Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park

Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park (German: Nationalpark Schleswig-Holsteinisches Wattenmeer) is a national park in the Schleswig-Holstein area of the German Wadden Sea. It was created by the Parliament of Schleswig-Holstein on 1 October 1985 and was expanded in 1999. This park, together with the Lower Saxon Wadden Sea National Park, the Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park, and parts of the Elbe estuary, makes up the German part of the Wadden Sea.

The park stretches from the German-Danish border in the north to the Elbe estuary in the south. In the northern area, it includes wide mudflats and special islands called Halligen. Further south, there are large sandbanks and many different plants and animals. You can often see porpoise, shelduck, and eelgrass in this part of the park.

Covering 4,410 square kilometers, it is the largest national park in Germany. Much of the park is either always underwater or sometimes dry land. The park includes salty marshes and, since 1990, has been recognized by UNESCO as a biosphere. In 2009, the Wadden Sea area, including this park, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its special and natural environment and wide variety of plant and animal life.

Geography

The national park stretches from the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein near the Danish border to the Elbe estuary to the south. It includes parts of the sea and land, but not the beaches or lived-on islands such as the North Frisian Islands.

The park has two parts. The northern part lies between the Danish border and Eiderstedt. This part is protected and has special zones for birds and animals. The southern part is between Eiderstedt and the Elbe estuary. Here, people can swim and fish, but some industries and fast vehicles are not allowed.

Flora and fauna

The Wadden Sea has special conditions like saltwater, tides, and strong winds. Only certain plants and animals can live here. Many fish, birds, and marine mammals use this area to grow and rest. Lots of birds stop here when they travel to find food. In the Schleswig-Holstein part of the Wadden Sea, there are about 700 different plants and 2,500 animal species. Some of these species are found only here.

Plants

Eelgrass is a special plant that can live underwater. Most of it was lost long ago, but it is growing more now in this area. Salt marshes are lands that flood often and have many plants that can live with salty water. In dunes, only a few tough plants grow.

Animals

Mammals

Many harbour porpoises live here, along with harbour seals and grey seals.

Insects

Only a few insects live here, mostly in salt marshes. They hide in soil or plants to survive the salty water and flooding.

Birds

The Wadden Sea is a very important place for birds. Millions of birds stop here in spring and autumn. Some bird numbers are going down, but others are staying the same or growing. Many types of ducks and geese live here, especially around small islands.

Fishes, mussels and shellfish

Common mussels and shellfish like crabs and shrimp live in the Wadden Sea. Some small fish are born here, and bigger fish come to lay their eggs here because it is a safe place with lots of food.

The National Park

The Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park is a special protected area in Germany. It was created on 1 October 1985 by the government of Schleswig-Holstein to protect the natural beauty and wildlife of the Wadden Sea. In 1999, the park grew to include more area.

The park helps protect the plants and animals that live there, and the natural processes in this special place. It works with local communities to balance nature protection with the needs of people who live and work nearby.

The park is managed by a special team that educates the public, studies the park's plants and animals, and supports nature conservation. The park covers a large area with many different habitats, making it important for wildlife.

The park is part of several international agreements that protect important wetlands and wildlife. In 2009, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage site along with nearby areas in the Netherlands and Lower Saxony.

History

The idea to protect the Wadden Sea in Schleswig-Holstein started in the 1920s. Early efforts focused on protecting specific areas and animal species, especially birds. Over time, the goal grew to protect the entire Wadden Sea area.

In 1985, after many years of planning, the Wadden Sea became a national park. This brought together different groups with different ideas about how much protection the area needed. Some local people were concerned about how the park would affect their lives and work.

In 1999, the park was expanded again based on scientific reports. This led to more discussions and some protests from local communities worried about changes to the park rules.

The main idea behind the park is to protect the natural processes and the plants and animals that live there. The park tries to balance nature protection with the needs of local people and visitors.

Local communities were concerned about how the park would affect their traditions and ways of making a living. They felt a strong connection to the land and water shaped by their ancestors. The park’s management worked with local groups to address these concerns.

Some people felt the park’s rules didn’t protect the area enough. They were also worried about the number of tourists visiting the park.

A scientific report in 1996 suggested changes to the park’s rules, including expanding the protected area. These suggestions led to more discussions and protests from local communities worried about the impact on their freedom and income.

In August 1999, shrimp fishermen sailed to Kiel to protest against new park rules. In November 1999, fires were lit along the coast as a warning about the proposed changes.

The protests were mainly about how much of the park would be off-limits for activities like fishing. Some people wanted the park to include more land areas, especially popular swimming spots.

In December 1999, the park’s rules were updated based on the scientific report. The park’s purpose changed to focus on protecting natural habitats and the relationships between plants, animals, and their environments. The rules also aimed to support local communities and encourage positive tourism.

The park’s area was expanded toward the sea, but the land boundary stayed the same. A special area was created to protect whales, and hunting was banned. The rules were simplified, and new limits were set for boat speeds in the park.

The park administration created ways for locals and visitors to share ideas and work together. This helped build better relationships and find solutions to conflicts.

Administration

The park is managed by a special team based in Tönning. This team tells people about the park, studies its plants and animals, and supports nature conservation groups.

Until 2008, the park was managed by a state office. Since then, it has been part of a larger agency that also handles coastal defense and marine conservation. This helps the park work better with other groups that have similar responsibilities.

The park covers areas in Dithmarschen and North Frisia and touches many local communities. The state government oversees the park to ensure fair and efficient management. Most of the park land is owned by the German government.

The park administration has 85 staff members and a budget of seven million euros each year. They work with local groups, such as fishermen and tour guides, to balance park protection with the needs of people who use the area.

Other conservation measures

Since 1987, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany have worked together to protect the Wadden Sea through a special office. Since 1990, part of the park has also been recognized as an important area for nature and science.

The park is part of several international agreements that protect important wetlands and wildlife. In 2009, the Wadden Sea was named a UNESCO World Heritage site, along with nearby areas in the Netherlands and Lower Saxony.

Main article: Common Wadden Sea Secretariat

Main articles: Bavarian Forest National Park, Berchtesgaden National Park

Main article: Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park

Main article: Danish Wadden Sea

Main article: Kiel Canal

Main article: Tönning

Main article: Sankt Peter-Ording

Main article: Westerhever

Main article: Hamburger Hallig

Main article: Ramsar-Convention

Main article: Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic, North East Atlantic, Irish and North Seas

Main article: Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian migratory water birds

Main article: Bird directive

Main article: Natura 2000

Main article: Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Main article: ‘Agreement on the Conservation of Seals in the Wadden Sea’

Main article: UNESCO

Main article: World Heritage

Human utilisation of the National Park

The national park has many nearby communities in Schleswig-Holstein where many people live. It also attracts millions of visitors each year. The area is used for various activities such as tourism, fishing, oil production, protecting the coast, grazing animals, and air and sea travel. Most of these activities happen close to the shore, leaving the open sea mostly undisturbed. Since 1999, agreements help limit how people use the park, and traditional ways of using the land are respected. Some activities that don’t harm the environment much are still allowed, like studying plants for science.

The park is very popular with both tourists and locals. Many tourists visit because of the park, and it helps bring money to the area. The park has information centers and works with local businesses to offer good services to visitors.

Fishing, especially for shrimp, is important for the local economy and tourism. Mussel farming is also common, with rules to protect the environment. Other activities like aquaculture and hunting have limits to keep the park safe.

Agriculture mainly happens outside the park, but sheep grazing on salt marshes can cause some problems. Efforts have been made to reduce heavy grazing to help the environment.

There are several small harbors along the coast, and ferry services to islands pass through the park. Special rules help protect the park from accidents and pollution. The park allows some sand extraction to protect the coast.

The military no longer tests bombs in the park. There are also old explosives from World War II that can be dangerous.