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Wadden Sea: in Germany and The .... THE GLOBAL EDITION OF THE NEW YORK TIMES ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT THURSDAY,OCTOBER 15, 2009 | 5 Wadden Sea, located on the Dutch and German North Sea coast, was inscribed on Unesco’s prestigious World Heritage List in June for its ‘outstanding universal value’ Every year, an average of 10 million migratory birds pass through the Wadden Sea. SPOTLIGHT | A complex mosaic Wadden Sea: In Germany and the Netherlands, a new World Heritage marine site he Wadden Sea forms the world’s largest un- imal species —more than 2,000 different flora and the sand. This brings the tourists, who enjoy strolling on that are open to the public are closed off during breeding Sites inscribed in 2009 broken collection of tidal sandflats and mudflats fauna in its salt marshes alone, with another 3,000 in its the living seabed and spotting the myriad varieties of times. Says Harald Marencic, deputy secretary of the KAM T —one of the world’s first-class ecosystems of this marine areas. These include thousands of seals and marine life. But this invertebrate abundance is also key Common Wadden Sea Secretariat: ‘‘For offshore areas DE In June, 13 new sites were kind. Its biological and geological processes are able to porpoises. to what is perhaps Wadden Sea’s most important con- where birds molt, there are additional agreements with VAN inscribed on Unesco’s World function essentially in a natural way despite being in one Scientists consider Wadden Sea aunique geological tribution to the planet: its role as a sanctuary for migrat- fishermen and leisure boats to avoid these areas at JAN Heritage List. These include two of the most populated and intensively transformed reference among tidal basins. It has accumulated sedi- ory birds that come here to feed. specific times of the year.’’ natural sites, Wadden Sea and areas on Earth. ment for 8,000 years, and the International Union for At times, six million of these feathered nomads can be Every year, 14 million tourists visit Wadden Sea, and Italy’s Dolomite mountains, and 11 Wadden Sea is also one of Unesco’s newest World Conservation of Nature (IUCN) deems it one of the plan- present. On average, 10 million pass through each year, World Heritage status will likely increase these numbers. cultural sites: Belgium’s Stoclet Heritage sites. Protected for 25 years by Germany, the et’s most extensive tidal flat depositional systems. Its stopping in summer and autumn, at this midpoint on their The IUCN has proposed in its Evaluation Report the need House; the Ruins of Loropéni in Netherlands and Denmark, Wadden Sea —after asuc- shifting, tide-sculpted landscape represents an open trek from spring breeding grounds in Siberia, Canada or for an integrated tourism-development strategy for this Burkina Faso; China’s sacred cessful transnational nomination by Germany and the laboratory for biologists seeking to Scandinavia to warmer winter homes transnational World Heritage site to minimize this poten- Buddhist Mount Wutai; the historic Netherlands —was inscribed on the World Heritage List study how plants and animals adapt Wadden Sea is a sanctuary in southern Europe or Africa. Geese, tial impact. Wadden Sea has nearly three decades of center of Ribeira Grande (Cape in June, when the World Heritage Committee convened in to a constantly varying environment. gulls and cormorants take advan- tourism management behind it, and it has shaped a Verde); Iran’s fifth-century Seville at its yearly summit. For decades, naturalists have for migratory birds that tage of the wealth of available food comprehensive preservation and monitoring program Shushtar Historical Hydraulic A400-kilometer (250-mile) strip on the Dutch and flocked here to observe the ecology of come here to feed to prepare for their onward journey. that has divided the site into different conservation System; the Sacred City of Caral- German North Sea coast, it comprises the Dutch Wad- intertidal mudlands and learn what ‘‘It’s the main fueling station for these zones, some more protected than others. Supe in Peru; Korea’s Royal Tombs den Sea Conservation Area and three German Wadden happens when freshwater meets the sea. Their studies migratory birds,’’ says Rosabal. ‘‘We’re talking about mil- Enforcement is handled by environmental agencies of the Joseon Dynasty; the Roman Sea national parks of Lower Saxony and Schleswig- have advanced our knowledge of the growth of salt-marsh lions of birds. Without Wadden Sea, thousands of migrat- and national park administrations. But because it is a Tower of Hercules in La Coruña Holstein, first protected in the 1980s and ’90s. The new habitats, how the sea level increases and the way vegeta- ory bird species could disappear.’’ There is another rea- large area, Wadden Sea also maintains close coopera- harbor, Spain; the Sulaiman-Too World Heritage site embodies two-thirds of the whole tion develops in special biotopes like dunes. Notes Pedro son why Wadden Sea is important: 90 percent of certain tion with other agencies, like coastal-protection and Sacred Mountain in Kyrgyzstan; Wadden Sea. Ten thousand square kilometers (3,800 Rosabal, asenior program officer for the IUCN: ‘‘Most of species of Europe’s duck population come in July to molt. water-management services, and local municipalities. Switzerland’s La Chaux-de-Fonds/ square miles) of different environments converge in a the things we have learned about depositional systems During the month while their feathers are changing, the ‘‘The local people see the Wadden Sea as something Le Locle, watchmaking town- complex mosaic of transitional habitats: tide channels, and coastal geo-dynamics are the result of many years of birds cannot fly. Wadden Sea offers them arare haven special,’’ Rosabal says. ‘‘They are committed to pre- planning; and the United Kingdom’s sand shoals, sea-grass meadows, mussel beds, estuar- research in the Wadden Sea.’’ where they can be assured of survival because of existing serving it. And when you have local people, local author- Industrial Revolution-era ies, beaches and dunes. Coastal wetland regions are not High tides flood the flats twice a day. When they ebb, protective measures. ities —even the kids —talking about the need to main- Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal. usually rich in plant and animal diversity, but Wadden the exposed basin teems with worms, crabs, snails, The site’s management takes its responsibility so se- tain Wadden Sea, there is ahigh chance of it being Visit http://whc.unesco.org Sea is an exception: it is home to 10,000 plant and an- shrimp, molluscs, starfish and other species that live in riously that the few paths in the dunes and salt marshes preserved for future generations.’’ [ SELECTION | Evaluating natural sites Watchmaker demonstrates concern for planet’s resources How does Unesco select its World Heritage sites? Jaeger-LeCoultre’s commitment to the world’s top jewelry makers. he inscription of asite on Unesco’s depending on the complexity and extent of sufficient information to produce arecom- pares its report, proposing recommenda- conserving World Heritage marine Jaeger-LeCoultre is committed to prestigious World Heritage List is just the nominated site. The IUCN meets the mendation, either positive or negative, for tions to the World Heritage Committee, sites is one part of an overall responsible practices, beginning with T the tip of the iceberg, capping an ex- sites’ managers, speaks with governments Unesco. This is why, in parallel, months be- which decides whether asite should be in- engagement policy toward protecting mining and stretching all the way to haustive process of nomination and evalu- and visits the communities that live and fore and during the visit, the IUCN pores over scribed on the World Heritage List. In some the planet’s resources. From retail. RJC members are audited to ation. For all natural sites, and this includes work there. Says Pedro Rosabal, IUCN se- all available information on the proposed cases, the nomination needs to be reviewed diamonds and gold to leather straps ensure their compliance with its Code marine sites, that process is led by along- nior program officer: ‘‘On the evaluation mis- site —from books, articles and confer- in relation to the justification for the site’s and use of wood and paper, the of Practices. time Unesco partner, the International Union sion to the Wadden Sea, we talked with ences to the Internet. Authorities from its ‘‘outstanding universal value’’ or to enhance manufacture respects numerous The leather straps used on Jaeger- for Conservation of Nature. Based near around 200 local people. You need to hear global network weigh in, as well. The ques- its management regime for its potential in- international certificates and norms. LeCoultre watches comply with the Geneva, the IUCN is a global environmental their concerns and opinions because they tion everyone must answer is: does the site scription at a later stage. ‘‘One aspect of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Convention on International Trade in network, with more than 1,000 government know what can or can’t be done.’’ meet the criteria the World Heritage Com- All World Heritage missions are challen- approach lies in its products,’’ says Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and and nongovernmental-organization mem- Understanding local attitudes is vital for mittee has set? Foremost among those ging for the IUCN, but marine sites are espe- Yves Meylan, director of Jaeger- Flora, which ensures that commerce in bers, and about 11,000 volunteer scientists a site’s future maintenance and survival, conditions is the fundamental concept of cially so, as they are often large and difficult LeCoultre France. ‘‘The diamonds and wild animals and plants does not in over 160 countries. As the World Heritage and the IUCN listens attentively. ‘‘The com- ‘‘outstanding universal value,’’ meaning the to access.
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