Three opposition parties in Denmark are pushing the government to strengthen its commitment to nature protection ahead of negotiations on a new biodiversity law. The Social Liberal Party, the Socialist People’s Party, and the Conservative People’s Party are united in their call for more concrete action.

A key demand is that the government make its goal of protecting at least 20% of Denmark’s land area by 2030 legally binding. This commitment was initially established in November 2024 as part of a broader green agreement involving the SVM government, SF, the Conservatives, LA, and the Social Liberals.

The opposition parties are also advocating for a revised definition of what qualifies as protected nature. They argue that current classifications are too broad, encompassing areas like golf courses that do not genuinely contribute to biodiversity. They specifically want to eliminate the inclusion of areas like golf courses when calculating protected land.

Furthermore, they propose that half of the 20% target should be designated as strictly protected nature. This would entail creating contiguous natural areas free from activities such as forestry, agriculture, and hunting.

Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke has acknowledged the validity of the opposition’s concerns. He agrees that areas like parking spaces and petrol stations should not be classified as nature and indicates a willingness to revise the definition of protected areas during the upcoming negotiations.

The Biodiversity Council has also provided recommendations for the new biodiversity law, suggesting measures such as establishing untouched forests and expanding national nature parks. The council presented seven instruments in 2024 aimed at reversing biodiversity loss.