Thousands of trees are being planted on the former fields at the future Stenlængegård area in Næstved. Over the years, they must grow into a so-called climate forest, which citizens can stroll around.
The forest area of 8.1 hectares is planted by Næstved Municipality and paid for by Banedanmark as compensation for the forest that has been felled on Zealand to make way for the new Ringsted-Femern Railway.
Twice as much in return
This corresponds to well over double of what has been removed.
– We are very happy that we were able to reach this agreement with Næstved Municipality to give twice as much forest back to the local area as we have had to cut down. It will create good nature for the area and at the same time contribute to the climate. In our work to build the future connection to the rest of Europe, it is inevitable to influence the surroundings. That is why it has been important for us to give the replacement forest back locally, says Ditte Berg Nielsen, project manager at Area and Environment in Banedanmark, in a press release.
Infrastructure affects nature
The transport minister is also happy to be able to contribute to nature in Næstved.
– When we build new infrastructure, it will affect nature and the surroundings. Therefore, it is also an important task to consider nature and biodiversity in all construction projects. Banedanmark is now contributing trees to a large part of the new climate forest at Næstved, which in a few years will be a green excursion destination for the locals, and the many new trees benefit the climate by sequestering thousands of tons of CO2, says Transport Minister Thomas Danielsen in the press release .
Erects twice as much forest
When Banedanmark cuts down peace forest areas in connection with construction projects, as a rule of thumb we always make sure to remove twice as much peace forest as we have had to remove.
In Zealand, 4.2 hectares of peace forest have been felled in connection with Ringsted-Femern, and the replacement for it will now be part of a huge climate forest of a total of 40 hectares.
The forest will be varied with approximately 50 percent trees and 50 percent other nature, such as meadows, streams, waterholes and bogs. This corresponds to 56 football pitches.
In addition to Banedanmark, the project is i.a. financed by Klimaskovfonden and Næstved Gymnasium.
Extra CO2-binding trees
During these weeks, Banedanmark’s forest contribution will be planted, which consists of climate-safe Danish wood species, such as hornbeam, hornbeam, navr, beech, stilt oak and linden.
These are types of wood that are good at sequestering CO2 in the short and long term, while at the same time they will give a big boost to biodiversity in the area.
Beautiful deciduous forest in ten years
This is what Michael Krogh, project manager and agronomist at the Center for Technology and the Environment in Næstved Municipality, tells us.
– The trees are not that big right now, but already in 8-10 years you as a forest guest will have the experience of walking in a beautiful deciduous forest. Banedanmark’s contribution to the project means that, together with the other contributors, we can create a new large green recreational area for the benefit and joy of both nature and people. Even now, when the first trees have been planted, everyone is welcome to visit the forest, which is open around the clock, says Michael Krogh.
The new forest produces a positive climate effect of a total of 8,400 tonnes of CO2 within a 100-year period.
