DARK SKY in the Wadden Sea Region

According to an increasing light pollution not only in cities but also in rural areas, the value of dark skies and nights comes into focus of the society. In the past, light emissions were not seen as a problem, on the contrary, it was welcomed e.g. for making the surrounding area better visible, to illuminate cultural assets and to create emotional light events.
Nowadays, darkness is a special value in a lightened region, and we are increasingly seeing the economic potential that goes with it. Dark nights are becoming a unique selling point that inhabitants and tourists experience in our areas.
Furthermore, it is recognised that light emissions do have negative effects on the biodiversity, behaviour of animals, particularly insects as well as on biorhythm and well-being of humans.
The Wadden Sea Forum is now dealing with all aspects of light pollution and dark skies, elaborating on ecological and socio-economic impacts as well as on the assets and intrinsic values of dark skies and nights.

WSF Goosemanagement Newspaper Article

Recently the "Ostfriesische Nachrichten" placed an article about our position regarding Goosemanagement. "Farmers are annoyed about damages caused by barnacle geese. Wadden Sea Forum calls for a quick solution for agriculture in Leer and complains about the inactivity of the regions." (read the full article in German) and (see more information on Goosemanagement)

WSF Resolution Goosemanagement

The WSF plenary discussed in its meeting on 18-19 November the process of implementing the AEWA management plans for Greylag and Barnacle geese on flyway level. These management plans were adopted by the range states in December 2018. For the implementation in the different countries Favorable Reference Values (FRVs) have to be defined. As this process is lacking, the WSF elaborated a resolution, which requests the responsible ministries to speed up the process and support the AEWA concept. The Meeting adopted the resolution without any vote of dissent. (see more information and document)

WSF presents Policy Paper

Climate change is a fast growing threat impacting the Wadden Sea Region (WSR) with the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site and its hinterland, where people live, work and recreate. The Wadden Sea Forum has elaborated a policy paper on challenges of water management in the Wadden Sea Region due to climate change. The paper reflects the view of the different stakeholders of the WSF and is forwarded to responsible organisations and decision makers to consider WSF recommendations in their dealings.
The policy paper is available in the languages English, German, Dutch, Danish.

At the 11th Trilateral Governmental Conference for the Protection of the Wadden Sea on Sylt in 2010, it had been stated that the Wadden Sea Region (WSR) shall develop into a CO2-neutral region. This was reinforced at the conference in 2014 in Tønder.

To analyze the progress with regard to this aim, the Wadden Sea Board in cooperation with the WSF agreed to elaborate an inventory of CO2 reduction policies, measures and best practices. This was done on different levels, to get a complete picture, encompassing the European and national levels as well as the Wadden Sea Region with its provinces, counties and municipalities. On the local level only best practice examples have been compiled. The full report is now available for download. Inventory report for a climate-friendly Wadden Sea Region

The WSF has elaborated a report about developments in the Wadden Sea Region, including status reports about the work on demographic change and sustainability indicators. The approach for this report was to consider the objectives and statements of the political level, expressed in the Ministerial Declaration of the Trilateral Governmental Conference 2014 in Tønder, Denmark. Taking this approach into account, this report recalls those statements of the Tønder Declaration, relevant for socio-economic developments and stakeholder involvement in the Wadden Sea Region, assesses the main developments accordingly and presents recommendations of the WSF stakeholders for future actions.