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CPSL

 

Trilateral Expert Group on
Sustainable Coastal Defence 
for the Wadden Sea

 

 

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RATIONALE

At the 8th Trilateral Governmental Conference for the Environmental Protection of the Wadden Sea (Germany, 1997), it was decided to investigate possible effects of accelerated sea-level rise. Furthermore, on the basis of such an investigation, proposals for future integrated coastal defence and nature conservation policies should be developed. Due to this task, a trilateral expert group, the Coastal Protection and Sea Level Rise group (CPSL), was installed in 1999. The members of the group represent coastal defence and nature conservation authorities in the three Wadden Sea countries.

CPSL Work Phase I

In a first step, a common understanding of processes in the Wadden Sea (morphology, biology and coastal defence) was defined. On the basis of this, for three scenarios (sea-level rise of 10 cm, of 25 cm and of 50 cm until 2050), impacts on selected physical, biological, and socio-economic parameters were investigated. In a third step, a first screening of sustainable coastal defence measures (best environmental practices) to secure present safety standards in the future, was conducted. Finally, the expert group formulated several recommendations for policy, management and research.

Basic Messages
For the most realistic scenario (25 cm of sea-level rise in 50 years):

  • Changes in the Wadden Sea  ecosystem (morphology and biology) are expected not to be substantial.

  • Costs for coastal defence might increase by 5 to 15%

For the “worst-case” scenario (50 cm of sea-level rise in 50 years):

  • The capacity of the system to balance changes might become exhausted.

  • The Wadden Sea tidal basins might start to evolve into tidal lagoons.

  • These morphological changes will substantially influence the biology

  • The costs for coastal defence might double.

The "Breakpoint"
The group expects that, between the most realistic and the worst-case scenarios, there will be an upper limit of capacity from which the tidal basins will start to evolve in the direction of tidal lagoons (i.e. a reduction of tidal flats). The exact position of these breakpoints, i.e., at which rate of sea-level rise this will occur, varies strongly among the tidal basins. Hence, with regard to the strong natural variability, each basin should be investigated separately.

The report of the CPSL served as on an input for the 9th Trilateral Governmental Conference for Protection of the Wadden Sea in Esbjerg, 2001, at which the continuation of the CPSL working group was endorsed.

CPSL Work phase II

The results were also presented and acknowledged at the 9th Trilateral Governmental Conference for the Environmental Protection of the Wadden Sea (Denmark, 2001). Recognizing the high actuality and exigency of sustainable coastal defence strategies, the ministers of the environment decided to continue the work of CPSL.

In a second work phase (CPSL, 2003 - 2005) the work has been focused on elaborating integrated coastal defence solutions, which stand a feasibility check on:

  • safety standard,

  • natural assets (best environmental practices),

  • cost-benefit,

  • public acceptance, 

  • legal aspects, and

  • "harmony" with other interests in the Wadden Sea (e.g. tourism).

Furthermore, the solutions elaborated for one part of the Wadden Sea (e.g. barrier islands) should have no adverse effects on other areas (e.g. tidal flats). As the optimal solution strongly depends upon the future development of the Wadden Sea (CPSL I), two geomorphological scenarios: (1) below breakpoint, and (2) above breakpoint will be elaborated.

The report of the CPSL II "Solutions for Sustainable Coastal Protection in the Wadden Sea Region" serves as on an input for the 10th Trilateral Governmental Conference for Protection of the Wadden Sea on the island of Schiermonnikoog on 3 November 2005.

Composition of the group

The following institutions participate in the trilateral expert group:

  • Kystdirektoratet (DK)

  • Sønderjyllands Amt (DK)

  • Rijkswaterstaat Directie Noord-Nederland (NL)

  • Rijksinstituut voor Kust en Zee (NL)

  • Expertisecentrum LNV (NL)

  • Nationalparkverwaltung Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer (D)

  • Niedersächsischer Landesbetrieb für Wasserwirtschaft, Küsten- und Naturschutz (D)

  • Innenministerium Schleswig-Holstein (D)

  • Common Wadden Sea Secretariat

CONTACT

Dr. Jacobus Hofstede (Chairman  CPSL II)
E-mail: jacobus.hofstede@mlur.landsh.de
Phone: (+49) (0) 431-988 4984

Manfred Vollmer (secretariat)
E-mail: vollmer@waddensea-secretariat.org
Phone: (+49) (0) 4421 9108 18

MORE INFORMATION?

 

 

 

 

Coastal Protection and Sea Level Rise (CPSL)

Solutions for Sustainable Coastal Protection in the Wadden Sea Region

Wadden Sea Ecosystem
No. 21  - 2005

CPSL 2005. Coastal Protection and Sea Level Rise. Solutions for Sustainable Coastal Protection in the Wadden Sea Region. Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 21. Common Wadden Sea Secretariat. Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

Order printed version: info@waddensea-secretariat (6 Euro plus mailing costs)

 

Contents

 

Executive Summary
1. Introduction
2. The Natural System
3. Integrated BEP Solutions
4. Synthesis
5. Conclusions / Recommendations
6. References
Annexes
 
Download report (PDF)
 

 

 

 

 

Coastal Protection and Sea Level Rise (CPSL)

Final Report of the Trilateral Working Group on
Coastal Protection and Sea Level Rise

Wadden Sea Ecosystem
No. 13  - 2001

CPSL 2001. Coastal Protection and Sea Level Rise. Final Report of the Trilateral Working Group on Coastal Protection and Sea Level Rise. Wadden Sea Ecosystem No. 13. Common Wadden Sea Secretariat. Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

Order printed version: info@waddensea-secretariat (6 Euro plus mailing costs)

 

Contents

 

Part 1 (pdf, 300 KB):
Title
Contents
Executive Summary
1. Introduction
2. National Administrative Structures
3. Common Knowledge Basis

Part 2 (pdf, 570 KB):
3. Common Knowledge Basis (continued)
4: Analysis of Changes: Basic Assumptions and Methodology

Part 3 (pdf, 210 KB):
5. Impacts of Changes in Sea Level and Storminess
6. BEP Options
7. Conclusions and Recommendations
Annex 1: CPSL Terms of Reference
Annex 2: CPSL Members
Annex 3: Technical Terms
Annex 4: Relevant Running Projects
Annex 5: Literature

 
Download complete report (pdf, 1040 KB)