Seit wann ist das Wattenmeer Weltkulturerbe?

Am 26. Juni 2009 hat das Welterbekomitee der Unesco das Wattenmeer als Naturlandschaft von außergewöhnlichem universellen Wert in die Liste „Erbe der Menschheit“ aufgenommen.

Wo ist überall Wattenmeer?

Das Wattenmeer erstreckt sich von den Niederlanden über Niedersachsen, Hamburg und Schleswig-Holstein bis hin nach Dänemark.

Was ist ein Welterbe?

Die Ernennung zum Weltnaturerbe ist die höchste Auszeichnung, die es für eine Naturlandschaft gibt. Um auf die Liste der UNESCO zu kommen, muss ein Gebiet einzigartige Naturwerte besitzen, die intakt und durch gute Schutzmaßnahmen gesichert sind.

Was leben für Tiere im Wattenmeer?

Das Weltnaturerbe ist sehr artenreich. Zum Beispiel leben nur in den Salzwiesen rund 1.800 Spinnen- und Insektenarten. Das Wattenmeer ist ein wichtiger Lebensraum für Seehunde, Kegelrobben und Schweinswale. Zugvögel nutzen das Gebiet als Rastplatz und für Fische ist es die optimale Kinderstube. Besonders bekannte Arten im Wattenmeer sind der Wattwurm, die Herzmuschel oder die Strandkrabbe.

Tourismus und Natur – geht das zusammen?

Der Naturraum „Wattenmeer“ ist eine wertvolle Grundlage für den Tourismus der Wattenmeer-Region. Naturschützer und Touristiker aus den drei Wattenmeerländern haben eine Tourismusstrategie entwickelt, um den Tourismus nachhaltig und in Einklang mit dem Naturschutz zu gestalten.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Wadden Sea is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

What does World Heritage status mean?

World Heritage status is the highest distinction a natural area can receive. The Wadden Sea is therefore on the same level as, for example, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Grand Canyon in the USA. The Wadden Sea is located in Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark, which share responsibility for protecting this special habitat. Protection is the overarching goal of the World Heritage Convention. To be included on the World Heritage List, an area must have exceptional natural value, be independent and self-contained and be under protection.

What makes the Wadden Sea unique?

Biodiversity

Seals – whether harbor seals or grey seals – feel at home in the Wadden Sea National Park. We must not forget that they are wild animals and predators. Photo: Reinhold Grigoleit

The alternation of high tide and low tide shapes life in the Wadden Sea.

The Wadden Sea consists of approximately 4.500 mudflats and 400 salt marshes, providing a unique habitat for approximately 10.000 animal and plant species. 12 million birds stop here each year on their journey from their breeding grounds in Siberia, Scandinavia, or Canada to their wintering grounds in Western Europe and Africa, or back. Only here can they find enough food to survive the thousands of kilometers of journey. In addition, there are around 40.000 harbor seals and more than 9.000 gray seals that thrive in the Wadden Sea. The population is constantly recovering. Especially on Borkum This can be observed particularly well. Maintaining their respective resting places and allowing respectful observation where necessary is one of the tasks of the Wadden Sea National Park.

Origin: The Wadden Sea was formed when the glaciers melted during the last ice age around 10.000 years ago and the sea level rose as a result. This changed the North Sea coast: new sediments were carried into the region, and in some places land was eroded by the sea. This change led to the formation of the Wadden Sea.

Adaptability: The tides shape the face of the Wadden Sea, where fresh and salt water meet. The animals and plants have adapted to these changing living conditions in order to survive there. The North Sea shrimp, for example, can adapt its color to the seabed. The mud snail survives because it attaches itself to the water surface from below and floats with the water. The samphire, also known as sea asparagus, cannot survive without the salt supply.

National Park: The Wadden Sea off the North Sea coast of Lower Saxony is protected as a national park - and has been since 1986. With an area of around 3.450 square kilometers, it is the second largest German national park. National parks serve to protect large, natural areas in order to ensure ecological integrity.

How can you explore the Wadden Sea Borkum experience?

81 percent of Borkum are part of the Lower Saxony Wadden Sea National Park. The only exceptions are the built-up areas near the harbor, in the Westland, and in the Ostland.

On a mudflat hike, participants learn everything about the flora and fauna. The lugworm, for example, lives in tubes in the mudflats.

The best way to discover the Wadden Sea is on a mudflat hike. Where else can you walk on the seabed - without any diving equipment? But be careful: Please never go into the mudflats without a local guide. The tides and rapidly developing sea fog can be dangerous.

Certified mudflat guides not only ensure the safety of guests on site, but also ensure an educational and entertaining expedition. Borkum There are numerous providers that offer this unique experience. National Park Ship “Borkumriff“ there are various guided tours on the topic of the national park.

video campaign

Here you are a guest. Here I am allowed to be.

Oystercatcher costume in the salt marshes — Video campaign Here you are a guest, here I may be

With the video campaign "You are a guest here. I am allowed to be here." loads the Wadden Sea National Park encourages visitors to behave appropriately in nature and as good guests. It informs visitors about respectful guest behavior in the Wadden Sea. The videos are intended to encourage new and long-standing guests to behave respectfully in nature.

The project was implemented by the two Hamburg production companies "win win Film" and "dschungelfilm". The result was five entertaining short videos, which are also used as "reels" on social media such as Instagram. In five human-sized costumes of oystercatchers, brent geese, seals, sea holly and ringed plover, the video clips show how visitors should behave in the Wadden Sea so as not to disturb the valuable ecosystem.

All videos are on the website https://www.waddensea-worldheritage.org/de/benimm-dich a DAK Bungalow.

mudflat hikes in the Wadden Sea in sign language

FACTS & DEFINITIONS

environmental, nature and species protection

Sometimes flooded by salt water, sometimes not. Nature in the salt marshes has adapted to the unusual conditions of the Wadden Sea. Photo: Constantin Ticuin

Borkum stands for a unique natural landscape with a diverse flora and fauna. This must be protected so that it can continue to bring joy to future generations. Here are a few facts and definitions:

Environmental Protection: Environmental protection aims to preserve the natural habitat of all living things. It therefore includes all measures taken to protect the environment and prevent environmental destruction.

Nature and species conservation: This is about protecting wild animals, wild plants and their habitats – in other words, preserving biodiversity and ecosystem diversity.

BorkumNature is affected by the negative consequences of climate change – and is at risk. Therefore, Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands agreed at the trilateral Wadden Sea Conference in 2010 that this habitat should become climate-neutral by 2030.

With the strategy “Borkum 2030+” and the “Integrated Urban Development Concept” Borkum Be a pioneer in Germany in comprehensive CO2 reduction and offer a climate-neutral energy supply. Learn more at lebensraum-borkum.de