IT solution for the green tripartite agreement is launched

The Green Tripartite Agreement laid the foundation for a historic transformation of Denmark's land use, where more forests, lowland areas, and natural habitats will replace agricultural land. 

In collaboration with Styrelsen for Grøn Areal Omlægning og Vandmiljø, Danmarks Miljøportal has developed a new IT solution, MARS (Multifunctional Area Registration), which will support the implementation of the green tripartite agreement. MARS builds on existing modules developed in collaboration between municipalities, regions and the state under the auspices of Danmarks Miljøportal. By building on the existing modules, Danmarks Miljøportal has succeeded in developing the first version of MARS in less than six months.

"We have worked based on a strategy of reusing and further developing existing systems to more quickly deliver a usable solution that meets the complex requirements of the Tripartite Agreement. MARS is designed to be flexible, allowing the platform to evolve in step with future needs," says Nils Høgsted, Head of Secretariat at Danmarks Miljøportal.

MARS provides local tripartites, set-aside consultants, coastal water councils and landowners with a single point of entry to plan and coordinate specific set-aside efforts in Denmark. The platform consists of three key modules:

• Screening: A tool that provides an overview of where projects such as afforestation or set-aside of peat soils can be realised, based on local and national data.

• Planning: A module that helps municipalities and partners prioritise and coordinate efforts in relation to the national objectives.

• Status: A tool that allows authorities to monitor progress and evaluate the impact of ongoing projects.

A flexible approach to complex requirements

Karsten Pihl from Septima, solution architect on the project, highlights the iterative approach as a crucial factor in the development of MARS:

"We started without a fixed specification, but with close collaboration and continuous feedback, we have created a solution that meets the users' needs. Instead of creating one more complex system that can solve everything, we have divided the platform into three modules so that it is adapted to different workflows and easy to use for the different players."

Karsten Pihl also points out that the development has taken place with a focus on simplicity and visual accessibility:

"With the help of sketches, we have been able to concretize complex requirements and translate them into a solution. This has been central to creating a tool that is intuitive to use from day one," he says.

MARS supports the national targets for the conversion of 140,000 hectares of carbon-rich peatlands and the restoration of 250,000 hectares of forest, which are key elements of the Green Tripartite Agreement. The first version of the platform will be launched in January 2025, and updates are planned on an ongoing basis based on users' experiences and needs.

The platform can be found on mars.sgav.dk