About Us
The Forum for the Wadden Sea Region (short: Wadden Sea Forum or WSF) is an independent multi-stakeholder, multi-actor platform from Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands and contributes through numerous trilateral activities to a sustainable and future-oriented Wadden Sea Region. In particular, this means integrating specific cross-sectoral and transboundary strategies, actions and techniques which are environmentally sound, economically viable and socially acceptable! These activities are the building bricks of a "Green Coastal Deal" for the Wadden Sea Region.
The WSF was established in 2002, following a decision by the 9th Governmental Conference of the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation. Still in many fields the TWSC and the Wadden Sea Forum are working jointly together.
The WSF consists of representatives of the sectors Agriculture, Energy, Fisheries, Industry and Harbour, Nature Protection, Tourism, as well as local and regional governments. National governments are represented as observers.
WSF's Vision
The Wadden Sea Forum contributes to achieving a sustainable society by 2030 and beyond in which:
Economic activity supports social development and safeguards healthy ecosystems and cultural historic landscapes throughout the Wadden Sea Region
The Wadden Sea Forum focuses on attaining a sustainable society with healthy ecosystems and economy, respecting the need for effective nature protection and integrating the philosophy of sustainability throughout its dealings.
In order to reach this goal, authorities and other decision making bodies will have initiated a development process across the Wadden Sea Region, in which the people and stakeholders are involved. The component sectors will also have started a process to maximize their synergies to coordinate regional implementation of conserving natural and cultural assets.
New governance mechanisms, particularly a sound stakeholder-science-policy interface, provide effective information exchange to facilitate the coordinated growth and implementation of trilateral strategies and action plans with regard to spatial planning, infrastructure, transport, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, coastal defense, shipping, port facilities, social services, nature protection and any other policy areas with a possible impact on the sustainable development of the Region.
WSF's Mission
- fostering sustainable development in the Wadden Sea Region through exchange of information on experiences and best practice;
- trying to bring together the distinct sectoral interests of its members;
- exchanging views on general themes and topical issues;
- initiating and implementing projects and actions on topical issues;
- preparing advice on issues related to sustainable development and integrated coastal zone management;
- serving as a consultation body for governments
WSF Flyer
To give a short overview of the WSF as well as information about our work, this flyer presents all efforts of the WSF to contribute to an advanced and sustainable development of the trilateral Wadden Sea Region with stakeholders, administrations, science and NGO's for knowledge exchange, capacity building and conflict resolution from Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands. In particular, this means integrating specific cross-sectoral and transboundary strategies, actions and techniques which are environmentally sound, economically viable and socially acceptable!
years of the Wadden Sea Forum
(2002 - 2012)
At the WSF 21 plenary meeting on 13-14 November 2012 in Leck, D, the WSF celebrated its 10th anniversary. The Wadden Sea Forum was founded at the 9th Trilateral Governmental Conference for the protection of the Wadden Sea in Esbjerg, DK, in 2001 and had its first plenary meeting on 30 August 2002 in Leeuwarden, NL.
Ingbert Liebing, (2nd from right), former member of the German Federal Parliament and WSF foundation member of 2002, held a speech, highlighting the work and achievements of the Wadden Sea Forum. He struck an arc from the achievements of the Trilateral Cooperation for the protection of the Wadden Sea to the involvement of stakeholders with the implementation of the WSF in 2002. He emphasised the results of the first phase, which ended up with the report "Breaking the Ice". The application of the strategies and recommendations would to some extent still be valid. Finally, he underlined further achievements like the work on the sustainability indicator tool, the implementation of the planning portal and the work on goose management, but also the implementation of the workshops on ICZM and energy. Mr. Liebing recommended continuing the work and engagement of the WSF, as the Forum would have its place and role in policies and management more than ever.
Foundation statement from the Ministerial Declaration, Esbjerg, DK, Oct.31, 2001:
"They [The Minister of Environment and Energy, Denmark, the Parliamentary State Secretary at the Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany and the State Secretary of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries, The Netherlands]...convene, therefore, in accordance with the Terms of Reference in Annex 6, a Trilateral Wadden Sea Forum, as a consultation project, with the participation of the governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, with the task of developing proposals for sustainable development scenarios and strategies for their implementation, respecting the existing protection levels and ensuring economic development and quality of life. This will be done on the basis of the Shared Vision, the Wadden Sea Plan Targets and the Shared Principles, and as a contribution to the further development of the Wadden Sea Plan...."