LIFE IP Natureman is part of a collaboration with the Realdania initiative, Collective Impact, and the project, Nature - a profitable part of agriculture financed by the VELUX FUND and the VILLUM FUND. Realdania has initiated the fourth demonstration project under Collective Impact. The project is in Mariagerfjord Municipality and is called 'Joint Change'.
The aim of the project is to develop better use of the countryside with multifunctional land consolidation, which is why Mariagerfjord Municipality, the Danish Agricultural Agency and Agri Nord have been in close dialogue with the locals at Glenstrup sø and Østerkær Bæk since January.
- We can do so much good for our area with the land consolidation which starts now. Farmers can get more coherent land and coherent nature areas which can benefit both nature, climate and those living in the area. It is crucial that the consolidation of land gives value to us locals. We had never come to this point without intense and positive dialogue with the municipality and other partners, says local citizen and landowner, Søren Visti Sørensen.
With multifunctional land consolidation, we are moving away from making action plans for climate, the aquatic environment and biodiversity separately, which were imposed on the landscape without carefully weighing the local conditions.
The dialogue with the locals has led to ideas, potentials and initiatives for the area, which have been gathered in a Local Development Plan, which was presented to the politicians in Mariagerfjord Municipality in September.
The development plan contains 36 different projects, which are local proposals for how the area around Glenstrup sø can become even more attractive. About half of the projects may involve land consolidation or a new way to use the land.
- There is a huge potential for agriculture, climate, nature, aquatic environment and local development by negotiating a consolidation of land which matches the use and ownership. Of course, it is voluntary to enter into the negotiations and participate in the land consolidation, but I hope that the locals see the opportunity to achieve their own dreams and goals, but also to provide long-term and cost-effective solutions to the community, says project manager Rasmus Fuglsang Frederiksen.
A team across Mariagerfjord Municipality, the Danish Agricultural Agency and Agri Nord together with the locals will try to realize as many of the projects as possible. That work runs until the end of 2021.
The startup meeting on November 19 was for anyone interested in entering the land consolidation. The meeting was chaired by the Danish Agricultural Agency land consolidation planners and was held in the True Assembly House.
- We have looked forward to this. It is a new approach for everyone, so of course, we are excited, but we believe that multifunctional land consolidation will fulfil many of the local wishes and at the same time lift several of the national agendas for climate, nature, agriculture and the environment, concludes land consolidation planner Lars Grumstrup, the Danish Agricultural Agency.