Afforestation under the Green Tripartite (Grøn Trepart): targets, grants and land requirements
Updated
Afforestation is the largest single initiative under the Green Tripartite in terms of area. Here are the targets and key land requirements as described by SGAV (the Danish Agency for Green Transition and Aquatic Environment).
The targets
The agreement includes establishing 250,000 hectares of forest by 2045. According to Miljøministeriet (the Danish Ministry of Environment), 80,000 hectares will become privately owned untouched forest and 20,000 hectares will become state-owned untouched forest.
Afforestation grants
According to SGAV, the scheme is open all year round, and applications are submitted through MARS (the Danish land-use planning and application system) using MitID (Denmark's digital identity system). All private and public landowners can apply, including municipalities, but not Naturstyrelsen (the Danish Nature Agency). SGAV indicates expected grant rates of DKK 75,500 per ha and DKK 90,500 per ha for forest designated as untouched. The land must be subject to a permanent forest protection obligation. Check the current rates and requirements with SGAV.
Land that cannot be used
SGAV states, among other requirements, that land used for afforestation must not be nature protected under § 3 (Section 3 of the Danish Nature Protection Act) or low-lying land with more than 6% organic carbon, although an exception applies to small areas. Both map layers can be viewed in MARS.
Planting along watercourses
Trees along watercourses can provide shade and stabilise banks, but the effect depends on the site. Freyra's planting analysis is an outline: it marks zones of 10 and 20 m along the watercourse, excludes § 3-protected nature and existing forest, and marks low-lying land. Areas are shown as suitable, conditionally suitable or unsuitable and must always be validated by a qualified professional.
Frequently asked questions
Can municipalities apply for afforestation grants?
Yes. According to SGAV, all private and public landowners can apply, including municipalities, but not Naturstyrelsen.
Can forest be established on low-lying land?
Not with grant funding if the soil contains more than 6% organic carbon, according to SGAV, although an exception applies to small areas.