13th Trilateral Governmental Conference on the Protection of the
Wadden Sea

Leeuwarden, Netherlands, 18 May 2018

Trilateral Wadden Sea
Governmental Council Meeting
Ministerial Council Declaration

(Draft as of March 27, 2018)
Note: general reservation on overall draft by Germany/Denmark/Netherlands

TRILATERAL WADDEN SEA GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

page 2

LEEUWARDEN DECLARATION
18 May 2018

We, the Ministers responsible for the protection of the Danish, Dutch, German Wadden Sea,
representing our respective Governments in the Trilateral Wadden Sea Governmental
Council on the Protection of the Wadden Sea,
Welcoming with great appreciation the inscription of the entire Wadden Sea on the UNESCO
World Heritage List, following the extension of the property to include the Danish and a
further part of the German Wadden Sea in 2014, which is a milestone in the forty-year-long
trilateral cooperation for the protection of the Wadden Sea that will encourage us to make use
of its potential by further intensifying our trilateral cooperation on the protection of the
Wadden Sea and contributing to regional sustainable development;
Reaffirming that the key obligation arising from the World Heritage status is to jointly
maintain the Outstanding Universal Value, including the integrity of the Wadden Sea World
Heritage;
Reaffirming the objective of the 2010 Joint Declaration and the Wadden Sea Plan 2010 to
protect and manage the Wadden Sea as a single ecological entity shared by the three countries
in accordance with the Guiding Principle, which is “to achieve, as far as possible, a natural
and sustainable ecosystem in which natural processes proceed in an undisturbed way”, and
applying the ecosystem approach;
Welcoming with appreciation the preparatory work for building a Wadden Sea World
Heritage Partnership Centre in Wilhelmshaven, Germany, which will accommodate the
Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, a Partnership Hub (networking unit) intended to work with
envisaged partner organisations at the hub itself and in networks [and a possible future
trilateral Wadden Sea World Heritage Foundation]1 as a complementary set of institutional
structures;
Acknowledging with appreciation the work of local and regional authorities and partners
engaged in the conservation of the Wadden Sea and contributing to the World Heritage and
involved in the development of a Partnership Hub;
Recalling the Wadden Sea’s importance for global biodiversity, in particular as a staging area
for migratory bird populations and concerned about the observed negative trends of several
breeding and migratory bird populations, as well as declining fish populations in the Wadden
Sea;
1

General reservation regarding Wadden Sea World Heritage Foundation

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

page 3

Aware that climate change has impacts on the Wadden Sea and that future changes can pose a
threat to the Outstanding Universal Value of the Wadden Sea ecosystem, and determined to
address the challenges of climate change mitigation and adaptation, including CO2 reduction
and impacts of climate change on the Wadden Sea ecosystem’s food web.
Reaffirming that the overall goal of climate change adaptation in the Wadden Sea Area is to
safeguard and promote the quality and integrity of the area as a natural and resilient
ecosystem whilst ensuring the safety of its inhabitants and visitors;
Conscious that coordinated monitoring, data handling and assessment of the quality status are
crucial factors for the conservation and management of the Wadden Sea, also as a World
Heritage Site;
Acknowledging the problem of marine litter in the Wadden Sea ecosystem, and committing
to the circular economy as one important approach to preventing introduction of litter to the
sea and contributing to the implementation of respective strategies developed on national and
international level;
Aware of the potential of light emissions to impact on the Wadden Sea Area as well as the
unique core quality and the importance of darkness for the ecosystem as well as for
humankind;
Underscoring the vital contribution of science and research to the further development of the
protection and management of the Wadden Sea as an ecological entity and welcoming with
great appreciation the Trilateral Research Agenda developed by the scientific community;
Underscoring the importance of effective and comprehensive communication and awarenessraising regarding the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation and the Wadden Sea World
Heritage, with a view to enhancing public support for the protection and management of the
Wadden Sea as a shared entity;
Welcoming with appreciation the work on environmental education and involving the young
generation carried out by the International Wadden Sea School and its network in the entire
Wadden Sea Region;
Reaffirming our commitment to the effective implementation of the Wadden Sea Seals
Agreement, concluded under the auspices of the United Nations Convention on the
Conservation of Migratory Species;
Recalling the potential of alien species to negatively impact on the Wadden Sea ecosystem;
Acknowledging the importance of healthy estuaries for the Wadden Sea ecosystem and the
fact that many ports, as vital elements of living and sustainable use in the Wadden Sea
Region, are located in those estuaries;

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

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Recalling the status of large parts of the Wadden Sea as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area,
designated by the International Maritime Organization and welcoming the work achieved by
the DENGERNETH Maritime Administration Group on the Operational Plans, as provided
for in the Tønder Declaration;
Welcoming the cooperative initiative ”Trilateral Wadden Sea Ports”, and noting [with
appreciation]2 the letter of intent issued at the initiative’s conference in Harlingen,
Netherlands, on 17 May 2018, as an important encouragement for further dialogue on
sustainable port operations.
Reaffirming the importance of international cooperation with partners beyond the Wadden
Sea Region, such as the cooperation in the framework of the UNESCO World Heritage
Marine and Sustainable Tourism Programmes, with the African Eurasian Waterbird
Agreement (AEWA) and States along the African-Eurasian Flyway and in the context of the
Memoranda of Understanding concluded with the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the
Republic of Korea, and the Memorandum of Intent concluded with the Wash North Norfolk
Coast, as well as the importance of cooperation with relevant international organizations;
Acknowledging the Wadden Sea Region’s shared landscape and cultural heritage;
Noting with gratification the overall progress made in the implementation of the Ministerial
Council Declaration of the 12th Trilateral Governmental Conference on the Protection of the
Wadden Sea (Tønder Declaration) and recognizing the need to continue to act on specific
items as indicated in this Declaration and in line with the financial framework to be agreed
upon by the Parties;
Reaffirming the continued validity of the Tønder Declaration and the previous Ministerial
Council declarations;
Determined to meet the challenges facing the Wadden Sea Area, to continue to protect and
manage the Wadden Sea for present and future generations in close cooperation with all
partners engaged in its protection and with those who live, work and recreate in the Wadden
Sea Region;
have adopted the following Declaration:

2

Reservation by Germany

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

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WADDEN SEA WORLD HERITAGE
The Ministers
1. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board to develop trilateral Wadden Sea World Heritage
partnership schemes, to further activate the Wadden Sea World Heritage brand and to
enhance local ownership, as a tool for creating synergies between nature conservation in
the World Heritage Site and sustainable development in the Wadden Sea Region;
2. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board to further develop the Partnership Hub as a part of the
future Partnership Centre together with the envisaged partner organisations and in partner
networks across the Wadden Sea Region, which involve partners at local and regional
level, and to conduct a pilot phase to be concluded by an evaluation in 2019
3.

[Agree to establish a Wadden Sea World Heritage Foundation, as specified in Annex 5;]3

4. Agree to develop a single integrated management plan for the entire transboundary World
Heritage property to strengthen the effectiveness of implementation of coordinated
management within the property in accordance with the request by the World Heritage
Committee, according to the outline of the plan (at Annex 1);
5. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board to oversee the implementation of the Sustainable
Tourism Strategy as an important tool for strengthening the cooperation with a multitude
of different partners, including by updating and implementing the related action plan;
6. Agree to continue and further consolidate the work on the Flyway Vision in the
framework of the Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative with the relevant governmental and nongovernmental organisations and aim to extend the cooperation in the context of the
Wadden Sea Flyway Initiative, especially with regard to the Arctic, to continue
monitoring along the entire flyway, to continue specific capacity building and to increase
the activation of partners;
7. Aim to enhance the awareness of the young generation of the Wadden Sea Region as a
shared heritage through the development of appropriate educational activities and
material as an integral part of World Heritage communication and education and endorse
the Wadden Sea Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development and World Heritage
Interpretation developed by the International Wadden Sea School network (Summary at
Annex 2);
8. Continue to support the work of the International Wadden Sea School and the related
network of people and visitor centres active in environmental education as essential for
the shared World Heritage Site, taking into account the results of the recent evaluation
process;

3

General reservation regarding Wadden Sea World Heritage Foundation

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

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9. Encourage partners of the World Heritage Education Network to extend its network by
establishing further partnerships between information centres and educational institutions
to develop and produce high-quality educational material;
10. Aim to efficiently implement the Wadden Sea World Heritage Strategy (2014 - 2020) in
close cooperation with relevant partners;
11. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board to continue cooperation with the UNESCO World
Heritage Marine and Sustainable Tourism Programmes within a framework of defined
targets;
12. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board to review the Trilateral Communications Strategy and to
prepare a communications programme for the period from 2018 – 2022;
NATURE CONSERVATION AND INTEGRATED ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT
The Ministers
13. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board to oversee the further implementation of the Action Plan
for Breeding Birds and support an exchange of experiences of national and regional
activities, including a potential further development, and to undertake an evaluation in
time for the next Trilateral Governmental Conference;
14. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board to further develop and contribute to implementing the
SWIMWAY Vision (at Annex 3) as an integrated approach to achieving the Trilateral
Fish Targets by investigating, monitoring, managing and communicating topics
concerning the ecology of fish of the Wadden Sea Area;
15. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board to work intensively on cooperation at the operational
management level and to secure adequate wardening and management across the whole
Wadden Sea Area, in order to strengthen the protection of the Wadden Sea World
Heritage;
16. Reaffirm the rules on taking and releasing of seals in accordance with Article IV of
the Agreement on the Conservation of Seals in the Wadden Sea and adopt the updated
Seal Management Plan 2018-2023, which also takes into account the management of grey
seals;
17. Agree to duly take account of the fact that harbour porpoises are present in the Wadden
Sea, thus addressing the conservation of the species;
18. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board to undertake further steps towards an Alien Species
Management and Action Plan (as described in Annex 4), which should include relevant
steps for public awareness and cooperation on early warning and measures, integrating a
related monitoring programme, based on the national data underpinning the Trilateral

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

page 7

Assessment and Monitoring Programme, including the installation of the network
platform at the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat;
19. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board to oversee the further implementation of the Trilateral
Monitoring and Assessment Programme Strategy;
20. Agree to increase the value of the Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Programme to
users and to a wider range of stakeholders, including the availability of data and
presentation of information resulting from those data;
21. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board to produce updates of the online Wadden Sea Quality
Status Report and to deliver a comprehensive synthesis report in time for the next
Trilateral Governmental Conference;
22. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board to further develop steps for the sustainability of fisheries
in the Wadden Sea Area on the trilateral level, in order to achieve the conservation
objectives of the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation as well as a level playing field. This
should be done in close cooperation with responsible authorities and relevant stakeholders
and initiatives (e.g. certification procedures), within the Framework for Sustainable
Fisheries, [taking into account both the importance of the ecosystem service of providing
regional sea food in this respect and the integrity of the World Heritage Site.]4
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The Ministers
23. Strive to substantially reduce the amount of marine litter in the Wadden Sea by the year
2030;
24. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board to make use of all relevant existing monitoring and
action programmes, as well as existing action plans, taking into account local, national
and multilateral initiatives to gain and exchange adequate additional knowledge on
sources and impacts of marine litter (such as microplastics) on the Wadden Sea ecosystem
and stimulate and support appropriate measures;
25. Request the Wadden Sea Board to stimulate various initiatives, together with
communities and relevant stakeholders, aiming to reduce light emissions, such as
measures to avoid unnecessary lighting, the exchange of best practices, technological
innovations or monitoring, for the benefit of the whole Wadden Sea Area, whilst ensuring
safety standards prescribed by pertinent legislation;
26. Continue to support the global and national efforts to mitigate climate change at the
regional level;

4

Reservation Denmark

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

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27. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board in cooperation with, among others, the Wadden Sea
Forum and green NGOs to develop and support promising initiatives for climate change
mitigation taken at the local and regional levels by authorities, organisations, companies
and inhabitants, inter alia by exchanging information and best practices, linking various
initiatives and stimulating pilot projects, including the CO2 reduction ambition of the
Wadden Sea Region;
28. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board to continue implementing the Trilateral Climate Change
Adaptation Strategy and update the priorities contained therein where needed;
29. Request the Wadden Sea Board to determine together with its scientific partners which
investigations are needed to better understand the impacts of climate change on the
Wadden Sea ecosystem, for example on primary production and alien species, and to be
prepared to enhance the level of adequate management to safeguard the Outstanding
Universal Value of the Wadden Sea;
30. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board to review and monitor the impacts of renewable energy
production and energy transportation on the Wadden Sea ecosystem and to consider
measures to avoid or mitigate possible negative impacts by looking for best
environmental practices also with the aim of developing related common principles to
evaluate the impact of high-voltage power cables in the Wadden Sea Area in close
consultation with the responsible bodies and stakeholders;
31. Encourage ports and ferry companies working in the Wadden Sea Area to develop codes
of conduct to further demonstrate their willingness to work towards environmentally
sound standards in accordance with best available technology;
32. Request the Wadden Sea Board to consider the different approaches of the three
countries in order to identify the most sustainable mode of transport for ensuring naturefriendly site-specific connections to the islands in the future;
33. Encourage the competent national shipping and nature conservation authorities to
continue their dialogue in order to achieve an even higher level of safety and cooperation,
inter alia by raising the general awareness and information level;
34. Encourage the further development and application of environmentally friendly port
concepts through the joint organizations of ports, for example by exchange of best
practices;
35. [Support a complete ban by the International Maritime Organization. of paraffin release in
the North Sea];5
36. Encourage investigation and the sharing of knowledge and the exchange of best practices
in the Wadden Sea Region on the relationship between demographic change and
sustainable development opportunities, specifically on sustainable tourism.

5

Reservation Germany: Para still under consultation

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

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COOPERATION
The Ministers
37. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board to continue to strengthen its cooperation with the
scientific community by installing a trilateral programming committee in order to
establish a joint programme on research issues relevant to the Wadden Sea World
Heritage, taking into account the Trilateral Research Agenda [(as outlined at Annex 6)]6
and instruct the Wadden Sea Board to encourage the scientific community to develop a
trilateral research platform and to promote pilot studies on nature restoration;
38. Continue to support the work of the Wadden Sea Forum as an independent trilateral
stakeholder forum;
39. Encourage the Wadden Sea Forum, the green NGOs and other organisations to continue
their work towards sustainable regional development and on integrated coastal zone
management to deliver related stakeholder advice to the Trilateral Wadden Sea
Cooperation;
40. Encourage the Wadden Sea Forum and the competent authorities to work on cultural
landscapes, history and identity as related assets to nature conservation in the Wadden
Sea Region.

TRILATERAL WADDEN SEA COOPERATION 2018 – 2022
The Ministers
41. Thank the Netherlands for having assumed the presidency of the Cooperation in the
period from 2014 - 2018 and for hosting the 13th meeting of the Trilateral Wadden Sea
Governmental Council;
42. Welcome the presidency of the Federal Republic of Germany for the period from 2018 –
2022;
43. Instruct the Wadden Sea Board to review, in time for the next Trilateral Governmental
conference, the progress made on the items described in this Declaration;
44. Intend to hold the next Trilateral Governmental Conference on the Protection of the
Wadden Sea and the 14th Trilateral Wadden Sea Governmental Council meeting in 2022,
at the invitation of the Government of Germany;
45. Intend to hold the 15th International Scientific Wadden Sea Symposium in Germany prior
to the 14th Trilateral Wadden Sea Governmental Council at the invitation of the
Government of Germany.

6

Reservation by Germany

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

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List of Annexes
1. Preparation of a single integrated management plan for the Wadden Sea World
Heritage Site
2. Wadden Sea Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development and World Heritage
Interpretation (Summary)
3. Trilateral Wadden Sea Swimway Vision
4. [Alien Species Management and Action Plan (2-page outline)]7
5. [Establishment of a trilateral Wadden Sea World Heritage Foundation]8
6. [Outline of Trilateral Research Agenda (TRA)]9

7

Reservation by all three Parties regarding Annex
General reservation regarding Wadden Sea World Heritage Foundation
9
Proposal by the Netherlands. Reservation by Germany
8

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

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Annex 1
Preparation of a single integrated management plan for the Wadden Sea World
Heritage Site
1. Introduction
As reflected in the decisions of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) in 2009, 2011, and
2014, the Wadden Sea Plan 2010 is the overall framework and structure for integrated
conservation and management of the property as a whole and coordination between all three
States Parties. The WHC also concluded that comprehensive protection measures are in place
within each State party.
The World Heritage Committee 2014, requested the States parties “to develop a single
integrated management plan for the entire transboundary property … and to consider the
options to strengthen the effectiveness of implementation of coordinated management within
the property”.
Since the inscription of the Wadden Sea World Heritage site in 2009 and the extension in
2014, much has been achieved to intensify the cooperation to protect and maintain the
Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the property. As a result of the World Heritage site
designation, the agenda of the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation (TWSC) has been
broadened and there are now many new opportunities to strengthen nature conservation - the
fundamental purpose of the cooperation – and to increase civic pride, raise awareness,
increase support and practical involvement, and achieve socio-economic benefits.
In close cooperation with and support of many stakeholders, a wide variety of strategies and
plans have been developed including, amongst others, the Wadden Sea World Heritage
Strategy and the roadmap to involve strategic partners, the Wadden Sea World Heritage
Brand Paper, the Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Action Plan, the Wadden Sea World
Heritage Education Strategy , the Flyway Vision, the Framework for Sustainable Fisheries,
the Alien Species Management and Action Plan (in development), the Climate Change
Adaptation Strategy, the Particularly Sensitive Sea Area Wadden Sea Operational Plan, the
Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Programme, the Seal Management Plan, and the
Trilateral Communication Strategy,
The development of a single integrated management plan, as requested by the World
Heritage Committee, will help to further strengthen the ongoing efforts in harmonizing
management of the Wadden Sea as one property in an integrated approach. The management
plan shall provide a clear overarching framework that can be easily read and understood by
stakeholders and the general public. This concerns especially the definition of roles and
responsibilities of the TWSC, site managers and key stakeholders in implementation of plans
and strategies.
Thus, the single integrated management plan strengthens the Trilateral Wadden Sea
Cooperation, enhances understanding of joint management, and creates ownership and
commitment among stakeholders to protect and maintain the OUV.

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2. Objectives
The single integrated management plan for the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site provides an
umbrella to integrate existing trilateral strategies and plans without losing their commonly
agreed content, while taking into account existing regional and national management systems,
which can be easily read and understood by stakeholders. It also provides a clearer picture of
resources needs and transparency how the management system functions. In this respect, it is
of added value for the Trilateral Cooperation.
The overarching objective of the single integrated management plan is to demonstrate how
the effectiveness of coordinated management can be strengthened with the aim to maintain
and preserve the Outstanding Universal Value of the property and protect its natural values
and its integrity on the basis of the Guiding Principle.
The specific objectives are
1. Providing a coherent overview on how trilateral management is done jointly, also
taking into account the local level, to strengthen the protection of OUV and integrity
as shared responsibility.
2. Enhancing ownership and commitment of stakeholders on all levels in management
of the property as one entity and supporting the countries in implementation of
trilateral strategies and plans on the ground.
3. Striving towards a further harmonization of management on the ground and
strengthen the effectiveness of implementation of coordinated management while
taking into account the regional management systems and regional differences.

3. Content
The single integrated management plan for the Wadden Sea World Heritage property will
focus on overarching issues to be managed with priority and in a consistent way across the
property to maintain the OUV and protect the area’s natural values and integrity.
The single integrated management plan is a rolling plan and will be evaluated regularly by the
Wadden Sea Board. Therefore, the contents will be adapted to management requirements of
the TWSC with the support and participation of all key parties involved in implementing the
plan.
Criteria for the selection of the issues to be addressed
1. Main and prior management issues at trilateral level (identified in particular from the
Wadden Sea Plan, recent Ministerial Conference Declarations, and existing strategies
and action plans),
2. Urgency to enhance management effectiveness trilaterally,
3. Management and protection requirements with regard to maintain and protect the
OUV (as reflected in the Statement of OUV, relevant Committee Decisions and in the
Periodic Reporting).

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The starting point for the further development of the single integrated management plan will
be a preliminary structure agreed by the Wadden Sea Board. The content will reflect the
current priorities of the TWSC, but contents and priorities may be adapted during the process.
A flexible approach is envisaged.
The single integrated management plan will be a concise and short document (maximum of
40 pages) and contribute to make the complexity of World Heritage management operational.
It should be easy to read in order to better connect to the people on the ground. It should in
general follow WHC and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) advice
on World Heritage management plans.

4. Timeline
The development is a trilateral process with involvement of site managers and stakeholders
from all Wadden Sea regions and the IUCN. The function of the single integrated of the
management plan as a rolling plan reflecting the main priorities of the trilateral management
has to be considered in its preparation.
The aim is to develop the single integrated management plan in the period 2018 – 2020 with a
finalization and implementation in 2021 to deliver a proposal for final adoption at the 14th
Ministerial Council Meeting in 2022.

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Annex 2
Wadden Sea Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development and World Heritage
Interpretation (Summary)
Introduction
Building upon a network of people and activities evolved over decades, the “Wadden Sea
Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development and World Heritage Interpretation” aims
to provide a trans-boundary framework for environmental education and interpretation in the
entire Wadden Sea. It stands for ONE Wadden Sea and builds on the numerous local, regional
and national activities in this field. It is supposed to provide an umbrella to promote the
Wadden Sea’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) in an international and interdisciplinary
approach. Filling the strategy with life – from the local to the trilateral level – is a common
responsibility.
The strategy has been developed as part of the work of the International Wadden Sea School
(IWSS). Much has been contributed by the Trilateral Network Group Education, the members
of which represent Wadden Sea education and interpretation at national and regional levels,
and by the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat. The work was supported by the Trilateral
Wadden Sea Cooperation and its Wadden Sea Board.
The strategy links and contributes to implementing other important strategies for the Wadden
Sea, namely the overall World Heritage Strategy and the strategy for sustainable tourism. It
also contributes to the UNESCO Programmes for “World Heritage Education” and
“Education for Sustainable Development”
Our Vision for the Future
It is our joint vision that in the future…
People who live, visit or work in any part of the Wadden Sea World Heritage region
are aware of and appreciate the OUV and the unique landscape. They are committed
to preserving these globally important assets for the benefit of present and future
generations and for all humankind.
Environmental education and interpretation provide access to the understanding and
appreciation of the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site and its global importance. Highquality information and nature, landscape and culture experiences ensure outstanding
opportunities for all age groups to learn about, experience, enjoy, and support the
protection of the Wadden Sea.
Local, regional, and trans-boundary, as well as governmental and non-governmental
offers complement each other, and committed partners actively cooperate at a
national, trilateral and international level. All education and interpretation activities
support the integral protection of the Wadden Sea as an ecological entity and the
ecological requirements of its common World Heritage status.
Our Objectives and Measures – How the Vision becomes Reality
Three joint objectives set out how we want to achieve the vision:
Competent multipliers: All stakeholders of Wadden Sea education have a
transnational understanding and appreciation of the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site,
its OUV and its protection in a trilateral and global context.
High-quality information: Comprehensive holistic information and education offers
provide consistent communication of the OUV throughout the Wadden Sea Region
and beyond.

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Outstanding person-to-person communication: Guided nature interpretation offers
provide authentic experiences of the diversity, dynamics and beauty of the Wadden
Sea World Heritage Site for everyone.
Thirteen measures at the national as well as at the trilateral level are expected to achieve the
objectives and to realise the vision in the long term. At the trilateral level, three measures
comprise networking and service activities targeted at multipliers of Wadden Sea education as
well as providing multilingual education resources focussing on the World Heritage Site. Ten
measures at the national level range from training programs for various audiences, to
operating visitor centres and other information systems, numerous guided tours e.g. for the
public and for classes, to online and offline information and education material.
Audiences
Our approach to Wadden Sea education and interpretation from the local to the trilateral level
addresses various target groups in the framework of formal, non-formal and informal
learning.
Schools of all kinds: The audience for “formal learning” includes school classes,
schools and other formal learning groups, including schools of applied sciences and
universities;
Stakeholders: The main audience for “non-formal learning” are multipliers of
Wadden Sea World Heritage education and interpretation, such as visitor centres,
NGOs, nature guides and youth groups engaged in extracurricular learning activities,
such as junior rangers;
General public: The main audience for “informal learning” is the general public – i.e.
local inhabitants and guests (tourists on holidays, including day-trips).
Implementation
The implementation of Wadden Sea World Heritage education and interpretation is a shared
responsibility and common task of the signatories of the strategy. They include public
authorities, NGOs, and other stakeholders at the national and trilateral level, while also being
open to welcoming more supporters.
The implementation at the trilateral level – according to a trilateral work programme further
specified in annual work plans – is a core task of the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation and
realized by the IWSS together with its network of education centres with guidance provided
by regional representatives, the Wadden Sea Board and the Task Group World Heritage.
Implementation at the national level follows national work programmes – existing or future
measures of the three Wadden Sea countries and their different regions – by public as well as
private partners, such as municipalities, provinces, National Park administrations, NGOs,
visitor centres, schools, etc. The regional networks identify representatives to support and
advise the trilateral work programme.

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Annex 3
Trilateral Wadden Sea Swimway Vision

PROPOSAL FOR A TRILATERAL WADDEN SEA SWIMWAY VISION 2018-2024
Introduction
The Wadden Sea is one of the world’s largest coherent intertidal wetlands. With more than
150 fish species recorded to date, including 13 freshwater species, the fish community of the
Wadden Sea is exceptionally diverse. The populations of many fish species in the Wadden
Sea have steeply declined in recent decades, and causes of these declines are only partly
known or understood.
Basic understanding of essential processes and functional pathways is in many cases still
missing, hampering effective and efficient fish conservation. For this reason, Danish, Dutch
and German fish experts developed conservation objectives for fish –the so— called Trilateral
Fish Targets, which were adopted as part of the Wadden Sea Plan at the Trilateral
Governmental Conference in 2010:
1. Viable stocks of populations and a natural reproduction of typical Wadden Sea fish
species;
2. Occurrence and abundance of fish species according to the natural dynamics in
(a)biotic conditions;
3. Favourable living conditions for endangered fish species;
4. Maintenance of the diversity of natural habitats to provide substratum for spawning
and nursery functions for juvenile fish;
5. Maintaining and restoring the possibilities for the passage of migrating fish between
the Wadden Sea and inland waters.
Based on the agreement at the Trilateral Governmental Conference in 2014 Denmark,
Germany and the Netherlands decided to work on the further implementation of these
Trilateral Fish Targets. It was decided to advance these targets by developing a Trilateral
Wadden Sea Swimway Vision. The Vision was developed in 2017 by a trilateral coordination
group with contributions of research institutes, nature management organizations and
authorities with a view to obtaining a signed commitment of governments and stakeholders at
the Trilateral Governmental Conference in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, in 2018.
The Trilateral Wadden Sea Swimway Vision 2018 - 2024
Implementing the Trilateral Fish Targets is the main goal of the Vision, and the aim is to
provide an overarching Swimway approach –an umbrella- for all kind of initiatives related to
achieving the targets. The Vision is based on four pillars: research and monitoring; policy;
measures; stakeholder involvement, communication and education.

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Research and monitoring
Present knowledge of the factors driving fish population dynamics in the Wadden Sea is in
many cases largely insufficient to establish measures for improvement. A Swimway research
approach, covering issues such as connectivity, predator-prey relations, ecophysiology and
habitat-species relations is currently under development. The Vision will link to the Trilateral
Research Agenda also currently under development, as well as to the findings of the Trilateral
Task Group on Climate Change, the relevant part of the TWSC Quality Status Report 2017,
and should fit in and be complementary to national research agendas. This research approach
will provide important information that helps to develop meaningful and robust indicators to
assess progress towards the Trilateral Fish Targets.
Policy
Policy objectives for fish in the Wadden Sea are formulated at the European, trilateral,
national and regional levels. Within the Vision it is aimed for making an inventory of
existing policies and regulations relevant to the Trilateral Fish Targets at the European,
trilateral, national and regional level and to analyse their contribution to the realisation of the
these targets. Following the analysis the need for additional actions could be identified.
Measures
At various locations conservation measures have already been carried out or are planned with
a view to improving living conditions for and to mitigate threats to fish. It is important to
create a comprehensive overview of these measures to evaluate their effectiveness and to
identify how they may contribute to the Trilateral Fish Targets. This information will be
combined with the analysis of the bottlenecks along the migratory routes to gain insight into
where measures might be effectively developed while taking into account relevant EU
legislation and adhering to the principle of careful decision-making.
The implemented Vision will add value in sharing data and information between the three
countries, defining best practices and applying research outcomes to develop measures and
improve fish conservation. The information will be provided clearly and coherently and
discussed with stakeholders.
Stakeholder involvement, communication and education
To gain commitment from all stakeholders, raising awareness, activating practitioners and
facilitating knowledge exchange are important goals of the Swimway vision. Four successful
national case studies/initiatives, already in progress, are used as showcase to help to illustrate
the importance and success of the Vision. Four best practice activities have been selected:
• Global: Swimways of the World;
• Denmark: use of citizen science in fisheries, with focus on recreational fisheries, the
“Key Fishermen’s Project”;
• Germany: Masterplan Ems 2050;
• The Netherlands: working together with commercial fisherman to tag migratory
species using the Wadden Sea.
The vision focuses on involvement of stakeholders who have direct or indirect impacts on fish
through their activities, such as researchers, commercial and recreational fishermen, water
authorities, relevant governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). A
communication plan as part of the overall trilateral communication will be developed.

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

page 18

Project organisation
The Wadden Sea Board will be responsible for the coordination of the vision. The three
countries will work together and convey expertise, capacity and resources on a project based
approach for the implementation. A trilateral steering group may carry out the overall
management of the programme and consist of representatives from Denmark, Germany and
the Netherlands. For coordination, facilitating collaboration, fundraising and project
development, a project leader may be appointed. The Common Wadden Sea Secretariat
(CWSS) may serve as a base for a project leader. The Vision may be implemented after the
conference and is envisaged to run for 6 years.

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

page 19

Annex 4. Trilateral Management & Action Plan Alien Species (MAPAS)
Trilateral alien species activities in the UNESCO Wadden Sea Property
The worldwide increase of alien species, boosted by human activities, has the
potential to negatively impact on the Wadden Sea UNESCO World Heritage property.
The Road Map Wadden Sea World Heritage Strategy 2014-2020 foresees the
development of a trilateral management and action plan on alien species for
increased insight, awareness, control and management of invasive alien species10 in
the Wadden Sea Area.
As agreed upon at the 12th Trilateral Governmental Conference on the protection of
the Wadden Sea in Tønder (2014) (§ 35, Tønder Declaration; CWSS, 2014), the
trilateral strategic framework for dealing with alien species in the Wadden Sea should
be further developed towards a trilateral management and action plan on alien
species (MAPAS), taking into account existing and upcoming legislation and projects
by the trilateral Working Group on Alien Species (WG-AS). The overall objective of
the MAPAS should be to prevent threats from alien species to Wadden
Sea´s marine and terrestrial ecosystems and to sustain its Outstanding
Universal Value (OUV) and integrity by preventing, managing or
controlling alien species through a coordinated effort in the trilateral
area.
The MAPAS may contain seven strategic elements
(Fig. 1). National activities, in line with
existing political and legal frameworks for
alien species treatment, can be integrated
into a harmonised management with a
common approach to protect and conserve
the UNESCO World Heritage property.
These national and trilateral activities should
be continued as detailed in the MAPAS. In
addition, several new activities are
recommended in the MAPAS and should be
implemented, where national legislations Fig. 1 Cycle of management actions for alien species
in the Wadden Sea (WG-AS 2016).
will allow it:
(1-3) Proposed prevention, monitoring and risk assessment measures
Prevention of marine and terrestrial alien species introduction is the first and most
effective strategy to protect the Wadden Sea ecosystem. To increase the effectiveness
of measures and to assist the implementation of regulatory obligations, several
additional management actions should be taken, e.g., a combined pathway analysis
for the introduction of alien species to the Wadden Sea Area, an integration of alien
species parameters to the Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Programme (TMAP),
as well as trilateral sharing of knowledge and data. The risk analyses should be
trilaterally shared.
10

Alien species means any live specimen of a species [..] introduced outside its natural range [..]. Invasive alien
species means an alien species whose introduction or spread has been found to threaten or adversely impact upon
biodiversity and related ecosystem services (EU Regulation No 1143/2014).

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

page 20

(4) Trilateral coordination (Decision making)
The national authorities should remain responsible for alien species management, on
a trilateral level supported by the CWSS. It is proposed to set up a coordination group
with representatives from three countries, similar to the already existing WG-AS, to
advise appropriate common conclusions and measures. Timely communication and
information about (new) detections, spreading and measures would be crucial. To
optimize the effectiveness of decisions made, the coordination group could support,
where possible, national decisions and risk-assessments. Tasks may encompass
coordinating information and citizens science programs.
Proposed main tasks for trilateral coordination
1

Organising and sharing data on alien species records throughout the Wadden Sea Area. Primary actions will be the
harmonization of data arising from national alien species monitoring programmes and their continuous accessibility
e.g., for the Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Programme (TMAP).

2

Sharing experiences on the development and effectiveness of monitoring, prevention, control and eradication
methods.

3

Streamlining methods and actions (where possible) focused on “alien species in the Wadden Sea” related trilateral
communication, awareness and education, e.g., the introduction of an information (alert) approach and an agreement
on standardized information channels to disseminate timely information.

4

Providing a regularly updated list of alien species in the Wadden Sea based on national data (TMAP), and making it
accessible via the CWSS website.

5

Providing a focal point on the CWSS website to share examples about the effectiveness of prevention, control and
eradication actions that have been done by either of the States in the Wadden Sea.

(5-7) Management measures and evaluation of mitigation measures
More effort should be set to assess the possibilities of trilateral management,
eradication and control measures for application in the Wadden Sea Area. This
includes timely sharing of information on new alien species occurrences, mitigation
measures and their effectiveness. Regular evaluation of the effectiveness of measures
is necessary to assess the success of relevant management actions.
Proposed actions for communication, awareness and education
Communication, awareness and education about alien species in the Wadden Sea
should be streamlined in a cooperative way. The coordination group should foster
sharing information on the effectiveness of national awareness campaigns, but also
facilitate e a number of actions to promote alien species in the Wadden Sea, e.g., by
following trilateral communication examples for target groups of major pathways of
aliens.
Conclusion
Cooperation and clear communication channels between the trilateral cooperation
partners enable synergies would make the management of alien species in the entire
Wadden Sea Area much more efficient. Furthermore, the MAPAS could enhance early
warning possibilities within the trilateral Wadden Sea, which would be extremely
important for preparedness and hence reduce vulnerability towards newly arriving
species. Finally, raising awareness on the basis of a common communication strategy
would increase the involvement of the general public and would have the potential to
increase the identification of inhabitants and visitors with the UNESCO World
Heritage site.

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

page 21

Annex 5
[Wadden Sea World Heritage Foundation
Establishment of a trilateral Wadden Sea World Heritage Foundation
The establishment of a private Trilateral Wadden Sea World Heritage Foundation,
almost ten years after the first inscription of the Wadden Sea on the UNESCO World Heritage
list, reflects the growing maturity and importance of this unique trilateral UNESCO site. The
Foundation will concentrate on facilitating projects and activities with regard to the entire
transnational World Heritage property while working with partners.
The objectives of the Foundation are
(1) Enhancing the ownership, engagement, civic pride, awareness and involvement
of (primarily) private entities, (funding) institutes and citizens by protecting this
World Heritage site;
(2) Contributing to the maintenance and improvement of the trilateral UNESCO
Wadden Sea World Heritage site and its surrounding Wadden Sea Region via
facilitating appropriate business cases, collecting (private) funds etc.;
(3) Supporting and enforcing the existing activities and structures of the trilateral
cooperation (e.g. raising the profile of the Wadden Sea (inter)nationally);
(4) Being a supportive partner of other foundations and actors within the Wadden
Sea World Heritage site and UNESCO World Heritage marine sites worldwide.
The basis of the foundation, as will be defined in its statutes, is to contribute to maintain and
protect the ‘Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and the integrity of the Wadden Sea
World Heritage site. The foundation shall only carry out activities and projects that, in their
entirety, are governed by the OUV-Statement for the Wadden Sea World Heritage as adopted
by the UNESCO.
The Foundation is a non-profit organization and pursues non-profit purposes in the sense of
de section "tax-deductible" of the German tax code, and may pursue projects and activities in
cooperation with partners in the following areas:
-

nature conservation;

-

species and habitat conservation;

-

area protection;

-

climate change adaptation and mitigation;

-

pollution prevention;

-

water protection;

-

sustainable, environmentally sound transport;

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

page 22

-

sustainable tourism;

-

education and environmental awareness;

-

cooperation with other marine WH sites;

-

monitoring;

-

[(applied) research;]

-

financing of university chairs to increase scientific knowledge and awareness about
preserving this World Heritage.

The governance body of the Foundation could consist of e.g.:
1. A Board of Trustees (‘Kuratorium’) with 3 members from each state party responsible
for the allocation of budgets/projects, appointing a full-time management and the
hiring of liaison officers and other personnel. The Board of Trustees may adopt rules
of procedure for the Management Board.
2. An Advisory Board of 4-8 members, from each of the three state parties. The
members are well-known people from society with a heart for the Wadden Sea: elder
statespersons, honourable scientists and people of the region and other recognized
people.
3. A Management Board. In the beginning the only member is the general secretary.
Later on other members, participating in specific foundation projects, can (when the
project is running) join this board.
Depending on the decision that the foundation will have its seat in Wilhelmshaven the
Foundation supervisory authority would be the responsible Ministry of the Lower Saxony
state government. The budget and annual accounts must be audited by the appropriate entity.
The foundation has a sound connection with the [State Parties of the] Trilateral Wadden Sea
Cooperation represented in the existing Wadden Sea Board (WSB). At the start, the WSB
appoints the members of the Board of Trustees and the Advisory Board. The chairman of the
WSB can be part of the Advisory Board.
At the start, the foundation is modest and small. The foundation should develop and prosper
in an ‘organic’ way.]11

11

General reservation regarding Wadden Sea World Heritage Foundation

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

page 23

[Annex 6
Trilateral Research Agenda for the Wadden Sea Region and its World
Heritage Site
Outline
From Blåvands Huk in Denmark via the German coast to Den Helder in the Netherlands, the
tides and waves of the North Sea have built a unique coastal wetland and a string of barrier
islands with dunes. This system, the Wadden Sea Region, forms the largest coherent belt of
intertidal mud and sand in the world and has become a World Heritage Site for its
outstanding, natural values. The entire Wadden Sea extends over three countries. Since forty
years, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany have actively cooperated in the management
and protection of the Wadden Sea Region with the goal to “[…] achieve, as far as possible, a
natural and sustainable ecosystem in which natural processes proceed in an undisturbed
way“ (Stade-declaration, 1982).
Realizing this aim and safeguarding the universal values of the World Heritage Site in the
long term, however, requires very carefully balancing natural, societal and economic needs
and values in the region. This complex task must be underpinned by a good, scientific
understanding of underlying socio-economic and natural processes. This knowledge base will
inform future policies to support sustainable developments in the region.
The Trilateral Research Agenda for the Wadden Sea Region and its World Heritage Site
represents a joint effort by Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark for identifying common
future challenges of the whole region and for developing and implementing comprehensive
approaches to trilateral research. Inter-disciplinary, multi-facetted research combined with
committed interactions between scientists, policy makers, regional managers, educators and
the civil society will be required to inform future measures for safeguarding the unique and
universal values of the region while promoting the sustainable use of the Wadden Sea Region
and the well0being of its inhabitants.
The joint scientific community of the three Wadden Sea countries herewith proposes a
coherent Trilateral Research Agenda with the aim to maintain natural and cultural values and
to find a sustainable course for natural, societal and economic development. The agenda
focuses on three major, broadly inter-disciplinary, challenges for the future. All of them are
complex by nature and call for multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary approaches. Evidently,
answers to those questions require a sound disciplinary basis as well as continued monitoring
of relevant natural and socio-economic variables.
Challenge 1. The Wadden Sea Region as living lab for human-nature interactions
Preserving the outstanding universal values of the Wadden Sea Region for future generations
requires surpassing the traditional divide between nature and culture because decisions and
actions to preserve natural values must be placed in a historical and socio-economic context.
Likewise, social, cultural and economic initiatives and developments in the Wadden Sea
region should explicitly consider impacts on natural systems.
Historically, the entire Wadden Sea Region has been a laboratory for engineering and water
management throughout many centuries, giving rise to a rich cultural heritage comprising
both tangible and intangible elements. As far as visible aspects are concerned, the remaining
artifacts of human-nature interactions provide us with indispensable information about the
evolution of the cultural landscape and the capabilities of people that allowed natural hazards
and threats to be dealt with.
Risks emerging in the wake of climate change and sea level rise can be supported by a better
understanding of former adaptive capacities and forms of resilience, thereby yielding
important lessons for the future. A more comprehensive approach to the questions of heritage

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

page 24

and identity is called for, encompassing the entire Wadden Sea Region beyond national,
linguistic and cultural borders.

Challenge 2. Coping with climate change and relative sea level rise
Global warming with gradual changes in weather patterns, extreme storm events and rising
sea levels will probably proceed over the coming decades and centuries. Simultaneously
subsiding land may further enhance the rate of relative sea level rise. This slow but pervasive
process forms one of the main challenges for the Wadden Sea Region with strong long-term
repercussions, not only for natural but also for social, economic and cultural structures and
processes.
Coping with climate change and relative sea level rise requires integrated efforts from science
and society. We urgently need to improve our understanding of the coastal sediment and
freshwater balance for the entire Wadden Sea area under elevated temperatures, higher
relative sea levels, more extreme storm surge levels, higher tidal ranges and stronger wave
action. This will be essential for developing successful coastal defense strategies, both for
nature conservation purposes and for economic sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism,
shipping and harbor activities.
The ongoing rise in temperature causes biological species in all habitats to shift their
geographical ranges or seasonal population dynamics, thereby invading new territories and
altering ecosystem functions and services at an accelerating pace. We do not understand the
consequences of this pervasive process in a wider perspective of food-chains, predator-prey
and parasite-host interactions, ecosystem resilience and potential species loss. This also
hinders the deployment of appropriate nature management measures to protect the natural
values of the Wadden Sea Region.
Challenge 3. Towards a sustainable maritime region
The Wadden Sea Region has entered a phase of major transition owing to a complex interplay
between processes such as climate change, energy transition and demographic changes.
Supporting the long-term sustainability of the universal values of the World Heritage Site and,
at the same time, offering residents attractive social and economic opportunities poses
demanding future challenges. We need to develop evidence-based policies, measures and
incentives to allow both the ecosystem and the socio-economic structures to develop in a
balanced way throughout the transformation process.
An economically sustainable Wadden Sea Region has to make use of regional assets, services
and products embedded in attractive, healthy ecosystems. In addition, economic activities in
the service sector can be stimulated, especially those with little or no impact on the Wadden
Sea ecosystem, driven by residential amenities, human well-being and ageing in serene
environments. These developments, however, require paradigm shifts concerning traditional
and new economic endeavors. Scientists, policy makers, entrepreneurs, NGO´s and the
residents of the area will need to collaborate to provide the appropriate knowledge base for
facilitating evidence-based decisions to manage this complex transition.
The Wadden Sea Region is an economically peripheral, predominantly rural region with few
interspersed urban centers. The population in the entire Wadden Sea Region is shrinking and
the age-structure of residents is biased towards elderly people. These trends present severe
challenges such as avoiding social decline which must be counter-acted by offering education
opportunities and by providing innovative high-quality jobs and preserving low and medium
skilled job opportunities in the region. Radically new, creative concepts with respect to nature
conservation, active aging, sustainable tourism, agriculture and fisheries with local products
should be stimulated in order to make the Wadden Sea Region a true ‘living lab’ for socioeconomic transitions.

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

page 25

Thematic lines
Evidently, answers to those questions require a sound disciplinary basis as well as continued
monitoring of relevant natural and socio-economic variables. Addressing the challenges
requires collaborations between scientists across disciplinary borders and beyond academic
schools and between researchers of different generations. These collaborations will have to be
fueled by individuals, groups and institutions with profound knowledge and experience in
different subject areas. A programmatic and multidisciplinary approach as described in the
challenges may leads to rather abstract formulations of the research questions. To be more
concrete in the Trilateral Research Agenda four thematic lines are distinguished:
• Climate, water, sediments and subsurface
• Ecology, biodiversity and spatial processes
• Cultural heritage, identity and historical embedding
• Economy, society and sustainable development
For each thematic line some concrete research topics are formulated that reflect urgent
knowledge gaps that are relevant for the appropriate management of the Wadden Sea Region.
Monitoring represents an integral part of the Trilateral Research Agenda, because good
research strongly depends on the availability of coherent long-term data sets. Denmark,
Germany and the Netherlands jointly developed and implemented a common monitoring
program (TMAP)which is one of the cornerstones of the trilateral cooperation and covers the
entire Wadden Sea Region. Monitoring needs are likely to increase in the future. Newly
developing technologies may significantly enhance current monitoring capacities in various
fields, and technological advance may offer the opportunity to monitor new variables in a
feasible way. Citizen science is already used in several programs and is likely to be extended
in future as it can significantly foster public support and engagement, thereby helping to build
robust links between science and society.
Organization and funding. Implementing the Trilateral Research Agenda requires a
dedicated committee that represents the three countries and their main stakeholders and that
oversees and coordinates the necessary activities. The members of the committee consist of a
balanced mix of representatives of various scientific disciplines and policy makers to
guarantee that the best researchers are selected to carry out high quality multi-, inter- and
transdisciplinary research projects that provide answers to the most urgent policy questions.
Ideally, the joint research agenda presented here should lead to a coherent Trilateral Research
& Monitoring Program with a funding period of at least five years (2019-2024), and including
natural sciences, socio-economic, cultural and historic, demographic and policy-related
research, as well as monitoring and mapping. The program should consist of three equally
relevant, strongly interconnected and partially overlapping areas of activities, namely:
a) Frontier academic research aimed at enhancing our basic understanding of natural,
societal and cultural processes and systems of importance to the Wadden Sea Region;
b) Applied research, mapping and monitoring with the main aim of applying existing
knowledge to concrete situations and gathering long-term data series through
comprehensive monitoring of natural and societal systems. The mapping and monitoring
activities stem at least partly from national and European policy obligations;
c) Regional studies, dissemination and local implementation aiming at a strong embedding
of this program and its outcomes in local and regional structures, institutions and people.
The Trilateral Research Agenda must be deeply rooted in the Wadden Sea Region, its
inhabitants, schools and other educational institutions, regional businesses, NGO’s,
natural park organizations and other public and private bodies active in the area.
Outreach, communication and education. The newly established Wadden Sea World
Heritage Partnership Center is envisaged to play a central role in all outreach, communication

Leeuwarden Declaration, 18 May 2018

page 26

and education activities by providing a platform for interactions between researchers, policy
makers, regional organizations including schools, and the public at large.]12

12

Proposal by the Netherlands. Reservation Germany.