As part of its growth negotiations, the government has decided to set aside 165 million kroner to purchase land from Danish farmers and turn it into nature areas.
The plan – which will run from 2014-2017 – is to reduce CO2 emissions by ending the ploughing of low-lying farm land, thus allowing the earth to retain phosphorus and nitrogen.
“Now we can buy larger agricultural areas and turn them into nature permanently so they never again will be drained or sprayed,” Kirsten Brosbøl, the climate minister, said in a press release.
“This will benefit the biodiversity in Denmark’s nature and can connect existing nature areas.”
Good incentive, good cause
The 165 million kroner – half of which will be obtained via EU grants – is expected to buy up about 2,500 hectares of land and be part of the government’s Narturplan Danmark (Nature Plan Denmark), which will be unveiled in the near future.
Beginning this year, the nature authorities Naturstyrelsen will actively contact land owners to see if they have land that they may want to give back to nature.
“Financial incentives await the farmers who have a green disposition and keep their ploughs off the thin and low-lying ground,” Dan Jørgensen, the food minister, said.