Nitrogen reduction under the Green Tripartite: water management plan, sub-catchments and environmental guarantee
Updated
Nitrogen is one of the main reasons for land-use conversion. The aim is to bring water bodies into good status under the EU Water Framework Directive. Here is the structure behind the effort.
The target
SGAV (Danish Agency for Green Transition and Aquatic Environment) states that the current target is to reduce nitrogen discharges by 13,800 tonnes. When the agreement was concluded, Miljøministeriet (the Danish Ministry of Environment) outlined a roadmap for bringing all 109 water bodies into good status.
The allocation
The required measures are set out in Vandplan 3-II (Water Management Plan 3-II) and allocated across 108 sub-catchments, grouped into 37 hydrological coastal water groups. MARS (the Danish land-use planning system) calculates the effect of the 23 land-use conversion plans within these groups.
Land-use conversion before field-level regulation
Under the agreement, land-use conversion is the main driver of nitrogen reduction. The land-use conversion plans are intended to reduce the need for field-level regulation, and extensification may form part of them.
A stronger environmental guarantee and urgent measures
A stronger environmental guarantee applies from 2027 onwards. The agreement also includes urgent measures in the areas facing the greatest challenges and a new regulatory model.
Measures with a nitrogen reduction effect
- Nitrogen-removal wetlands in sub-catchments where measures are needed.
- Low-lying land projects, which can also reduce nitrogen.
- Afforestation and extensification.
- Restoration of river valleys.
Frequently asked questions
What is a hydrological coastal water group?
A group of sub-catchments within which the nitrogen reduction effect of the land-use conversion plans is calculated. There are 37.