Developments in monitoring the effectiveness of the EU Nitrates Directive Action Programmes: Approach by Denmark

This contribution describes the methodology for monitoring the effectiveness of
the EU Nitrates Directive Action Programmes in Denmark and its developments
since 2003. The legal requirement for this type of monitoring originates in the
Nitrates Directive, Article 5 (6). The Danish Monitoring Programme (NOVANA)
originates from 1989 after the first Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment was
passed by the Danish Parliament. Since then further Action Plans have been
introduced with the aim of meeting the national goals as well as the
requirements of the Nitrates Directive. Consequently the monitoring programme
has been revised regularly. The NOVANA programme covers the entire aquatic
environment, which means, agricultural catchments, streams, lakes,
groundwater, coastal and marine waters. The programme is conducted in co-
operation between the Environmental Protection Agency and the Agency for
Spatial and Environmental Planning, the Geological Survey of Denmark and
Greenland (GEUS), National Environmental Research Institute (NERI), and seven
Environment Centres under the Agency for Spatial and Environmental Planning.
The Programme is headed by a board with members from the involved parties.
The NOVANA programme contains a network of permanent monitoring points,
and long time series for nitrate concentrations in water are now available.
Modelling is used for upscaling to the national level, for scenario analyses and
for evaluation of action plans.