Welcome to Denmark and Danish Forestry

Welcome to Denmark!

DENMARK – birthplace of Hans Christian Anderson and home of the oldest kingdom in Europe.

Denmark is a small Scandinavian country in Northern Europe, consisting of the Jutland Peninsula with its border to Germany and more than 400 islands.

It is known for its flat landscapes, high taxes and strong welfare system. A high quality of life, so high it continues to be among the happiest nations on the planet. The capital city, Copenhagen, is famous for its historic architecture, modern design, and vibrant culture. Novo Nordisk, Mærsk, DSV, Lego, Vestas, Danfoss and Carlsberg are all well know Danish companies operating on the world stage.

Denmark is among the smaller nations in Europe with only 6 million people and 43.000 sq km of land, but a coastline longer than India. The county has few natural resources.  the average annual precipitation ranges between 600 and 800 mm)

The Danish landscape is characterised by a long history of intensive land use. Today Denmark is among the most cultivated countries in the Europe - approx 60% of the land area is in agricultural use and only 15% (630.000 ha) is forest.  

This has created both a productive landscape and challenges for biodiversity and natural habitats. In recent years, new political agreements, including the Green Triparte Agreement, seek to address these challenges by converting parts of the agricultural land into wetlands and forest, thereby strengthening biodiversity and improving ecological conditions. A transition where the Danish Nature Agency has a major role.

Forest Management in the Danish Nature Agency

Operating on state-owned land, the Agency focuses on preserving and enhancing biodiversity while providing opportunities for outdoor recreation. To achieve these objectives, The Danish Nature Agency establishes new Nature natural parks where biodiversity is the highest priority, converts forests into areas set aside specifically for biodiversity, and supports a wide range of recreational activities on state land, which is generally accessible 24/7. The Agency also manages forests through multipurpose management, integrating biodiversity conservation, outdoor recreation, and close-to-nature forestry practices.

The Danish Nature Agency is an agency under the Ministry of Green Transition and manages approximately 210,000 hectares of state-owned forests and natural areas across Denmark. It annual harvest is approx 500.000 m3 

Denmark’s forests tell a story of both depletion and recovery. In the early 19th century, forest cover in Denmark declined to as little as 2–3% of the land area. Centuries of overharvesting for fuelwood, shipbuilding, agriculture, and the economic pressures following periods of conflict had left our country largely deforested. Forest resources were severely strained, and large areas were converted to farmland or heathland. This critical low point became a turning point. The Danish Forest Act of 1805 introduced principles of sustainable forestry, including the obligation to regenerate harvested areas. Large-scale afforestation efforts followed throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, transforming the landscape. As a result, most Danish forests today are relatively young in a European context, typically established within the last 100–200 years.

The Agency also manages forests via multipurpose management, integrating biodiversity conservation, outdoor recreation, and close-to-nature forestry practices.

As a major contributor to Denmark’s green transition, The Danish Nature Agency also initiates large-scale nature projects beyond state-owned land. Among the most important initiatives is the restoration of agricultural land into wetlands, which helps store CO₂ and enhance biodiversity. In addition, through afforestation, The Danish Nature Agency creates new forests to increase Denmark’s overall forest cover, contributing to carbon sequestration, improving biodiversity, and expanding opportunities for outdoor recreation.