Forests of the World advocates for more wild forest nature
Once, the majority of Denmark was covered by wild, ancient forest. Today, production forests account for around 15 percent of the country’s land area, while wild forest nature covers less than one percent. And that makes a difference, because not all forests are the same.
Production forests are often recognizable by their uniform structure, with trees planted in straight rows, consisting of only one or a few tree species, and very little dead wood on the forest floor.
Wild forest nature, on the other hand, provides a habitat for a rich diversity of animals, plants, and fungi. This is where biodiversity thrives, and the ecosystem’s functions create better conditions for carbon storage, clean groundwater, and greater resilience to storms and floods.
“In Denmark, we need both types of forest. We need production forests to meet our demand for timber products, but there must also be room for protected nature, where biodiversity is the top priority,” says Pil Christensen, Policy Officer at Forests of the World.
At Forests of the World, we are fighting to bring wild forest nature back to Denmark so that we can once again be a forest-rich country with wild animals and untouched nature.
Forests of the World in Denmark
Since the early 1990s, Forests of the World has been fighting for more wild forest nature in Denmark. We play an active role in reforestation and rewilding efforts to address the biodiversity crisis and create a Danish landscape with wild and untouched forests.
Specifically, we work to establish large, interconnected, self-managing forest areas with wild forest nature and large grazing animals in Denmark. With a vast network of professional forestry and nature experts, we maintain close dialogue with forest owners and authorities. Through education and lobbying, we strive to influence the development of Danish nature so that it can once again become rich and diverse.
Our Latest Efforts in Denmark
Forest Acquisitions
To counter the decline of wild forests, Forests of the World, in collaboration with the Danish Nature Fund, has purchased cultivated forest areas to convert them into wild forest nature. We finance these acquisitions with funds from the sale of our forest certificates. The latest addition is Kraruplund Forest, purchased at the end of 2023. Located between Varde and Grindsted, it is a beautiful deciduous forest with old trees and babbling streams. The forest holds great potential to become even wilder, fostering a rich diversity of plants and animals.
Kraruplund Forest is the fifth forest area that Forests of the World has helped to acquire. In 2022, investments were made in more nature on Fyn at Hesbjerg Forest, where 170 hectares of forest are now being allowed to develop into wild forest nature with old, crooked trees and in Vejle Ådal at Engelsholm Sønderskov, covering 50 hectares.
Lerbjerg Forest in Lejre was added to the list in 2021 and is home to endangered species such as hazel dormice and rare butterflies.
The acquisition of Frejlev Forest on Lolland in 2020 ensured the preservation of one of Denmark’s most important forests, which has been identified as a forest with exceptional biodiversity or natural value. Forests of the World has helped acquire 20 hectares of this forest, which is now free from timber harvesting.
A New Forest Plan for Denmark
In 2023, Forests of the World proposed a forest plan for Denmark. The plan aims to increase Denmark’s forest cover from the current 15 percent to 30 percent by 2040. Half of this expanded forest area should consist of protected nature, with at least five percent designated as strictly protected wild forest nature, prioritizing space for nature above all else. The remaining half of the total forest area should be allocated to production forests, with the primary goal of producing long-lasting timber products.
Forests of the World is advocating politically to ensure that at least half of the government’s pledge to establish 250,000 hectares of new forest in Denmark will be dedicated to wild forest nature.
Rewilding at Tirsbæk Bakker
Since April 2019, wild konik horses have roamed Tirsbæk Bakker, just outside Vejle, benefitting the local ecosystem. The goal of introducing the horses is to help rewild the area. By grazing on vegetation, the horses create space for a wide range of species that rely on large herbivores.
Since the project began, the area has undergone a remarkable transformation. The presence of the wild horses has fostered diverse natural habitats, and this scenic oasis has seen a resurgence of rare species. Areas once dominated by nettles and grass have been cleared by grazing. Within thickets and shrubs, the horses carve out paths and small clearings, while on the fields, their trampling creates patches of bare soil. All of this benefits various species. The number of Early Marsh Orchids has doubled, and rare fungi like the Parrot Waxcap have been discovered. These fungi, in turn, provide food and habitats for a variety of insects. Other insects, animals, and plants thrive in the soil depressions created by the horses, while still others flourish in the open and sunlit areas shaped by the horses’ movements.
Six Danish Forests We Protect
To counter the decline of wild forest nature, Forests of the World, in collaboration with the Danish Nature Fund, has supported the acquisition of forest areas using funds from the sale of our forest certificates.
Kraruplund Forest
Kraruplund Forest was acquired in 2023, with 50 hectares of deciduous forest now being left undisturbed, free from timber harvesting. This means that the old trees are allowed to stand, and the forest can develop freely into an untouched wilderness. Located north of Varde, it is one of the few forests in the area where remnants of the original deciduous forest can still be found.
The forest offers plenty of unique natural experiences. The winding forest trails invite you to walk among the twisted, ancient trees and along the babbling stream. The forest boasts rich biodiversity, and you may be lucky enough to encounter species such as the stock dove, the green woodpecker, or even the rare and colorful kingfisher.
Hesbjerg Forest
In 2022, Hesbjerg Forest, located near Odense, was acquired. With its 170 hectares, it is the largest forest that Forests of the World has been involved in purchasing. The forest spans a beautiful glacial landscape with rolling hills, a meltwater valley, and charming forest lakes. You can also experience the unique alder swamp, which will evoke images of the tropical mangrove forests.
Hesbjerg Forest is now allowed to grow old and wild. The forest’s natural streams, along with the original forest mosses and meadows that once adorned the landscape, are being restored. This means you may have the chance to see the endangered Large Heath butterfly and many other special species that thrive in forest mosses and meadows.
Engelsholm Sønderskov
Located in Vejle Ådal, Engelsholm Sønderskov covers 50 hectares, which Forests of the World helped acquire in 2022. Situated in Vejle Ådal, the forest boasts a truly stunning landscape with rolling hills, steep cliffs, and deep ravines. The forest is already very old and contains an impressive biodiversity that is crucial to preserve.
Trails and hiking routes offer excellent opportunities to experience the beauty of the forest. The steep cliffs have created ideal conditions for unique plant species such as horsetails and tufted hair-grass. The forest is also home to fascinating wildlife, including the Eurasian Eagle-Owl, the crow-sized Black Woodpecker, and the Green Woodpecker, which you may be fortunate enough to spot.
Lerbjerg Forest
In 2021, Forests of the World helped acquire Lerbjerg Forest, covering 120 hectares in Lejre. The forest is part of a larger forest landscape in Central Zealand that includes ancient woodlands, making it especially important to preserve. While the forest has previously been used as a production forest, it is now finally being left undisturbed.
The restoration of the forest’s original mosses and meadows provides an opportunity for many rare butterflies to return to the area. The forest is also home to the endangered hazel dormouse, which can only survive in old, untouched woodlands.
Frejlev Forest
The acquisition of Frejlev Forest on Lolland in 2020 secured the preservation of one of Denmark’s most important forests. It has been recognized as a forest with significant biodiversity or natural value in Denmark. Forests of the World helped acquire 20 hectares of the forest, which has now been protected from logging.
Frejlev Forest is characterized by its many ancient trees and its rich and diverse plant life. Because the forest has not been subjected to as intensive forestry management as most of Denmark’s forests, it serves as an important refuge for biodiversity. The forest is home to several hundred species of animals, plants, and fungi, including many endangered and rare species. You can also find numerous burial mounds and ancient relics scattered throughout the forest.
Kollund Forest
Kollund Forest is a unique coastal woodland with ancient deciduous trees and rare species such as the giant bellflower, alpine salamander, and black woodpecker. You can also find four different species of orchids, as well as Denmark’s largest woodpecker species. There is plenty to explore in Kollund Forest.
The forest is one of the few areas in Denmark that has been continuously forested since the Ice Age, making it one of the oldest forests in the country. You can reflect on this as you walk along the many winding forest trails.
