conservation:Every four years theMinister of the Environment must publish a list of matters of state interest in municipal planning.The list reiterates the requirements, to which municipal planning must comply in order toaccommodate state interests. The requirements have legal basis in the Planning Act, in otherlegislation, or in parliamentary decisions. They may also originate from political agreementsbetween the government and Local Government Denmark.The state goals for nature conservation by 2020 are to secure high biological diversity, protectecosystems and halt the loss of biodiversity. Nature and biological diversity must be protected byprotecting ecosystems so that the natural habitats of endemic species of plants and animals areimproved and recreated. A further goal is to ensure that municipal plans do not compromiseinternational nature conservation areas, and thus to ensure that Denmark meets EU obligations, theHabitats Directive, etc.The state also aims to ensure that planning creates cohesion between Natura 2000 areas, thenational parks, protected areas in general (para 3 areas) and preservation areas by connecting themwith ecological/dispersal corridors. Ecological corridors between natural areas will be expandedand supplemented in municipal planning initiatives, e.g. planned "new" natural areas, moreextensive land exploitation, nature rehabilitation and in planning initiatives towards the realisationof Aquatic Environment and Natura 2000 plans. The local authorities are encouraged to establishquality goals for their ecological corridors.
86
March 2014
When they establish general nature management goals, the local authorities are also encouraged toapply "nature quality planning" measures as a basis on which to prioritise specific naturemanagement initiatives. Nature quality planning must correlate closely with the preconditions formunicipal planning established in the Natura 2000 plans and Aquatic Environment plans inaccordance with the Act on Environmental Goals.Objections and injunctions:The Minister of the Environment is responsible for coordinating andsecuring state interests in municipal planning. The Minister of the Environment is obliged to voiceobjections to any proposed municipal planning initiative that contravenes general state interests.The Minister of the Environment's authority is delegated to The Danish Nature Agency.Municipal planningThe local councils are obliged to revise their municipal plan on an ongoing basis. During the firsthalf of a four-year election period, the local council must present a political municipal planningstrategy – known as a "plan strategy" – and make necessary revisions to the municipal plan. Themunicipal plan then functions as a reference framework for the preparation of local plans and forhandling individual cases.A municipal plan comprises:-A main structure including general goals for development and land use in the municipality.-Land use guidelines in many fields-Framework for the content of local plans for individual areas of the municipality.-Land use guidelines – specifically in relation to nature conservation.Municipal planning guidelines describe the main structure's goal in more detail. Guidelines must bepresented for every topic and field listed in the municipal plan catalogue in the Planning Act. Themunicipal plan must, for example, contain guidelines for safeguarding nature conservationinterests, including the location of natural areas which have specific nature conservation issues.Among others, the term "specific issues" covers Natura 2000 areas, nature areas that are generallyprotected under Section 3 of the Nature Conservation Act, areas with protected dunes and protectednatural habitats.The municipal plan must also contain guidelines for safeguarding the nature conservation interestsof current and future ecological corridors and for potential natural habitats. Designated areas mustbe pinpointed on a map and coordinated with neighbouring municipalities.The objective of designating natural habitats and ecological corridors, etc. is to ensure that naturalhabitats are connected and that it is possible for species of wild animals and plants to migrate anddisperse. Designating and safeguarding these areas must also be coordinated with action plansprepared for Aquatic Environment and Natura 2000 planning.Coastal zoneThe Planning Act contains special regulations for municipal planning, e.g. in coastal areas. Within a(theoretically) 3 kilometres-wide coastal zone, areas may only be appropriated into the urban zoneor planned for land zone development if there is specific planning or functional reasons for a coastallocation. The state goals for planning in the coastal zone are to ensure that open stretches ofcoastline continue to constitute an important natural and landscape resource.Open Danish coastal landscapes are a threatened and limited resource, which is unique in Europedue to its variation and scope. The state goal and national planning task is to preserve open Danishcoastlines so that they continue to be continuous landscapes, in which natural and landscape valuesare given high priority. The state also intends that these areas are used for well-founded, most oftenrecreational, purposes. The state's aim remains also to preserve open, undeveloped coastal areas
March 2014
87
while ensuring that development and buildings which require coastal locations are assimilated andthat coastal towns can still be developed.The state aims to ensure that coastal zone development is achieved by directing urban developmentaway from the coast and coastline, to ensure that cohesive stretches of undeveloped coastlineremain intact.The Nature Conservation Act and planningIn pursuance of the Nature Conservation Act's Section 20, development in open countryside mustbe designed such that as much attention as possible is paid to landscape values and other interestsstated in Section 1 of the Act.An executive order determines that no public road development, aerial cable and above-groundpipelines may be built in the open landscape unless approved by the Ministry of the Environment orthe relevant local council.Major public works presuppose that there are both EIA and Section 2o approvals. In some specificcases, public works may need to apply for dispensation, etc. from provisions in the NatureConservation Act.State roads are approved by The Danish Nature Agency based on negotiations with the Danish RoadDirectorate. Major aerial cable and pipelines must also be approved by The Danish Nature Agency.Approval is required in order to safeguard the landscape itself and specific issues stipulated in theNature Conservation Act regarding the protection of nature including the population of wildanimals and plants and their habitats, and improving, restoring and providing areas which areimportant to wild animals and plants. Local roads and minor aerial cable lines may be approved bythe local council.If development will cause changes to the status of a Natura 2000 area, the local council mustsubmit the project and local council recommendations to The Danish Nature Agency with a view toachieving the agency's approval. The recommendations must be based on an Environmental ImpactAssessment (EIA).In a Section 20 approval, the establishment e.g. of fauna passages, may be required to protectendangered species.Afforestation and planningAccording the Planning Act, municipal plans must contain guidelines for the location ofafforestation areas and of areas where afforestation is undesirable.The objective of nominating afforestation areas is to ensure that more private landowners plantforests are planted in areas that, from the general social perspective, can be regarded as mostsuitable. New forests must meet a range of objectives, including increased timber production,promoting outdoor pursuits, biodiversity and environmental protection.Areas nominated for tree planting must, for example, be coordinated, via municipal planning, withurban green areas and ecological corridors in the rural landscape.The so-called "negative areas", i.e. those in which afforestation is undesirable, are nominated so asto ensure that values related to nature, landscape, geology, as well as cultural history, which are notcompatible with forestry, are exempt from tree planting. Amendments or new nominations ofnegative areas are based on specific assessments of how afforestation will conflict with otherimportant issues. E.g. important conservation issues.
88
March 2014
2.8
Financing biodiversity conservation
The table below summarizes Danish national expenditure on biodiversity and the amount ofoverseas development assistance (ODA) related to nature and biodiversity conservation Denmarkspends per year since 2006-2012. Furthermore, private funding in terms of Foundations’contributions as well as NGO’s are shown. The amounts will be further explained in the sectionsbelow.Table 1. Summary of national and international expenditure on biodiversityYear: 2006-2012Currency: million DKK2006Nationalpublicexpenditures2CentralState/ProvincialLocal/MunicipalTotalnationalpublicexpenditureOfficialDevelopmentAssistance3Totalnationalpublic andODAexpenditurePrivate andNGOfunding41) Greenland in not included in the data.2) Source: Own calculations based on data received from The Ministry of Environment, The Ministry of Agriculture, The Ministry Higher Educationand Science, the Ministry of Defence and the 98 municipalities in Denmark.3) Source: ‘The Danish Assistance in relation to the Convention on Biological Diversity’, The Ministry of Foreign affairs (2013).4) Data cover only a part of the funding to biodiversity managed by NGO’s and private foundations. The main explanation for the increase from 2010to 2012 is an increase in the number of private foundations which have provided data. The data for 2011 and 2012 cover The Danish Society forNature Conservation (DN) and the Danish Bird Life Foundation ( DOF), The 15. June Foundation, The Vilum and Velux Foundations, The NordeaFoundation, and The Bikuben Foundation.5) Provinces were demolished in 2007.
2007965-180
20081,315-232
20091,179-267
2010841-278
20111,2531-2981,551
20121,5911-3401,931
863267583
1,213
1,145
1,547
1,446
1,119
BilateralMultilateral
8121,153
5601,286
8561,532
6211,253
1,7961,490
8761,336
1,8741,455
3,178
2,991
3,935
3,320
4,403
3,825
5,312
239797521
200
National expenditure for nature and biodiversity conservationFinancing for nature and biodiversity protection in Denmark mainly comes from governmentbudgets and the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Government budgets include directpublic spending, expenditure at the municipality level and financing received through EU’s RuralDevelopment Program, the European Fishery Fond, and EU LIFE program. Activities both directlyand indirectly improving or conserving biodiversity have been accounted for. For the years 2011 and2012 research on biodiversity related matters has been included in the data.In 2012, Denmark spent DKK 1,9 billion on national public activities related to biodiversity. Thetrend in expenditure has been increasing in the period 2006-2012, the majority of which stemsfrom the inclusion of research expenditure in 2011 and 2012.Government fundingAbout one quarter of public spending on biodiversity stems from the municipal level. This reflectsthe decentralised structure of the Danish public sector, see Chapter 2.1).
March 2014
89
Another main chunk of public expenditure is related to biodiversity-related research activities. In2012 research amounted to DKK 420 million; corresponding to 22 % of national public expenditureon biodiversity related matters.Nature management and sustainable management of forests as well as planting of forest,management of meadows is an area of focus in public spending.Some government funding directly targets improvement of habitats and threatened species. Oneexample is part of the revenue from fees on hunting permits (approximately 95 million DKK peryear.) This includes management initiatives and plans for hare and grey partridge, action plan formink, eradication of raccoon dog, action plans for species listed in Habitats Directive Annex IV,action plan for the great cormorant, management efforts for colony nesting birds, management ofred deer, contingency plan for marine mammals, projects regarding the hazel dormouse, harborporpoise and the Montagu's harrier, surveillance of beavers and establishment of advisory serviceon bats. Furthermore spending targeting specific species have been implemented such as for bats,northern birch mouse and hazel dormouse, European green toad and the natter jack toad.In 2013 the government decided to establish The Danish Nature Fund. The purpose of thefoundation is investment in high nature value land to protect biodiversity, the water and to reduceemissions of greenhouse gasses. The government provides 500 million DKK for its work. Two largefoundations are also providing financing the fund, The Villum Foundation donates 250 million DKKand Aage V. Jensens Nature Foundation donates 125 million DKK.Funding through EUSince 1999 Denmark has benefited from EU funding for many projects associated with nature andbiodiversity.The agricultural expenditure is financed primarily by two funds, which form part of the EU'sgeneral budget: the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) finances direct payments tofarmers and measures to regulate agricultural markets such as public or private storage and exportrefunds, while the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) finances the ruraldevelopment programs of the Member States.Especially the Rural Development Program exerts a strong influence on nature by improvingcompetitiveness for farming and forestry and by providing funding for a variety of specified natureimproving activities (e.g. protection of certain threatened species of animals, planting of hedgerows,grazing of semi-natural habitats, and restoration of wetlands).In addition, the EU LIFE program contributes significantly to nature and biodiversity conservation.To date, the LIFE Nature component (now called Nature and Biodiversity) has co-financed 28projects in Denmark. These projects represent a total investment of Eur 86 million, of which Eur 45million has been contributed by the European Union since 1999.The projects completed focused mainly on the restoration of habitats (grey dunes, coastal lagoons,dry grasslands, heaths and fjords, marine cavernous boulder reefs in Kattegat, and the Mølleåenriver system) and the implementation of actions to sustain specific endangered species (marshfritillary, meadow birds, fire-bellied toad, dormouse). These projects were mainly carried out by theDanish Nature Agency, as well as by three of the former shires, Aarhus, Fyn and North Jutland.There is a range of ongoing LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity projects in Denmark. Except for oneproject, which aims to restore and maintain the favorable conservation status of the houting in fourDanish river systems, these projects focus exclusively on the conservation and restoration ofhabitats. These are:
90
March 2014
Ongoing projectsSemi-natural habitat at HelnæsAtlantic heaths and inland dunes projectSǿlstedMose projectLille Vildmose and Eastern Denmark projectBirdlife and natural habitats project on LæsøRare wetlands habitats of national importance in SouthernDenmark
Amount in million Euro2,54,11,95,62,14,4
On average the EU funded approximately 50% of the project costs. The remainder is typicallyfunded by the state, municipal authorities, foundations and NGOs.International expenditure for nature and biodiversity conservation (ODA)Denmark is involved in development activities in less developed countries and contributes yearly toboth multilaterally and bilaterally financed activities. Biodiversity and nature is an integrated partof the Danish government´s development strategy, “The right to a better life”.OfficialDevelopmentAssistance3BilateralMultilateral8121,1535601,2868561,5326211,2531,7961,4908761,3361,8741,455
Denmark seeks to support activities which combat poverty and create sustainable developmentbased on principles of sustainable management and use of natural resources. Biodiversity relatedaid is defined as activities that promote at least one of the three objectives of the Convention onBiological Diversity (CBD): the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components(ecosystems, species or genetic resources) and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits of theutilization of genetic resources.All the statistical summaries of Danish bilateral assistance presented here are calculated on thebasis of the OECD DAC Rio markers on aid targeting the objectives of the Rio Conventions(Conventions on climate, desertification and biodiversity). Multilateral aid has been examined.There is no known way of estimating how many of the activities of the different multilateralorganisations are actually supporting CBD. The statistical summaries include the full contributionto organisations and projects that support activities targeting the objectives of CBD. This may leadto overestimates of the ODA.On average Denmark provided an estimated DKK 2,4 billion annually from 2006 to 2012 fordevelopment assistance in support of developing countries’ efforts related to the objectives of theCBD. The expenditures on ODA vary from year to year. Even though there was decrease in theexpenditures in 2011 the amount has generally increased since 2006. The higher level of CBDrelevant aid in recent years may be partly due to the efforts of mainstreaming environment as across-cutting issue in the sector-programs through which ODA is channelized. In averagemultilateral aid represents 56 % of the total amount of ODA in the years 2006-2012.Private foundations and NGO fundingThere is a general trend that private foundations are financing an increasing amount of activitiesand projects which relates to the objectives of the Biodiversity Conventions. The main part of theincrease, however, in the expenditure on biodiversity provided by foundations from 2010-2012 isdue to the number of foundations which reported on their activities.The foundations engage in various activities related to biodiversity and nature. Improving publicawareness, ecological restoration, establishing a marine centre are just a few of the activities, forwhich these foundations have provided financial support.Some Danish NGOs, such as the Danish birdlife foundation (DOF) and the The Danish Society forNature Conservation (DN) are also directly engaged in nature protection and conservation.
March 2014
91
Volunteers are engaged in different activities and work for the organisations which provide fundsand petitions for funding for biodiversity and nature conservation projects.
92
March 2014
3. ChapterAchieving the MillenniumDevelopment and the AichiTargets
March 2014
93
While the Millennium Targets are to be achieved by 2015 most of the Aichi Targets are to beachieved by 2020.In the EU a systematic and thorough assessment of the progress towards achievement of the Aichitargets is planned to take place in 2015 and several processes involving the EU Commission and theEU member states have been initiated to establish common procedures and methods to make thisassessment.Thus, this chapter only presents a preliminary and indicative assessment of the MillenniumDevelopment and the Aichi targets.Contributions towards achievements of the Millennium Development Goals and Targets 2015The most biodiversity-oriented goal is goal 7 (Environmental Sustainability) and the most relevanttargets under this goal are:Target 7.A: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies andprogrammes and reverse the loss of environmental resourcesTarget 7.B: Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rateof loss (pls. note that this target is from before UN extended its overaching goal of haltingthe decline in biodiversity from 2010 to 2020)
Since the goal on environmental sustainability and the targets were adopted in 2000 Denmark hasworked towards their fulfilment (see chapter 2 for an overview of policies and strategies).In 2011 Denmark adopted the EU’s biodiversity strategy including a new overall target forbiodiversity: “Halting the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services in the EUby 2020, and restoring them in so far as feasible, while stepping up the EU contribution to avertingglobal biodiversity loss”. Denmark is now working towards fulfilling the EU Strategy’s 6 goalsaiming at obtaining the overarching target.Achievement of the Aichi TargetsThe Aichi targets are supposed to be achieved by 2020 (except target 10 and 17 which are supposedto be achieved by 2015). Below follows a brief presentation of important activities which support theachievements of the targets as well as brief assessments of the progress.Target 1The population will be familiar with the values related to biological diversity by nolater than 2020, along with the steps they can take to protect and make use ofbiodiversity.Work is going on in Denmark in many areas to increase public awareness of the values related tobiological diversity. The campaign will be aimed at the population at large, children, adolescents,landowners, the authorities, stakeholder groups etc.The following activities have been launched:The start of an international citizens involvement project (“World Wide Views onBiodiversity”) , with over 3,000 residents of over 25 different countries concerning the keyissues negotiated at the last Biodiversity Convention held in India, in 2012A national 'citizens' summit' held in 2012, with 200 representatives selected from thepopulation to raise awareness of nature and dialogue concerning central politicalchallenges on nature.
94
March 2014
The Danish Nature Agency has published information materials, folders, posters, videosand YouTube clips on biodiversity, highly endangered species and invasive species, natureprotection, care etc.The Nature Guide scheme provides information via around 300 guides all over the countryon natural habitats and biodiversity through over 30,000 events p.a., with theparticipation of around 1 million people, of which 2/3rds are children. There are also dailyitems on national radio on natural habitats and biodiversity (DR P1).The national Green Flag, Green School project focusses on active education for children onbiodiversity and sustainability.The Nature Agency has published educational material for all classes in primary school,and a nature directory published in 2009 has been followed up with educational materialin the form of themed books focusing on Denmark's nature.Awareness of nature is promoted by easier access to nature at locations where there isnormally no public access - the "Clues in the Landscape" project."Woodland's Day" is held every year in private and public-owned woodlands, designed toincrease awareness of the diversity of woodland, and sustainable exploitation of theirresources. (The Danish Forest Association, private and public-owned woodland, supportedby private funds).“Nature’s day” is held every year and focusses on public awareness of nature andbiodiversity.To promote public debate on nature and biodiversity, the Ministry of the Environmentpublished "Biodiversity, a Public Issue" in 2011.Many Danish NOG’s make a valuable contribution to public awareness of nature andpublic engagement within the field.
Continued efforts to increase public awareness (and particularly that of youngsters) of theimportance and value of biological diversity are expected to help Denmark reach this target.
Target 2The value of biological diversity will be integrated in national and localdevelopment, anti-poverty and planning strategies by 2020, and will beincorporated into national accounts and reporting systems in a suitable manner.Biological diversity is integrated into a number of strategies and policies, and represents a centralelement of physical planning (see also chapter 1 and 2). Nature is a major element of thegovernment's strategy for sustainable development "Considerate Growth" dating from 2009, andthus integrates regard for biological diversity across all sectors. Through its national contribution toIUCN, Denmark has provided financial support to the international TEEB programme (TheEconomics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity), which has helped create the scientific and practicalfoundation to be able to appreciate the value of natural resources with the aim of compiling greenaccounts and other measures.Other relevant initiatives:The government took part in a survey of Nordic ecosystems, their services and social valuein 2012 (TEEB Nordic 2012).Work in progress regarding development of green national accounting (Danish NationalStatistics Institute, 2013)Financial support has been granted for the development of green national accounts incollaboration with the World Bank.Consideration for biological diversity and combating poverty is an integrated element inDanish foreign aid policies.Consideration for biodiversity is integrated in several parts of the Danish legal andphysical planning systems.March 201495
A national project to survey and evaluate ecosystems and ecosystem services will belaunched in 2014.
Denmark is in the process of integrating the value of biodiversity into a range of policies, strategiesand programmes in order to achieve the target.
Target 3Incentives and subsidies that are detrimental to biological diversity will beeliminated, phased-out or converted by no later than 2020 to minimise or avoidtheir negative effects, and positive incentives for the protection and sustainable useof biodiversity are being developed in accordance and harmony with theBiodiversity Convention and other relevant international obligations, with regardto national socio-economic status.The majority of Denmark's rural natural and semi-natural habitats are found or linked to farmingand forestry areas, and the majority of national grant schemes for nature are co-financed by fundsfrom the EU's rural development programme (RDP). A new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) andRDP for 2016-2020 are being compiled, and the EU is working on analysing how negativeincentives and subsidies can be phased out. There is growing focus under the CAP on "greeningelements," concerning consideration for nature, protection of permanent grasslands, cropdiversification etc.The Ministry of the Environment has commissioned a survey of nature-related legislation to focus,simplify and strengthen it. Work is also in progress to promote biodiversity in towns and cities, andmany local authorities are putting more emphasis on ensuring green, multifunctional spaces inurban areas.The government's National Commission for Nature and Agriculture published a range ofrecommendations in 2013 which could bolster biological diversity, including the setting up of aNature Trust for the re-establishment of natural habitat areas. The trust has been given the politicalgreen light and obtained financing from the government and two private charitable trusts (VillumFonden and Aage V. Jensens Naturfond)Other mentionables:Negative incentives such as subsidies for draining have been removed from agriculturalgrant schemes, and subsidies for draining and building roads in woodlands under thewoodland improvement scheme have been stopped.Pesticide tax has been reallocated to stimulate the reduced use of those pesticides resultingin the highest load with respect to human health and the environment.Specific subsidy schemes under the national Rural Development Programme have been setup for protection of threatened species living on open land and in woodland.The Nature Agency has set up an advisory scheme with information on the nationalsubsidy schemes under the RDP, and a special campaign for highly endangered species isto be launched in early 2014.Through the Green Growth Agreement (2009) and co-financing from the EU’s RuralDevelopment Programme funds, significant amounts have been earmarked in recent yearsfor protection and care of Natura 2000 and Article 3 areas, for restoration of nature and toimprove the aquatic environment, and ensure more water in the countryside.The first generation of nature plans (2010-2015) are being implemented and the nextgeneration is being drawn up. The first generation of water plans has been sent forconsultation and is expected to become law in 2014.
96
March 2014
The development of more nature-friendly farming and organic farming has been promotedby financial subsidy schemes. 5 year environment and organic schemes have beenpromoted by caring for grass and natural areas, including 1-year subsidy schemes forextensive farming.
Denmark has established several schemes and regulations to reduce harmful subsidies and toprovide positive economic incentives of importance for biodiversity. Among other endeavoursDenmark is active in the EU negotiation on establishment of a greener subsidy system for theagricultural sector.
Target 4The government, business and industry and other stakeholders at all levels willhave taken measures to achieve or have implemented plans for sustainableproduction and consumption, and have kept the effects of consumption of naturalresources within ecological constraints by no later than 2020.The government is currently working on a Strategy for Sustainable Development, which will bringtargets and initiatives together within economic, social and green areas. The Minister of theEnvironment will publish a report in 2014 on which initiatives within nature and the environmentthe government has launched. The report will be followed by a further report on the status ofnature and the environment in Denmark.The Green Growth Agreement (2009) and the agreement on Green Conversion (2013) aim topromote sustainable production and the National Commission for Nature and Agriculture launcheda series of initiatives in 2013 designed to promote more sustainable agricultural production, to thebenefit of biodiversity. The government is currently considering how it can best follow up itsrecommendations.
Denmark has launched the following:Funds have been earmarked as part of the annual budget to “the Environment andDemonstration Programme (MUDP)”, under which grants are provides for thedevelopment and demonstration of solutions for prioritised problems within the fields ofenvironment and nature.A proposal for a resource strategy has been published with the overall principle ofincreasing recycling and reducing the amount of refuse incinerated. The strategy includesa target of 50% recycling of domestic refuse.A resource strategy for prevention currently under production will contain a number ofspecific initiatives designed to prevent the loss of resources.Binding requirements will be placed on government purchasers stipulating that wood forfurniture, construction and paper shall originate from sustainable forestry.The Partnership for Green Public Procurement, Forum for Sustainable Procurement andseveral specific projects, including the "Responsible Purchaser" web portal are in place topromote consideration for the environment in public sector procurement.Schemes have been set up to support the use of 'eco labels' (including via public sectorprocurement) and increase their use (e.g. through labelling grocery products).The Green Growth Agreement (2009) and Agreement on Green Transition (2013) areboth designed to develop the economic and environmental criteria for sustainableagricultural production, and the National Commission for Nature and Agriculture (2013)has formulated recommendations for the same purpose. The government will bepublishing its proposals for following-up on these recommendations in 2014.The government has set a target of 50% of livestock manure, instead of being utilized asfertilizer, will be used for energy production by 2020.March 201497
The Chemical Programme for 2014-17 contains a number of initiatives, including on thesubstitution of problem chemicals in materials and products in small and medium-sizedenterprises.
Denmark has established several national incentive schemes and regulations to supportdevelopment of sustainable production and consumption and Denmark is active in the EU and ininternational fora which makes efforts to achieve more sustainable and green development andtransition.
Target 5The loss of all natural habitats, including those in woodlands, is to be halved as aminimum by 2020 and where possible brought close to zero, and the degrading andfragmentation of nature is to be significantly reduced.Focus in Denmark has been placed on the protection of habitats as a cornerstone of existing natureconservation efforts. Denmark's natural landscape areas represent 26% of the total, of whichwoodlands account for around 14%, but both types of area are on the increase.Some of the most significant programmes to improve and increase the area of habitats are thedesignation of habitat areas (Natura 2000), general protection of nature types, conservation,forestry planting, setting up no-cultivation zones along lakes and watercourses, and theestablishment of new wetlands.The newly established Nature Fund and the forthcoming Nature Plan Denmark are also expected tomake significant contributions to the establishment of more - and more cohesive - naturallandscapes, and to prevent further fragmentation of natural habitats.Major initiatives include:Just under 9% of Denmark's land area and approx. 18% of total territorial waters havebeen designated as Natura 2000 areas.The Green Growth Agreement included the protection of 20,000 ha of particularlyvaluable woodland against felling and conversion.The Nature Agency will conclude the national updated surveying of general protected areas(Article 3 areas) in 2014, which will give good grounds for future protection.In connection with the first generation of the Nature Plans, activities will be initiated witha focus on stopping the loss of habitats within Natura 2000 areas.The Green Growth Agreement earmarked funds for caring for 110,000 ha within theNatura 2000 areas, and 40,000 ha of Article 3 land outside Natura 2000 areas.State-owned forests have been tasked with ensuring natural values and biodiversity as akey operational objective. Areas of untouched woodland or traditional management havebeen designated, equivalent to around 12% of the state forests.The state forests are being converted to close-to-nature management, including givingmore consideration to nature and biodiversity.Government nature programmes have resulted in around 77,000 ha of new naturallandscape being created since 1989.Defragmentation of nature is also being countered by the creation of up to 75,000 ha ofnew natural landscapes by 2015.A long-term target within forestry is the doubling of woodland areas within a treegeneration, to extent the amount of afforested land to 20-25% of Denmarks area.Several private trusts are making a significant contribution to the promotion ofbiodiversity by re-establishing former natural landscape areas in their own projects and inpartnership within ministries, local authorities, NGOs etc.
98
March 2014
During the last decades Denmark has initiated a series of concrete initiatives to halt the loss ofbiodiversity and for some types of nature areas like wetlands and forests there is an increase innumbers and area.
Target 6All stocks of fish, invertebrates and aquatic plants are to be sustainably managedand exploited legally and using eco-system based methods to avoid over-fishing by2020. Re-establishment plans and targets are in place for all threatened species,fishing has no significant negative effect on threatened species and vulnerableecosystems, and the effect of fishing on stocks, species and ecosystems is within safeecological limits.The management of Danish fish stocks is primarily determined by the EU's Common FisheriesPolicy (CFP). As such, the EU sets overall quotas and devises management plans to ensure thattargets for fishing at Maximum Sustainable Yields are reached. The EU also stipulates controlmeasures and data gathering criteria for scientific advice. A common fisheries development fundallows the financing of necessary fisheries-related plans and projects in relation to the CFP andfisheries measures within the Natura 2000 and the EU's Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Thegovernment has recently adopted a national mussel policy, that limits the scraped area in Natura2000 zones to 15%.Work on sustainable stocks in the seas includes:New fisheries policy and reform of the Common Fisheries Policy.Discard ban in the Baltic Sea by 2015.Political agreement with Sweden on no-go areas for fishing in the Kattegat, for the sake ofpreserving cod stocks.Effective fisheries control via the EU’s 2009 Fisheries Control Scheme.Management plans for various fish stocks: cod, sole, plaice, northern hake and eel.The EU’s management plans are intended to ensure that stocks are maintained or restoredto the benefit of fishermen and the fish.Combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.Sustainability certification of Danish fisheries.Annual action plans for fish recovery (annual funds are earmarked to promote the naturalreproduction of fish stocks, including the release of farmed stocks).Protected zones at sea, where 18% of the area is designated as Natura 2000 zones.Denmark's Marine Strategy (2012) sets targets for good environmental status in the sea by2020. Programmes will be defined in 2015.The first major maritime nature restoration project has been completed, with therestoration of a 7 ha area of grotto-forming rocky reef off Læsø, a rare and verybiodiversity-rich type of natural habitat in Denmark.
Most of the commercially utilized Danish fish stock are harvested sustainably (re chapter 1), whileinitiatives have been launched to address situations where this is not yet achieved.
Target 7Agricultural, forestry and aquaculture areas managed sustainably by 2020, toensure biological diversity.Denmark has launched a series of initiatives designed to support sustainable development ofagriculture, forestry and aquaculture. For example: the state forests (18% of Denmark's totalafforested area) are run on near-natural principles, and certified to FSC and PEFC standards.Hunting is a popular pursuit/hobby in Denmark, and generates around DKK 88 million in licenceMarch 201499
fees, of which a large portion goes to financing programmes to conserve and improve specificspecies and natural landscapes.In addition:The majority of Danish woodlands are subject to a preservation order, protecting themagainst conversion to other purposes.The 2004 Danish Woodlands Act was designed to promote sustainable forestry, includingthe preservation and increase of biological diversity. Along with certification of the stateforests, the act means that Danish woodlands are run in a more sustainable manner nowthan 10 years ago to the benefit of biodiversity.In relation to aquaculture, the agreement contains a sub-agreement that earmarks anadditional DKK 100 million for the period of 2010-2015, to promote eco-friendlyaquaculture production. In accordance with the EU's Common Fisheries Policy, a strategyis to be developed for sustainable development of the aquaculture sector for 2014-2020.Tougher regulation of fish farming and salt water fish farms that will include thresholdlimits for maximum emissions of nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as substances.Denmark has decided to fully utilize the funds from the European Agricultural Fund forRural Development (RDP) which contain several schemes for financing of naturemanagement, nature restoration activities and for protection of threatened species.
A series of national initiatives have been launched to facilitate the development of sustainableagriculture, fishery and forestry and more initiatives have been planned.
Target 8Pollution, including the surplus of nutrients, will be brought down to levels whichare harmless to ecosystem functions and biological diversity by 2020.The aquatic plans has as an overall target to reduce reduction by 9,000 tons by 2015.Emissions of phosphorus are to be reduced by 210 tons.Changes to the Livestock Act in 2011 laid down maximum ammonia amount requirementsfor vulnerable nature.The effect on nature of ammonia emissions and pesticides must be reduced, i.e. throughtechnological environmental solutions.The designation of 50,000 ha with 10 metre-wide buffer zones along their edges in whichspraying and cultivation is banned along all watercourses and lakes with a surface area ofover 100 m2.The scope of PLI for pesticides is to be reduced even further, through reorganisation of thepesticide tax.No pesticides are used in principle in state forests. In addition, there are subsidy schemesfor private woodland planting that favour cultivation without pesticides.Efforts to improve water quality, primarily in watercourses and lakes by focusing on wastewater processing.
Several initiatives have been launched to reduce the pressure of nutrients and pesticides on thenational nature. The pressure from nutrients have been reduced substantially and efforts will bemade to further ensure reduction. It is still a challenge to turn around a trend of increasingutilization of pesticides, but new and targeted regulations have been established. The target isexpected to be reached by 2020.
Target 9Invasive species and their spreading routes are identified and prioritised,prioritised species are under control or exterminated and systems for controlling100March 2014
their spreading routes are in place to prevent their introduction and establishmentby 2020.Denmark has concentrated for many years on combating invasive species through targetedcampaigns at species level, more long-term management and the provision of information (for moredetail please see chapter 2Major activities include:Plans to deal with mink (2012) and raccoon dogs (2010).The Executive Order on raccoon dog prevention (2011).Via the NOBANIS network, information on problem species on their way into the region isshared. Denmark therefore has a good idea of which species could be in the process ofintroducing themselves into the country.The Nature Agency runs regular information campaigns on invasive species and willconclude a project in 2014 that gives a detailed understanding of the spreading routes usedby them.An amendment to the Executive Order on combating giant hogweed (2009) meansimproved opportunities for effective eradication of this invasive species.Denmark became a signatory to the International Maritime Organisation's Ballast WaterConvention in 2012, designed to reduce the discharge of invasive species from ship ballastwater.Denmark's Marine Strategy sets targets concerning programmes to combat invasivespecies. Programmes will be defined in 2015.
Several national initiatives have been launched to analyse invasive species pathways and dispersalpatterns and to reduce populations and at EU level new legislation will be implemented andstrengthen efforts in near future.
Target 10The various types of pressure from human activities and on coral reefs and othervulnerable ecosystems affected by climate change or ocean acidification shall beminimised with regard to preserving their integrity and functions by 2015.Denmark's territorial waters do not contain coral reefs, and the target is therefore of less relevanceto the country.Another vulnerable marine ecosystem with large scale biodiversity is rocky reefs. One suchexample is the almost 7 ha grotto-forming reef north east of the island of Læsø in theKattegat, which was restored by depositing 86,000 stones in late spring 2013 (LæsøTrindel, Natura 2000 area).As from 2015, shipping will be required to use fuel with a lower sulphur content and theuse of scrubbers in designated coastal areas (cf. the EU sulphur directive) to reduce oceanacidityThe government's Climate Strategy (2013) includes a number of CO2 reduction targets andinitiatives to help reduce sea CO2 content, and thus acidity.Studies were conducted during definition of the Climate Strategy and by the NatureAgency on the relationship between climate change and its effect on biodiversity, theresults of which will be used in future nature preservation policies, including Nature PlanDenmark.
Work is being done at national and international level to reduce ocean acidity, but will involve along process, which will be highly dependent on global climate initiatives (CO2 reduction etc.).
March 2014
101
Target 11At least 17% of the land area, including fresh water areas and 10% of sea and coastalareas - especially those that are very important to biological diversity andecosystem services - will be protected by effective and evenly-applied, ecologicallyrepresentative and well-linked systems of protected areas and other effective zone-based measures, and integrated into broader sea- and landscapes by 2020.Denmark has designated a large number of protected zones at land and in the sea, including inconnection with the Natura 2000 programme. On land, over 8% of the total area is protected asNatura 2000 areas. 18% of territorial waters are protected. Protection includes rocky reefs andbiogenic mussel reefs. Four zones have been designated to date that will protect 30 coastal habitatareas.All Natura 2000 protected zones have management plans designed to halt the decline in biologicaldiversity. The government has also launched an initiative to boost care and restoration of opennatural habitats.Other mentionables:Over 14% of Danish land is covered by woodland.Fresh and salt meadows, commons, lakes, heaths, watercourses and bogs account for 9% ofthe land area, and are protected throughout the country (approx. 40% of these types ofnatural habitats are within Natura 2000 zones).In addition are the buffer zones along watercourses, lakes, coasts and woods, conservationareas, nature reserves, national parks etc., which also provide various forms of protection.The establishment of 50.000 hectares of pesticide, cultivation and fertiliser freebufferzones along water courses and lakes and of more forests and wetlands.Denmark's Marine Strategy (2012) sets targets for good environmental conditions in thesea by 2020. New programmes are to be decided in 2015, which could include theestablishment of a cohesive, representative network of protected sea zones.
Much of the terrestrial, aquatic and marine nature is already protected and more protected areaswill be established in near future.
Target 12The eradication of known threatened species will be prevented and their protectedstatus improved and maintained, especially for species in the steepest decline by2020.Denmark is working to halt the decline of species at many different levels. In addition to the habitatspecies covered by the EU's habitat and bird protection directive and Natura 2000 plans, a numberof other species will also be protected. The aim is to protect the habitats, breeding and resting areasused by such species. The population of certain threatened species will also be boosted throughtranslocation. The reintroduction of disappeared species which play a major role in the dynamics ofnature, or which can put focus on certain elements of nature has also been performed.Although a number of species have disappeared, such as the white stork and black grouse, othershave returned in recent years, such as the sea eagle and red kite.Other relevant schemes and initiatives worth mention:Around DKK 88 million p.a. from hunting licence fees goes to subsidies for schemes toprotect species that are threatened or in need of protection.March 2014
102
The INTERREG project for the dormouse, northern birch mouse and bats on Funen andin Southern Jutland (2010-2013).The LIFE project for the establishment of habitats for threatened species including theEuropean fire bellied toad, natterjack toad and fen orchid (concluded 2014).Management plans are in place for all Danish species of the bat, dormouse and northernbirch mouse, large blue butterfly, otters, seals (grey seal and harbour seal), porpoise,beaver, partridge, hare, salmon, houting, marsh fritillary and marsh saxifrage.Management plans for the sand lizard, European green toad and natterjack toad areexpected to be in place by the spring of 2014. The objective for all such plans is that thespecies in question should be ensured a beneficial preservation status.Management plans for birds cover the cormorant, white stork, pink-footed goose, red kite,sea eagle, Montagu's harrier, golden eagle, osprey, peregrine falcon, corn crake, dunlinand ruff.The Nature Agency expects to launch a project concerning the surveying of "high naturevalue zones" in woods in 2014 or 2015.Programmes for red-listed species in state forests are expected to be started in 2015 basedon the mapping project.Subsidies under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) for the protection of breedingand rest areas for bats, dormouse, northern birch mouse, sand lizard and toads.Information materials designed to promote species protection: Best practices forwoodland areas with bats, a folder sent to 95,000 farm owners, electronic map showingthe spread of threatened species etc.Re-introduction of European bison (2013), stag beetle (2013) and beaver (West Jutland -1999, North Zealand - 2009).Subsidies for hedge planting with bee-friendly plants (proviens) and the sowing of bee andwildlife-friendly field margins.The Ministry of the Environment has granted a subsidy to the Danish Hunters Associationfor a project to form a voluntary field wildlife league. The project will identify andfacilitate setting up the league with the intention of supporting the recommendations ofthe management plans for hares and partridges. 100 leagues are expected to be set uparound the country by 2016.
Focussed measures are deemed to still be required for species protection to prevent the decline inbiological diversity. The NOVANA monitoring scheme has shown that certain species are on theincrease, but that many of the threatened species continue to decline, e.g. the sand lizard, Europeangreen toad, dormouse and northern birch mouse.
Target 13The genetic diversity of cultivated plants, livestock and their cousins in the wild,including species deemed to be of socio-economic and cultural value, will bepreserved and strategies for minimising genetic erosion and protection of theirgenetic variation will be developed and implemented by 2020.The government is prioritising efforts in NordGen, the Nordic Gene Bank, for plant material, and aprogramme to locate and register the wild cousins of crops and their preservation status was startedin 2010. The government devised an action plan in 2011, entitled 'From Gene Bank to Table'. Thegovernment has also supported the provision of information in the form of teaching material forschools, and the publication of a culture-historical cooking book.Denmark has ratified the FAO's international treaty on genetic plant resources foragriculture, and has signed the FAO’s Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resourcesand the Interlaken Declaration.Strategies for the preservation of plant and animal genetic resources are described in:
March 2014
103
The Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries' action plan 2011-13 for agriculture's plantgenetic resources, The Gene Resource Committee's strategy 2009-2012 for preservation ofgenetic resources for Danish livestock and in tThe Ministry of Food, Agriculture andFisheries bee breeding strategy 2009 – 2013.Denmark is taking part in a major re-establishment programme for the European Bison –and has reintroduced this species on the island of BornholmThe Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries has earmarked specific funds for thepreservation of agriculture's genetic resources. Funds have also been obtained from othersources, such as via the ministry's agreement with Aarhus University on consultancy.A gene preservation programme for trees and bushes has been set up, to ensure thepreservation and use of genetic resources. A total of 81 species are the subject of a networkof preservation zones on the Nature Agency's areas, approx. 2900 ha have been registeredas gene preservation zones, approx. 1550 ha are designated for seed supply, and around32 seed nurseries have been set up through the Nature Agency's bush programme since2000.Copenhagen University's 'Pomet' programme has collected around 750 species of applesince 1956, of which 250 are Danish.A new national committee has been established for Conservation of Animal GeneticResources and Rare Danish Breeds. The committee is to coordinate and take care of allgenetic resources conservation activities, including a gene bank, breeder support andinformation activities. The committee has been tasked to develop a new national strategyfor conservation of animal genetic resources for food and agriculture in 2014.
A series of initiatives have been launched to protect genetic resources of cultivated plants andlivestock and their wild relatives.
Target14Ecosystems that provide basic services - including those related to water and thatcontribute to health, subsistence and wellbeing - will be restored and protected withregard to women, original and local communities, the poor and vulnerable by 2020.&Target 15The robustness of ecosystems and contribution from biodiversity to carbon dioxideretention will be increased by 2020, through preservation and restoration, entailingthe restoration of at least 15% of the deteriorated ecosystems, thus helping minimiseclimate change and adaptation, plus the spread of deserts.Denmark focuses heavily on protection of habitats and ecosystems, and a large element of existingefforts is aimed at retaining and improving them.Including:Nature protection of natural habitat types and species covered by the EU's habitat and birdprotection directive, protection of natural habitat areas covered by Article 3 of the NatureConservation Act, protected areas, national parks etc.The general running of state-owned woodland areas, which are conversed to close-to-nature management. The woodland improvement scheme and replanting after stormdamage also help to establish or re-establish ecosystems that are robust to climate change.Woodland planting and an increase in wooded areas help towards CO2 retention and thusmake a positive contribution to the CO2 accounts, protect groundwater and ensure highquality drinking water.
104
March 2014
Establishment of 50.000 hectares of pesticide, cultivation and fertiliser free buffer zonesalong watercourses and lakes, plus the establishment of wetlands and woods.Continous national monitoring of carbon stocks and emissions from forests andagricultural areas in accordance with IPCC guidelines for LULUFCA national project to survey and evaluate ecosystems and ecosystem services will belaunched in 2014.Local authority plans include the designation of ecological links, valuable landscapes etc.,which can be used as the basis for continuous expansion, planning and focusing of naturemanagement to boost ecological cohesion.A number of recreational activities such as mountain biking in hilly areas, hiking inremote, quiet areas and hunting can already be enjoyed in many scenic areas, contributingto health and wellbeing. More work is also being done in state forests to improve access forthe handicapped.
Many initiatives have been launched to achieve this target and a national project on mappingnational ecosystems and ecosystem services will take of in 2014.
Target 16The Nagoya Protocol on access to genetic resources and equal distribution of theirbenefits will be in effect and operational in accordance with national legislation by2015.In recent years, intense negotiations on the Nagoya Protocol have been taking place at UN and EUlevel. The protocol was ratified by the UN in 2012, and agreement reached in the EU on a newdirective to fulfil its provisions.Denmark has been one of the leading proponents for ratification of the Nagoya Protocolwithin the EU and internationally. We will continue to strive nationally, within the EU andglobally to ensure the goal can be reached.Parliament passed a new law in December 2012 on regulation of the use of geneticresources from abroad by domestic consumers (businesses and scientists). The law isdesigned to protect developing countries from exploitation of their genetic resources fromrainforests, coral reefs etc. for the development of medicines, enzymes, cosmetics, foodproducts etc. without their prior consent or agreement on benefit-sharing.The government has supported African countries in negotiations on the Nagoya Protocol,and continues to support focus on the development of good governance in this area indeveloping countries, with a subsidy of DKK 15 million for the period of 2013-2015. Thesubsidy is managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the form of co-financing of anABS Capacity Development Initiative.A survey of Danish businesses and academic institutions affected was performed in 2013,and the Nature Agency is currently preparing to implement the new national legislation,plus new EU and UN rules within this area as from late 2014.
Denmark is well down the road to support and prepare the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol.
Target 17Every party involved will have devised, adopted as a political instrument andcommenced implementation of an effective, participatory and updated biodiversitystrategy and action plan by 2015.Denmark's does not have one specific biodiversity strategy . The white paper on 'Biodiversity - aPublic Issue' was published in 2011 to create public dialogue on the future of natural habitats inDenmark.March 2014105
The government set up the National Commission for Nature and Agriculture in 2012, tasked witharriving at proposals for solutions to the structural, financial and environmental problems of theagriculture industry, including how it can contribute to climate, environment and naturepreservation. The commission published a number of recommendations in 2013, including cleartargets and strategies for the natural habitat. Denmark's Biodiversity Strategy is being devised alongwith Nature Plan Denmark, expected to be completed by the end of 2014.
Target 18The traditional knowledge, discoveries and methods for protection and sustainableuse of biological resources of the indigenous people and local communities will berespected by 2020, in line with national legislation and relevant internationalobligations, and fully integrated and reflected in the implementation of theconvention with complete, effective participation of the indigenous people and localcommunities at all relevant levels.Denmark believes in protection of the rights and living conditions of indigenous peoples, and inpromoting their knowledge and methods as an important contribution to protection andsustainable use of biodiversity. As such, Denmark and Greenland played an important role inratifying the UN’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) from 2007.
Target 19The knowledge base and technologies related to biodiversity, the value, functions,status and trends of biodiversity and consequences of its loss will be improved,widely distributed, transferred and utilised by 2020.Denmark has implemented a monitoring system for certain types of natural habitat and species(NOVANA and the National Woodland Monitoring Scheme). The system is designed to provide anunderstanding of the status of natural habitats and the environment in the country. Thatunderstanding is part of the management data for national natural habitat and environmentalpolicies and for decision-making on environmental initiatives. Data gathered by stakeholderorganisations will be incorporated when possible.A national project to survey and evaluate ecosystems and ecosystem services will be launched in2014.
Target 20Mobilisation of financial resources from all sources and in line with theconsolidated processes decided for the strategy of resource mobilisation is to besignificantly increased from the current level, to effectively be able to implement thestrategic plan by 2020.The latest Danish report to the Biodiversity Convention Secretariat on resource mobilisation fornature preservation purposes states and annual contribution of DKK 2.3 billion, equivalent to USD390 million p.a. (average for 2006-2010). This amount corresponds to approx. DKK 410 per personper year, or 0.13% of GNP.As such, Denmark's contribution per capita is one of the very highest compared to other developednations. In addition, ratification and implementation of the Nagoya Protocol plays a vital role, asimplementation will facilitate benefit-sharing with the developing countries supplying the geneticresources for new medicines, enzymes, cosmetics etc.
106
March 2014
Strandgade 29DK - 1401 København KTlf.: (+45) 72 54 40 00www.mst.dk
