The Danish Nature Fund and the Danish Climate Forest Fund will receive a total of DKK 400 million for establishing and protecting natural and forest areas in Denmark. The grants comprise part of the DKK 10 billion allocated by the Novo Nordisk Foundation for projects contributing to the green transition within the framework of the Green Tripartite agreement.
The primary focus of the Foundation’s activities within the framework of the Green Tripartite agreement is to create large coherent natural and forest areas.
The Foundation has therefore decided to support the Danish Nature Fund and the Danish Climate Forest Fund with grants totalling DKK 400 million. These grants will help to accelerate the establishment of these natural and forest areas by further enhancing the ongoing activities of the two funds in this area.
“At the Novo Nordisk Foundation, we share the ambitious vision of the Green Tripartite to convert land in Denmark to have the prospect of more coherent natural areas than we have today. To support this development, we have decided to support the Danish Nature Fund and the Danish Climate Forest Fund in their activities to establish new natural and forest areas,” says Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO, Novo Nordisk Foundation.
“The two funds are both established operators in this area and, in addition to developing their individual projects, will be fully able to complement each other and collaborate to create the optimal natural areas based on the money allocated. We consider these two funds to be key players in this massive societal task that will be carried out,” adds Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen.
The Green Tripartite aims to comprehensively change Denmark’s landscape. According to the Green Tripartite agreement, which was concluded in November last year, Denmark will have 250,000 hectares more forest and will reclaim and rewild 140,000 hectares of carbon-rich lowland.
“The grants will help to change Denmark’s landscape. We will get more coherent natural areas that will provide great nature experiences for all of us. This is a good example of how we can complement each other to achieve a greener Denmark,” says Jeppe Bruus, Denmark’s Minister for the Green Tripartite.
Two grants of DKK 200 million
The Danish Nature Fund is receiving a grant of DKK 200 million to establish permanently protected high-quality natural areas. These natural areas will be restored, protected and managed to ensure lasting value and continually improve the quality of nature in Denmark.
“This is a massive and crucial reinforcement of the activities of the Danish Nature Fund. This means that we can pick up the pace and protect even more and larger natural areas throughout Denmark. We will build on the good collaborations we have already developed and expand them further,” says Bengt Holst, Chair, Danish Nature Fund.
The Danish Climate Forest Fund is also receiving a grant of DKK 200 million. This will primarily be used in a temporary ownership model in which the Fund purchases land, afforests it and then sells it. The grant will also contribute to scaling up the Fund’s existing support scheme for afforestation.
“We are very pleased to receive this grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, which enables us to boost afforestation already this year. We look forward to supporting the local Green Tripartite organisations in afforestation by providing subsidies to landowners who want to establish forests and, through the grant, by purchasing agricultural land on a temporary basis and afforesting it as part of creating larger, coherent natural and forest areas,” says Kirsten Brosbøl, Chair of the Danish Climate Forest Fund. She emphasises that these activities will naturally be carried out in close collaboration with the local Green Tripartite organisations, the Danish Nature Fund and other nature funds and government support schemes.
The Foundation continually awards grants within the framework of the Green Tripartite. A list of the grants that have been awarded so far is available here (Danish version only).
About the Danish Nature Fund
The Danish Nature Fund was established in 2015 as an enterprise foundation that contributes to improving nature and biodiversity, the aquatic environment and climate in Denmark. The Fund purchases, protects and restores natural areas for permanent nature protection. It also aims to develop and disseminate good nature experiences for everyone in Denmark. The Fund’s projects are typically carried out in collaboration with municipalities, national parks and other actors.
About the Danish Climate Forest Fund
The Folketing (parliament) voted unanimously in 2020 to establish the Danish Climate Forest Fund to accelerate climate action. The Fund contributes to Denmark’s climate goals by supporting afforestation and the reclaiming of carbon-rich lowland in Denmark. The Fund offers companies, organisations, municipalities and individuals the opportunity to take climate action by purchasing carbon dioxide credits generated by the Fund’s projects. The Fund is an independent state-owned administrative unit under the Ministry for the Green Tripartite with its own board of directors.
About the Novo Nordisk Foundation
Established in Denmark in 1924, the Novo Nordisk Foundation is an enterprise foundation with philanthropic objectives. The vision of the Foundation is to improve people’s health and the sustainability of society and the planet. The Foundation’s mission is to progress research and innovation in the prevention and treatment of cardiometabolic and infectious diseases as well as to advance knowledge and solutions to support a green transformation of society.
Media enquiries
Sabina Askholm Larsen, Senior Communications Partner, Novo Nordisk Foundation, [email protected]
Uffe Rasmussen, Danish Nature Fund, [email protected]
Astrid Bjørg Mortensen, Danish Climate Forest Fund, [email protected]
