Nature protection and biodiversity - State and impacts (Denmark)

Habitats in the open land are among the most threatened in Denmark, due to changes in agricultural management and practices. Since monitoring of Danish farmland birds started in 1976, the population of 22 species of Danish farmland birds has changed. Between 1990 and 2008 the population fell by 36 %.

The area occupied by open habitat types such as commons, heaths, bogs and sand dunes is decreasing and 66 % of open habitats have a poor conservation status.

The population of 22 species of Danish woodland birds increased between 1980 and 1990 and has subsequently been stable. Apart from birds, there is a lack of knowledge of the status of woodland species.

In the aquatic environment the conservation status is unfavourable for all five types of lake listed by the Habitats Directive and for one of two watercourse types. The incidence of the most sensitive of small animals in watercourses rose by 23 % between 2000 and 2007. Diversity of species and populations of seabed organisms in Danish coastal waters has fallen since 2000.

Danish red‑listed species includes 29 % of species under surveillance, which indicates there is a risk of them disappearing. Around half of the red-listed species are in forest areas.

Figure 1 (6.1.1):The populations of 22 Danish bird species found on arable land (kestrel, partridge, lapwing, common snipe, skylark, swallow, meadow pipit, blue-headed wagtail, white wagtail, whinchat, wheatear, fieldfare, lesser whitethroat, whitethroat, red-backed shrike, rook, crow, tree sparrow, goldfinch, linnet, yellowhammer and corn bunting). Source: Danish Ornithological Association.

Figure 2 (6.2.1): Developments in open habitat acreage: permanent grass (pasture, common, meadow, saltmarsh), heath, bog and sand dunes. Source: Danish National Environmental Research Institute.

Figure 3 (6.3.1): The 22 species of woodland bird in Denmark (sparrowhawk, stock pigeon, black woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, robin, redstart, mistle thrush, garden warbler, wood warbler, chiffchaff, goldcrest, pied flycatcher, marsh titmouse, crested tit, coal tit, nuthatch, tree runner, jay, raven, chaffinch, bullfinch, hawfinch). Source: Danish Ornithological Association.

Figure 4 (6.4.2): The average number of sensitive insects (stoneflies, mayflies and caddis flies), the so-called EPT taxa, of 133 watercourse stations between 1994 and 2007. The higher the number, the greater the biodiversity. Source: Danish National Environmental Research Institute.

Figure 5 (MTR2009:6.5.1): Development of species diversity and number of seabed creature species (including mussels and bristle worms) from 18 stations in the Kattegat and two in other Danish straits. Species diversity is depicted using the Margalef Index. The higher the index figure, the greater the species diversity. Source: Danish National Environmental Research Institute.

Figure 6 (6.6.1): Numbers of red-listed species, (disappeared, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable and near-threatened) and numbers of non-threatened species by species type. The table comprises 5 656 species. Species for which there is insufficient data are omitted. Source: Danish National Environmental Research Institute.