1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
-Afforestation of the urban fringe is a key priority in Aarhus municipality. (Ref. 3) The City of Aarhus has ambitious plans for the local forests and the intention is to increase the absorption of CO2 in nature zones. By 2030 the forest area in the City of Aarhus will have doubled. (Ref. 4)
-Additionally, the project aims to secure clean drinking water for the city's population; it also aims to create recreational areas for local residents and ensures biodiversity through the provision of the optimum living conditions required for fauna and flora. (Ref. 1)
-The latest plan from 2009-2012 had the goal of afforesting 320 ha of new forest in the four years period, which succeeded by the partnerships approach.(Ref 3)
-Additionally, the project aims to secure clean drinking water for the city's population; it also aims to create recreational areas for local residents and ensures biodiversity through the provision of the optimum living conditions required for fauna and flora. (Ref. 1)
-The latest plan from 2009-2012 had the goal of afforesting 320 ha of new forest in the four years period, which succeeded by the partnerships approach.(Ref 3)
Quantitative targets
The afforestation plan’s (2009-2012) aim is an increase from 8% to 14% of forest cover, where every hectare of new forest absorbs around 14 tonnes of CO2 annually (Ref. 3, 4). By the year 2030, should cover an area of 3200 ha new forest. (Ref. 3, 4) A total of 8000 hectares of vulnerable drinking water areas remains unprotected by cultivation agreements or afforestation. The latest plan from 2009-2012 had the goal of afforesting 320 ha of new forest in the four years period,which succeeded by the partnerships approach.(Ref 3)
Monitoring indicators defined
% increase of forest cover
hectares of new forest
(Ref 3, 4)
hectares of new forest
(Ref 3, 4)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate change mitigation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Climate change mitigation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Please specify "other Habitats and biodiversity restoration activity"
Planting woods in vulnerable areas where boreholes have been drilled for drinking water, the use of pesticides or other pollutants in the immediate area can be avoided. (Ref 2)
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Implementation activities
A total of 221 ha of public woods has been planted within the municipality's boundaries over the last 5 years (130 ha owned by the state and 91 by the City Council). (Ref. 1) 'Growing Trees Network' makes it possible for businesses, clubs, associations and even private individuals to support afforestation by buying trees (Ref 1).
The City Council has passed an ambitious woodland plan designed to protect the municipality's groundwater. By planting woods in vulnerable areas where boreholes have been drilled for drinking water, the use of pesticides or other pollutants in the immediate area can be avoided.Aarhus residents will be ensured clean drinking water in 20 years even though the population is rising.(Ref. 2)
The City Council has passed an ambitious woodland plan designed to protect the municipality's groundwater. By planting woods in vulnerable areas where boreholes have been drilled for drinking water, the use of pesticides or other pollutants in the immediate area can be avoided.Aarhus residents will be ensured clean drinking water in 20 years even though the population is rising.(Ref. 2)
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
Protecting water supplies, as switching farmland to woodland means an end to the use of pesticides. It reduces the risk of polluting our drinking water drawn from the groundwater. (Ref. 1)
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown.
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
The 'Growing Trees Network', which has collaborated with the Department of Technical Services and Environment to develop the 'folkeskoven.dk' concept, designed to make it possible for business and city residents to donate trees to a public wood on council land, to play an important role in the city's plan to plant 3,200 hectares of new woodland by 2030. (Ref. 7)
The folkeskoven concept contributes to tree planting in different municipalities in Denmark (where the focus is on a local level, but the concept has national wide goals). (Ref. 9)
The folkeskoven concept contributes to tree planting in different municipalities in Denmark (where the focus is on a local level, but the concept has national wide goals). (Ref. 9)
