DENMARK VHMUN UNEP

AGENDA: Deliberation on land preservation with special emphasis on desertification and eutrophication.
Eutrophication and desertification are two modern day environmental problems that are though often given less
importance, pose a great threat to future of land availability.
Eutrophication and desertification are two modern-day environmental problems that are usually
given less importance when discussing environmental issues but pose a major threat to the future of
land. Eutrophication, a phenomenon caused by the leaching of fertilizers or organic material, is
polluting coastal and freshwater water bodies around the world. Not only does this affect the
availability of freshwater, but it also affects the biodiversity living in these regions. Desertification,
on the other hand, is a result of deforestation and climate change. An increase in dry-arid climate in
addition to a reduction of biodiversity causes soil to lose its fertility and become less productive.
This will affect crop growth and yield in the coming future. Not only humans, but habitats of
terrestrial animals will also suffer because the soil will be incapable of holding forests. Undeniably,
this agenda is crucial to discuss and provide resolutions for, as its consequences in later years will
be serious ones that would be extremely difficult to deal with. 

Denmark thoroughly understands the gravity of the eutrophication problem. It sees this problem as
one of its own because of the saddening conditions of the Baltic Sea. Arable farming methods
across European countries surrounding the baltic sea have caused fertilizers to leach into waters and
cause more than 97% of the Baltic Sea area to suffer from eutrophication. To combat this problem,
Denmark throughout the years has been implementing a series of action plans. These include:
I. POLLUTER PAYS TAX: A polluter-pays tax provides economic incentives for
ecologically sustainable activities—or, conversely, disincentives for activities that are not
ecologically sustainable. For example, Denmark’s wastewater tax, imposed on point sources
(industry and wastewater treatment plants), levies a tax on every unit of nitrogen,
phosphorus, and biological oxygen demand (BOD) discharged in wastewater (EcoTech
2001). 
II. NITRATES ACTION PROGRAM: Until 2017, Denmark applied the same rules to all
farmers by implementing the Nitrates Action Programme throughout the country. Since
2017, this regulatory base has been supplemented by a targeted catch crops program and
targeted regulation since 2019. The package now provides for targeted regulation of
agricultural practices, based on the risk of pollution of coastal waters.
III. The Danish Action Programme for the Aquatic Environment III, adopted for the period
2005- 2015, emphasizes phosphorus levels in agriculture. Some of the measures imb
plemented to reduce the eutrophication of water bodies included: 
 Establishment of buffer zones along certain watercourses and lakes; 
DENMARK VHMUN UNEP
 Increased area of catch crops; 
 Re-establishment of wetlands, which stimulate nitrate removal by microbial
conversion; 
 Ban on certain forms of soil cultivation during autumn and winter
IV. The 1985 NPO (Nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter) Action Plan.
V. The 1987 Action Plan against Pollution of the Danish Aquatic Environment with
Nutrients (Action Plan on the Aquatic Environment).
VI. Action Plan on the Aquatic Environment II: The following measures have been
implemented under the Action Plan on the Aquatic Environment II:
 Re-establishment of 16,000 hectares of wet meadow to help reduce nitrogen leaching
to the aquatic environment due to their ability to convert nitrate to N2.
 Afforestation in Denmark and planting 20,000 hectares of forest before the year
2002.
 Agri-environmental measures including financial support to farmers willing to utilize
sensitive agricultural areas in a more environmentally sound manner by using less
fertilizer or by completely refraining from cultivating the land.