A series of online conversations where an artist and a scientist come together to discuss and reimagine the future of Denmark’s landscapes. Press play and immerse yourself in their perspectives on the past, present, and future of these evolving landscapes.

Inspiring public engagement through a nationwide collaboration with museums and art institutions across Denmark, this initiative combines the transformative power of art with insights from the report More, Better, and Bigger Nature in Denmark. Where, How, and How Much? (Mere, bedre, og større natur i Danmark. Hvor, hvordan og hvor meget?) (2024) by the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate (CMEC) at the Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen.

Audiences are invited to engage with thought-provoking artworks reimagining the future of Danish landscapes, shared across social media throughout 2025—including during key global observances: Earth Day (April 22), World Environment Day (June 5), and World Oceans Day (June 8). Join #FremtidensDanskeLandskaber and be part of the conversation!

The work of artist Tue Greenfort prompts us to reflect on our relationship with the environment, particularly within Denmark’s cultivated landscapes. Through his research-driven projects, Greenfort examines the consequences of monoculture farming, resource depletion, and unsustainable agricultural practices on biodiversity, among other urgent issues.

Denmark's landscape, shaped over generations of human intervention, is dominated by monocultures, heavily reliant on fertilizers and pesticides. This approach is rapidly depleting natural habitats and threatening biodiversity. Through his work, Greenfort urges us to reconsider how these practices are influencing not only the land but also the future of our food systems and natural ecosystems.

Almost 100% of Denmark’s area is or has been significantly affected by human activity, and only 5% of nature is in favorable condition*. As our land area remains limited, we must urgently rethink how we prioritize and use our natural spaces.

*Source: CMEC, Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen.

Nature has an incredible ability to heal itself — 'The Brown Coal Adventure' by artist Camilla Berner shows how plants are slowly regrowing in Søby, Denmark, an area once damaged by brown coal mining. The brown coal was extracted from the ground in Søby between 1940 and 1970 and was used to produce electricity. After years of mining, the land was left altered, but nature has found its way back.

For the 'Moving Plants' group show at Rønnebæksholm in 2017, Camilla Berner contributed 8 photographs of wild plant bouquets collected from this very mining site. These plants were carefully arranged in old silver cups, originally given to farmers for their hard work in cultivating the land. Now, these same cups hold plants that have returned to the land, which has been quietly healing since mining stopped.

Berner’s project highlights the resilience of nature and how, even after human impact, landscapes can slowly regenerate. It’s a powerful reminder that even the most damaged places can come back to life with time, if we humans don’t interfere with the landscape.

Presented at Gammel Strand in Copenhagen, 'After Fire' is a striking installation by artist Rune Bosse takes us into a forest that has been through fire. The trees are blackened, the smell of burnt wood lingers in the air, and you can hear the quiet crackle of bark.

At first, it feels like everything is dead. But over time, something changes. New green leaves begin to grow. Life returns—slowly, quietly, and powerfully. 'After Fire' is a poetic reminder that nature can recover, renew, and transform—even after great loss. Bosse doesn’t just show the damage; he shows what comes next. The exhibition later travelled to Kunstmuseet i Tønder, where the trees became even more alive over a longer timespan.

Featuring luminous graphic works, bronze shark sculptures, and mesmerizing video installations incorporating underwater footage from the Atlantic Ocean, Marie Kølbæk Iversen’s New Atlantics exhibition at Kunsthal Aarhus delved into urgent ecological themes—ocean death, biodiversity loss, climate change, and marine mythologies.

Original sound recordings captured in the Bay of Aarhus and Kalø Vig enriched the multisensory experience, immersing visitors in a vivid sonic landscape that deepened emotional and intellectual engagement with the environmental crises affecting marine ecosystems. Through this evocative interplay of visual art, sound, and storytelling, Kølbæk Iversen offered a powerful artistic response to the ongoing challenges facing our oceans.

The ocean generates over 50% of the Earth’s oxygen and absorbs approximately 30% of the carbon dioxide produced by human activity, playing a critical role in moderating global climate and sustaining planetary life.

Future Danish Landscapes is grounded in the scientific findings of the report More, Better, and Bigger Nature in Denmark. Where, How, and How Much? (Mere, bedre, og større natur i Danmark. Hvor, hvordan og hvor meget?), released on May 29, 2024, by the Center for Macroecology, Evolution and Climate (CMEC) at the Globe Institute, University of Copenhagen. The report explores the potential for establishing large, continuous natural areas covering 20% of Denmark’s land area, with an estimated cost of 2 to 4 billion DKK per year.

It provides an overview of key areas in Denmark where efforts to preserve and support biodiversity can be used to best advantage, with the aim of establishing a national network of high-priority, well-managed nature areas—delivering more, better, and wider nature across the country.

The report is based on analyses of data for the distribution of nearly 3,000 species of animals, plants, and fungi, map analyses of Danish nature, forest, and agricultural areas, and a socio-economic analysis determining the cost in terms of loss of production earnings and management costs for the areas.