Land use - Drivers and pressures (Denmark)

Urbanization, infrastructure development and agricultural production is one of the main drivers of land use in Denmark and as such has a significant impact on nature and the environment. Although the development of agricultural production is an important driver for the environmental impact, other changes, such as structural changes and agricultural specialisation, also impact the environment.

From 1990 to 2008, Danish pig production increased by 13 %, although from 2002 this is decreasing. In the same period the production of cattle decreased and poultry production was almost unchanged.

Structural changes have implied a change in farm size and number. From 1990 to 2008, the number of farms decreased by 46 %. At the same time, the remaining farms grew in size, e.g. the number of farms >100 ha increased by 120 %. Specialisation implies that areas with high animal density have increased. From 1990 to 2006, the area with highest density of pigs, i.e. >0.25 animal units per ha, increased by 144 %.

Figure 4. Livestock production measured in animal unit (~100 kg N in manure). Source: Statistics Denmark.

Figure 5. The development in number of farms as a function of size measured in hectare (ha) Source: Statistics Denmark

The area used for crop production has decreased over the last decades and from 1990 to 2008 by 16 %. In contrast, the area for forage increased by 57 % from 1990 to 2008. Permanent grassland decreased by 12 % in the same period. These areas are less important for agricultural production, but are important nature areas and are partly included in nature protection areas.

Figure 6. Area use in agricultural production. Source: Statistics Denmark

The development of ecological farming has increased since the late 1980s. In 2009, the area used for ecological production was 170.346 hectare, corresponding to 6.5 % of the total cultivated area. At the same time, the number of ecological farms decreased from 3 466 in 2000 to 2 689 in 2009, indicating that the size of the farms has increased significantly.

Since the EU repealed the set aside obligation in 2007‑2008, it is estimated that 80 % of the set aside areas in Denmark have been cultivated, corresponding to 115.000 hectare. At the same time, the extensively cultivated areas have increased, i.e. to approximately 28 000 hectare. These are most likely the ’old‘ set aside areas, since this terminology no longer exists. As a consequence, the environmental impact from pesticide use, phosphorous load to rivers and lakes, nitrogen leaching, emission of ammonia and CO₂ from agriculture is expected to increase and the importance of set aside areas as habitats and corridors for wildlife will most likely decrease.

Figure 7 (1.4.1): Development of set aside areas and extensively cultivated areas in Denmark. The use of the category “set aside” ceased in 2008. Extensively cultivated areas are a classification for nature areas, nature like areas, planted forest areas, and non-cultivated fields. Source: National Environmental Research Institute, AU and Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, AU.

Figure 8 (1.3.1) : Development in number and production area in ecological farming (inclusive areas in transformation and areas not yet included in the transformation pool). Source: The Danish Plant Directorate.

Physical planning in Denmark distinguishes three different area zones: city, countryside, and summer house zones. The housing stock for all types of housing increased from 2000 to 2009. The number of villas and cottages, as well as semi-detached and terrace houses and blocks of flats increased by 4.5 %, 5.8 % and 5.8 %, respectively. Housing in the countryside zone is increasing. In 2000, 7 % of new dwellings in Denmark were built in the countryside zone, rising to 12 % in 2007. City areas correspond to 6.2 % of the total area use in 2008.

Figure 9 (1.6.2): Development in the number of housing types; villa and cottage, twin- and terrace house and block of flats. Source: Statistics Denmark.