For over 25 years, Denmark has implemented different
approaches to the reduction of nitrogen and phosphorous discharges
from agricultural farms. These initiatives, which range from
the initial Action Plan for the Aquatic Environment (APAE) in 1987
to the broader Green Growth Agreement in 2009, have mainly
been implemented using a national-wide approach as opposed to
the designation of vulnerable zones adopted in other EU countries
(Smith et al., 2007a). The first APAE, effective in 1987 was followed
shortly by APAE II which was implemented in 1998 with the aim
of reducing Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) losses to the aquatic
environment by 50% and 80% respectively.