1. Policy & Management
World Heritage Field Mission Successful
The field mission for the evaluation of the Dutch – German Wadden Sea World
Heritage Nomination was carried out from 1 to 11 September 2008 by Mr Pedro
Rosabal, Senior Programme Officer of the Global Programme on Protected Areas of
the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The IUCN is the
organization that carries out the evaluation of the World Heritage nominations
for the World Heritage Center and the World Heritage Committee.
The objectives of the IUCN field mission are
- to become familiar with all aspects of the nominated property;
- to review the property boundaries and buffer zone boundaries;
- to evaluate the management system and management effectiveness;
- to review actual and potential threats to the property; and
- to evaluate local support for the nomination.
The Wadden Sea field mission involved visits to representative areas and
protection and management issues of the nominated property and meetings with a
broad number of people. In total, these meetings involved more than 100
representing governments, regional and local authorities, scientific
institutions, advisory boards, non-governmental organizations and private
stakeholders. Pedro Rosabal commended the state parties for the excellent
nomination dossier and the very thoroughly prepared programme. This had given
him the opportunity to gain a very broad insight into how the Wadden Sea is
protected and managed and the support which the nomination enjoys among the
people at the coast. The field mission had accomplished all its objectives.
The field mission is an important component of the IUCN evaluation of World
Heritage nominations but there are also other components. A component is also
the external review by independent experts. The nomination dossier has been sent
to ca. 35 external experts knowledgeable about the property or its natural
values and so far more than 20 have reacted. The experts are all based outside
Germany and The Netherlands to avoid conflict of interests.
A further component is the IUCN World Heritage Panel. It advises the IUCN on
its work on World Heritage, in particular in relation to the evaluation of
nominations. It meets usually in December and the following March at IUCN
Headquarters in Switzerland to examine each nomination. The Panel intensively
reviews the nomination dossiers, field mission reports, comments from external
reviewers and other relevant material, and provides its technical advice to IUCN
on recommendations for each nomination. A final report is prepared and forwarded
to the World Heritage Centre in May for distribution to the members of the World
Heritage Committee which makes the final decision on whether or not to inscribe
the property on the World Heritage List in June/July.
The decision on the inscription of the Dutch – German Wadden Sea on the World
Heritage List is anticipated to be taken by the World Heritage Committee at its
annual meeting in Sevilla, Spain in June 2009. But before the decision can be
taken there are still more work to be done and a few hurdles to be taken.
http://www.waddensea-secretariat.org/management/whs/whs-field-mission.html
Trilateral Conference on Biodiversity and Management of Dunes
The speakers at the conference, from left: Pat Doody (UK),
Evert Jan
Lammerts (NL), Knud-Erik Nielsen (DK), Axel Holzkirch (D), Jörg Petersen (D), Ab
Grootjans (NL), Bas Arens (NL) (Photo: Gerold Lüerßen).
Over 50 Dutch, Danish, German and English experts met at the trilateral dune
conference in Wilhelmshaven on 28 August 2008, which was jointly organized by
the National Park Administration Lower Saxon Wadden Sea and the Common Wadden
Sea Secretariat. The conference was opened by Ms. Elsa Nickel of the German
Federal Environmental Ministry: "The nomination of the Wadden Sea as World
Heritage Site underlines the international importance of the Wadden See dunes
and appreciates the protection efforts which have been achieved over the last
two decades."
Recent management issues to protect and restore dune habitats were a focus of
the conference, which concerned, amongst others, how to deal with impacts from
climate change, introduction of new plants and animals, eutrophication, tourism,
as well as future coastal protection needs. Especially wet dune slacks are of
outstanding importance because they are inhabited by a number of endangered
species which have became rare during the last decades because of habitat loss,
stabilization of dunes and lowering of ground water table.
The conference also illustrated progress in dune protection which has been
achieved over the last years, also as an important element of the Natura 2000
network. A natural dynamic of dune development is an ideal precondition to
preserve the nature values of European dunes. Recommendations on how to increase
dune dynamic had been prepared by a Dutch expert team and were also discussed at
the conference.
Further information, background documents and download of
presentations:
http://www.waddensea-secretariat.org/news/symposia/dunes%202008/dune-management.html
Press information in German
http://www.nationalpark-wattenmeer.niedersachsen.de/master.jsp?C=49387152&I=
2. Research & Monitoring
Science for Nature Conservation and Management
The Wadden Sea ecosystem and the EU Directives
The 12th International Scientific Wadden Sea Symposium will be organized in
Wilhelmshaven on 30 March – 3 April 2009 by the Ministry of Environment, Nature
Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Nationalpark Wattenmeer (Niedersachsen,
Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein), and the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS)
The scientific conference will focus on how research and monitoring can
provide input to conservation and management, by developing new methods and
assessment tools. In addition, limitations or gaps in knowledge will be
identified. Recommendation will be given how EU Directives should be applied in
future to ensure a harmonized management of the Wadden Sea, based upon an
ecosystem approach.
The following themes will be addressed
- The dynamic Wadden Sea ecosystem versus a static threshold value approach:
What do population trends, abundances or species composition really tell us? How
to define scientifically sound conservation objectives and assessment criteria?
How to deal with Neobiota?
- Wadden Sea habitat management: Habitat definition (a.o. reefs, sublittoral
habitats), Restoration in a dynamic environment (estuaries, de-embankments),
Examples of site management;
- How to integrate human use, nature conservation and EU Directives? How to
substantiate sustainability? (Economic and societal aspects, ICZM), How to
assess “cumulative effects of human activities”? Examples of best practice.
- EU Marine Strategy Directive: The Wadden Sea as a sub-region? (Workshop)
Abstract for papers and posters (max 400 words) should be submitted
to the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat not later than 15 November
2008.
A 2nd circular will be posted in mid of December 2008 and will contain the
draft program and information on transport, accommodation, meals and
excursions.
More information at:
http://www.waddensea-secretariat.org/news/symposia/ISWSS-2009.html
3. Information & Education
International Summer Camps: Wadden Sea Adventures at the Lighthouse
Westerhever
For the third time, the International Wadden Sea School (IWSS) has offered a
summer camp for staff-children from the Dutch IWSS-sponsor NAM. In the first
week of August, a group of 16 Dutch boys and girls enjoyed a truly international
Wadden Sea adventure in the Wadden Sea National Park of Schleswig-Holstein.
Housed directly at the famous lighthouse Westerhever, the children embarked on
exciting expeditions into the local nature and culture and discovered
interesting differences and similarities to the Dutch Wadden Sea region. As in
the previous years, the camp – carried out in cooperation with the Dutch Nature
Centre Ameland – has been a great success with role-model character for
cross-border cooperation in Wadden Sea education.
A second summer camp took place in Westerhever in late August 2008. In
cooperation with the National Park administration and the local nature NGO
Schutzstation Wattenmeer, the IWSS offered hands-on experience of nature and
wilderness for 25 children from the National Park region of Schleswig-Holstein
in their “own” Wadden Sea – a valuable basis for the identification with the
National Park idea and protection of the Wadden Sea as an entity.
The IWSS is a trilateral information and environmental education program of
the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation. Further information at: http://www.iwss.org
4. New Publications
Wadden Sea in class: Educational Resource Pack „Nationalpark-Wattpaket“
 A brand
new collection of educational resources for classroom teaching has been
developed by the three German Wadden Sea National Parks in cooperation with
nature NGOs. Along with the oystercatcher mascot „Freddy“, children from grade 3
to 6 discover the Wadden Sea habitat in numerous ways and from various
perspectives. The material offers not only a broad choice of activities and
ready-to-use worksheets for cross-curricular teaching, but also contains books
and a CD-Rom for individual research tasks as well as educational games, which
are fun to play.
The International Wadden Sea School (IWSS) has contributed a chapter about
Wadden Sea English and sustainable class trips in the three Wadden Sea
countries.
The package is available in German and can be obtained for 98,-€ at http://www.pzn-sh.de
Profiles of Seabirds of the German North and Baltic Sea
 In 2005,
protected areas for moulting and wintering offshore seabirds were designated in
the German Exclusive Economic Zone (i.e. marine waters 12 to 200 nautical miles
from land) in the North and Baltic Seas. Both sites, the “Eastern German Bight”
and the “Pomeranian Bay”, are incorporated in the European Natura 2000 network
and, being more than 5,000 square kilometres in total, are among Europe’s
largest bird protection areas.
Compiling published and unpublished data, this book provides profiles on the
ecology of 27 bird species protected under European legislation and will be used
in developing species-tailored conservation measures. The sensitivities of these
seabird species to specific anthropogenic factors in the open sea are assessed,
based on an examination of the birds’ morphological, behavioural and foraging
characteristics.
Presenting the current state of expert knowledge in a clear and
comprehensible form, this book is an essential foundation for the elaboration of
conservation policies and the assessment of the effects of human activities on
birds and their habitats in the seas.
Mendel, B., Sonntag, N., Wahl, J., Schwemmer, P., Dries, H., Guse, N., Müller
S. and Garthe, S. 2008. Profiles of seabirds and waterbirds of the German North
and Baltic Seas. Distribution, ecology and sensitivities to human activities
within the marine environment. 427 p., Naturschutz und biologische Vielfalt,
Heft 61. €30.00, ISBN 978-3-7843-3961-0
More information: http://habitatmare.de/en/aktuelles-artensteckbriefe.php
5. Trilateral Meetings
Coastal Protection and Sea Level rise (CPSL)
23 - 24 September 2008,
Mandø, Denmark74
Senior Official Meeting (SO)
30 September – 1 October 2008, Groningen, The
Netherlands
Joint Monitoring Groups of Breeding and Migratory Birds (JMBB, JMMB)
18 –
19 November 2008, Hamburg, Germany
Trilateral Working Group (TWG)
11 – 12 December 2008, Wilhelmshaven,
Germany
A complete overview is at:
http://www.waddensea-secretariat.org/trilat/meetings/meetings.html
Meetings of the Wadden Sea Forum (WSF) are at:
http://www.waddensea-forum.org/WSFnewCalendar.htm
6. Symposia & Workshops
3rd International Coastal Atlas Network (ICAN) Workshop and EEA Conference
on Coastal
Atlas Development
The 3rd International Coastal Atlas Network (ICAN) workshop, followed by an
EEA Conference, was hosted by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in
Copenhagen from 7-10 July 2008. The two events were attended by participants
from relevant institutions developing coastal atlases and networks in Belgium,
Canada, Ireland, South Africa, UK, USA, and beyond (Caribbean Marine Atlas and
the African Marine Atlas).
Main goals were the presentation of the atlas interoperability concept
including the validating of first outcomes, to develop a strategy for an
effective governance of ICAN, attracting stakeholders, coastal managers and the
public and to stipulate information exchange in coastal and ocean information
services.
The EEA conference allowed European coastal experts to explore available
results of the ICAN efforts and gave platform to support and contribute ICAN
work in Europe.
The ICAN workshop demonstrated the importance of worldwide integrated coastal
atlases. In perspective of a trilateral Wadden Sea information system, ICAN can
assist with experience exchange, cooperation and participation on international
and global level.
More information at:
http://ican.science.oregonstate.edu/home
New events
Only new event are listed. A complete list of upcoming events is at:
http://www.waddensea-secretariat.org/news/events/otherconf.html
NEW:
30 March - 3 April 2009, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Science for Nature
Conservation and Management – The Wadden Sea ecosystem and the EU Directives
12th International Scientific Wadden Sea Conference. Hosted by the German
Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, the
German Wadden Sea National Parks and the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat
3 - 18 April 2009, Lisbon, Portugal
10th International Coastal Symposium,
ICS 2009
For more information please visit http://e-geo.fcsh.unl.pt/ICS2009/index.html
10 - 14 August 2009, Stralsund, Germany
Progress in Marine Conservation in
Europe 2009
2nd International Conference, hosted by the Federal Agency for
Nature Conservation (BfN),
http://www.habitatmare.de
22 - 26 June 2009, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
From ecosystem
function to ecosystem prediction
3rd GLOBEC Open Science Meeting
http://www.globec.org
mail: globec@pml.ac.uk | 