Why has so much valuable land close to Copenhagen been given over to forest?
Denmark has a history of deforestation, and much of that cleared land was turned into what is now new forest. For two centuries, Denmark has performed active reforestation procedures throughout the country. The main push for these reforestation projects was The Danish Forest Act of 2004. This act helped to conserve and protect Danish forests, increase the forest area, and promote sustainable forest management in terms of economic, ecological, and social values. Today, the class visited Store Hareskov, where we walked through the forest, took a boat tour, and saw how the area looks today. It is right outside of Copenhagen, full of lush greenery and a lake. If I didn't know it was manmade, I would have thought it's been this way forever.
This land was reforested instead of being developed upon because of the many functions this greenspace provides for not just the environment, but the people as well. Fresh water lakes, such as the one in Hareskov, is a source of recreation for kayaking and boating. They also provide habitat for flora and fauna.
The forests outside of Copenhagen help to create a biodiverse landscape and provide habitat as well. In terms of societal values, forests provide people with recreational uses such as trails for walking. They also provide overall aesthetics, which is valuable for people who want to get out in nature as an escape. Forests also help to purify our air, as they capture carbon dioxide emissions. Sustainable harvesting practices can also be used to provide a source of timber from these forests, which can be viewed as a benefit to society.
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