Water, nature, landscapes and soils are affected by:

• Productive uses such as agriculture and forestry
• Consumption
• Transport
• Recreation
• Climate

Negative and positive externalities within all these areas can be regulated by introducing policies and changing management approaches. Important aspects in this context are the cost-effectiveness of the regulation, the fairness of the distribution of costs and benefits, and potential spatial differences. Both in Denmark and at the EU level, significant focus is directed at regulations and policies related to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. As an example, EU’s Water Framework Directive stipulates that  all both marine and fresh water bodies should meet the criteria of good water quality. Differentiated and targeted regulation is in focus in the Danish implementation of the Water Framework Directive, as both effects, costs and benefits vary across different spatial locations.

Examples of themes and problems in focus are:

• What are the socioeconomic consequences of new regulation or changed management practices? What are the costs and benefits?
• Which policy instruments can be used and implemented to ensure the cost-effectiveness of regulation in different contexts?
• How can practices of households, individuals, farmers or other actors be changes?