Hanne Stensen Christensen, Waterpraxis partner and Head of the Department for Environment in Naestved municipality, wrote a comment on the water plans and their present implementation in Denmark, which was published on 11th February 2011 in the internet portal “Altinget”.
Her main point was that a lack of local influence on the choice, the timing and the integration of projects imply that optimal solutions are not found. Examples mentioned are e.g. that the construction of wetlands is sometimes better than building drainage basins due to their concurrent improvement of the nature, or that removal of barriers in watercourses should sometimes be followed by simultaneous re-meandering, as this will improve the nature and aesthetic quality. The present water plans separate these project types in time, which will affect the cost-effectiveness of the plan.
The article is only available in Danish language under the following link (for subscribers only): www.altinget.dk.
The text of the article can be downloaded here.
Hanne Stensen Christensen was also interviewed by Natur & Vand, a journal for municipal technical heads of departments. The article was published in June 2010. Hanne maintains the points from the article above, and adds that the state has selected the measures based on the type of projects and the area that can be covered by EU subsidies through the Rural Development programme. This puts a delimitation on the area of wetlands, which are designated for the first round of projects. Poul Debois, head of nature secretariat in Vordinbrog municipality supplements by pointing to climate changes, which are expected to change the rainfall pattern. He thinks that drainage basins constructed now may not get proper dimensions, and that wetlands would also prevent future flooding.
The Danish article can be downloaded here.
8 municipalities in Southern Zealand and the islands have produced a flyer, which informs about the possibilities of constructing wetlands on agricultural land. It informs amongst others on the types of compensation which can be obtained. They are:
- 20 years subsidy
- Land sale to the municipality
- Land sale with possibility of land distribution
- Land sale with possibility of land compensation elsewhere
When a landowner applies for participation in this measure, a feasibility study is initiated. If wetland criteria are met (including e.g. how much nitrogen is removed), the municipality will apply for the project in the State Nature Agency.
The flyer in Danish language can be downloaded here / En folder som informerer jordejere om muligheder for at få finansiering til udlæggelse af vådområder kan donwloades her.
