Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park

Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park (German: Nationalpark Schleswig-Holsteinisches Wattenmeer) is a national park located 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 later 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 covers an area from the North Sea coast of Schleswig-Holstein by the Danish border in the north to the Elbe estuary in the south. It includes parts of the sea and land, but not the beaches or inhabited islands like the North Frisian Islands.

The park is split into two areas. The northern part is between the Danish border and Eiderstedt, and the southern part is between Eiderstedt and the Elbe estuary. The northern part is protected and has special areas for birds and animals. The southern part allows some activities like swimming and fishing, but certain industries and fast vehicles are not allowed.

Flora and fauna

The Wadden Sea area has special conditions like saltwater, tides, and strong winds. Only certain plants and animals can survive here. Many fish, birds, and marine mammals use this area as a place to grow and rest. Huge numbers of birds stop here when they are traveling to find food. In the Schleswig-Holstein part of the Wadden Sea, there are about 700 different plants and 2,500 animal species, and 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 in this area, it is growing more now. Salt marshes are lands that flood often, and they have many kinds of 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. In 2017, about 13,000 harbour seals were counted in this area.

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 in this safe, food-rich area.

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 was expanded to include more area.

The park helps protect the plants and animals that live there, as well as the natural processes that occur 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 works to educate the public, study the park's ecology, and support nature conservation efforts. The park covers a large area and includes many different types of habitats, making it an important place for wildlife.

The park is part of several international agreements that aim to 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 has been around since 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 and discussion, the Wadden Sea became a national park. This brought together different groups who had 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 that studied the area's ecology. This led to more discussions and some protests from local communities who were 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 works 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 livelihoods. They felt a strong connection to the land and water that had been shaped by their ancestors. The park's management tried to address these concerns by working with local groups and creating platforms for discussion and cooperation.

Some people, including nature conservation groups, felt that the park's rules did not go far enough to protect the area. They were also concerned about the increasing number of tourists that might visit the park.

A detailed scientific report in 1996 suggested changes to the park's rules, including expanding the protected area and creating zones where certain activities would not be allowed. These suggestions led to more discussions and protests from local communities who were worried about the impact on their freedom and income.

In August 1999, shrimp fishermen sailed to Kiel to protest against the new park rules. During an event, some locals expressed their disagreement by throwing eggs at an official. 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, and where the park's boundaries should be. 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 was changed to focus on protecting the 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 towards the sea, but the land boundary stayed the same. A special area was created where whales would be protected, and hunting was completely banned. The rules were simplified, and new limits were set for boat speeds in the park.

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

Administration

The park is managed by a special team based in Tönning. This team is responsible for telling people about the park, studying its plants and animals, and supporting 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. Surveys show that most people support the park and think it’s important. 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. There are fewer shrimp boats now than before, but big industrial boats are increasing. 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. Oil from an offshore platform can disturb wildlife, and there are plans for more wind farms outside the park. The park allows some sand extraction to protect the coast.

The military no longer tests bombs in the park, but some testing still happens a few days a year. There are also old explosives from World War II that pose risks to people in the area.