TG-STS-10/5-4 Local Wadden Sea World Heritage Flyer (09.09.2013) Page 2

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Agenda Item: 5

Subject: Local Wadden Sea World Heritage Flyer

Document Nr. TG-STS 10/5-4

Date: 9 September 2013

Submitted by: PROWAD WP 5 / LKN National Park Administration SH

Objective

To approve the draft text of the local World Heritage Flyer

Introduction

The objective of the local flyers is to enhance the local visibility and understanding of the Wadden Sea World Heritage. The flyer provide a PR information which aims to balance the global/overall with the local information by strengthening an easy understanding of World Heritage and the adaptation of a World Heritage experience specifically to each locality/region.

Many inhabitants, tourism stakeholders and visitors are missing a concrete access to the Wadden Sea World Heritage at their individual living, working and holiday locations. They need to know “Where can I see and experience the World Heritage in my specific area?” A local understanding of World Heritage is necessary in order to let the local people identify themselves with “their” world heritage and transport this to their guests.

Status

As agreed at the last TG-STS meeting in Bremen (24.4.2013) the draft concept of the local WH flyer has been adapted. The new concept was circulated on 2 July 2013 to the TG-STS and TG-WH for comments. No further comments have been received until the deadline of 2 August.

According to the new concept, the flyer will contain two modules: a) a common World Heritage module with general information about the Wadden Sea World Heritage b) a local module with individual information about World Heritage at the particular location.

The World Heritage module contains general information about the Wadden Sea World Heritage and emphasizes the global/trilateral aspects (UNESCO, OUV) in an attractive and crispy way. The local module is supposed to contain individual local WH information on activities and places to experience World Heritage. A draft text is in the attached Annex.

Proposal

To approve the draft text of the local World Heritage Flyer and to instruct the secretariat in cooperation with the national park administration Schleswig-Holstein (LKN SH NPV) to proceed with the further development of the flyer in the framework of PROWAD. TG-STS-10/5-4 Local Wadden Sea World Heritage Flyer (09.09.2013) page 2

ANNEX OUR WADDEN SEA WORLD HERITAGE (Draft text local flyer, 03.09.2012)

1) Draft text World Heritage module

The Wadden Sea World Heritage

Did you know that the Wadden Sea is a star? It received the Oscar in nature conservation! This has been decided by the UNESCO, which is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The UNESCO fosters a global family full of cultural and natural icons. Only the best and most unique sites of our planet are included into this extravagant circle and deserve being called “a heritage of the world”. The Serengeti, Galapagos Islands, Grand Canyon and Great Barrier Reef, for example. The UNESCO World Heritage status is the highest possible award for a natural site and an acknowledgement of its outstanding global importance. In 2009, the Dutch-German Wadden Sea was appointed as World Heritage! The inscription into the UNESCO World Heritage List means that the Wadden Sea is of outstanding universal value. It must be preserved as part for the benefit of present and future generations.

What is so outstanding, universal and valuable about the Wadden Sea?

Its intact nature The Wadden Sea is the biggest wilderness area in crowded central Europe. Its nature is mainly unspoiled. Natural processes, running uninterruptedly across the Wadden Sea, create sandbanks, dune islands, channels, gullies, saltmarshes and other various nature forms you can observe today. The World Heritage includes everything (species, habitats, processes) which makes up a natural and dynamic Wadden Sea.

Its protection The Wadden Sea enjoys the highest possible protection. It is a Nature Reserve (in NL) and a National Park (in D), where nature is meant to be nature. Protection and good management is a precondition for receiving the World Heritage title. The Wadden Sea’s supreme conservation state is the result of over 30 years of joint nature protection efforts of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. Through transboundary cooperation the wholesome management of the area is ensured. The protection of one inseparable ecosystem that knows no borders – a joint responsibility towards the world community.

Its dynamics The Wadden Sea is a restless landscape. Wind and water are the shaping forces. Mud flats, tidal channels, dunes, saltmarshes – they are all being permanently formed and rebuilt. In the Wadden Sea, you can see a landscape taking shape in front of your eyes!

Its class Impressive organisms of all sizes live in the Wadden Sea – numerous kinds of worms, shellfish, crabs, fish, birds and mammals. The salt marshes and dunes are home to many rare plants and insects. What a wealth of life!

Its mass The Wadden Sea is extremely fertile and productive which results in incredibly huge amounts of lugworms, shellfish, fish and birds. Biodiversity on a worldwide scale is reliant on the Wadden Sea. The richness of local species is crucial during bird migration. Every year in spring and autumn, as much as 10 to 12 million birds stop by the World Heritage site on their journey to their wintering or summering grounds to feed on the mudflat buffet. It is a massive experience to see this!

[ Your region ] lies amidst the World Heritage! TG-STS-10/5-4 Local Wadden Sea World Heritage Flyer (09.09.2013) page 3

The Wadden Sea World Heritage area is huge and international. It is the largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats in the world, covering the Dutch coast, the German North Sea shore in Lower Saxony, Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein and the Danish Wadden Sea. These states share the honor and responsibility of being a global heritage. Think about it - you are in an extraordinary and awesome area! [Your region] has a global importance and can show you the uniqueness of the World Heritage Site.

(Number of words: 402)

2) Draft template for local module

Where can I see the Wadden Sea World Heritage in [ your region ]?

See the intact nature [Name possibilities to experience typical landforms like tidal mud flats, salt marshes or dunes on a guided tour or nature trail in your region]

See the protection [List regional National Park visitor centers with exhibitions related to the Wadden Sea. Optional: define exact area/borders of World Heritage site in your region]

See the dynamics [Name regional spots/tours where dynamic landforms can be experienced e.g. dunes, sandbanks, sandy beaches, tidal channels in salt marshes; promote off-season as best season to experience Wadden Sea dynamics]

See the class [Name regional spots/tours where high biodiversity can be experienced, e.g. salt marshes, dunes, migratory and stationary birds, marine animals, beach drift line]

See the mass [Name regional spots/tours where huge amounts of specialized Wadden Sea creatures can be seen, e.g. tidal mud flats, salt marshes, migratory bird flocks in spring/autumn]

Now that I have understood why the Wadden Sea is so unique and deserves protection, I want to know two things:

Who can show me the Wadden Sea World Heritage in [ your region ]?

[List and give contact information of regional tour operators like National Park guides and rangers, National Park visitor centers, National Park partner shipping companies, nature NGOs]

Who in [ your region ] cares about the Wadden Sea World Heritage and operates in an environmentally friendly way ?

[At this point, local stakeholders have the possibility to present themselves in the context of World Heritage. List and give contact information of regional National Park Partners and other Wadden Sea related, “green” (to be determined) businesses/organizations in the field of accommodation, gastronomy, transport, tourist-information, local products, activities, sports, culture.] TG-STS-10/5-4 Local Wadden Sea World Heritage Flyer (09.09.2013) page 4

Technical structure

Flyer format: DinA4 with parallel fold

Max. number of pages in total flyer: 8 Max. number of pages in WH module: 4 (incl. 2 pages impressum + cover) Max. number of words in WH module: ca. 400 (estimate) Max. number of pages in local module: 4 Max. number of words in local module: ca. 600 (estimate)