The Wadden Sea World Heritage is now complete! Today, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee decided to extend the Wadden Sea World Heritage site with the Danish part of the Wadden Sea and an additional German offshore part.

The whole Wadden Sea is now a World Heritage property to be protected for the benefit of all mankind. “This is the greatest success for the joint efforts of the three countries to protect this unique area since the establishment of the Trilateral Cooperation in 1978”, said Jens Enemark, secretary of the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat in Wilhelmshaven (Germany), in his acceptance speech at the meeting of the Committee in Doha, Qatar. ““Our World Heritage” is now complete and we will take this new opportunity to strengthen our cooperation and maintain and enhance the trilateral Wadden Sea’s Outstanding Universal Value” he continued.

On behalf of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark, Jens Enemark, Head of the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, presents his acceptance speech at the 38th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committtee in Doha.
 

Video of the inscription of the Wadden Sea from the 38th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committtee in Doha on 23 June 2014.

The extension of the Wadden Sea World Heritage with the Danish part of teh Wadden Sea was done in response to the request by the World Heritage Committee in 2009, when the Dutch-German Wadden Sea was inscribed on the List. The Wadden Sea World Heritage property now covers an area of some 11,500 km2 and constitutes the world´s largest tidal barrier island system, internationally known as key feeding area for millions of migratory birds which pass through in spring and autumn on their way to and from the breeding areas in the arctic to the wintering grounds in West Africa. The Wadden Sea World Heritage can easily be compared to other iconic properties on the List, such as the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Grand Canyon in the US and the Serengeti in Tanzania. Additionally it is one of thre trans-boundary natural World Heritage sites shared by three states.

The inclusion of the Danish Wadden Sea will reinforce and expand the activities around the Wadden Sea World Heritage. The Wadden Sea will now be communicated as one World Heritage property for which the three countries have a common responsibility. “Since the inscription of the Dutch-German Wadden Sea on the List in 2009, stakeholders and communities have embraced the World Heritage status” Jens Enemark underlined in his statement. “They are proud to be part of this unique, globally important endeavor. They have engaged in its protection because they recognize that only if they contribute to its effective conservation and communicate and raise awareness of this natural wonder, it will be a credible mission and they and future generations will benefit from its beauty and riches” he added.

“The Wadden Sea is a magical place; a place where heaven and earth share the same stage; a place full of experiences and stories. Come and visit, and help us protect this natural wonder” he stated in his final address to the distinguished Committee which includes 21 members of all countries of the World.

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Further information and download of all World Heritage documents at
http://www.waddensea-secretariat.org/management/whs/whs.html