Growing with the Sea
Background and Goals
Within the WWF projects "Growing with the Sea - How to prepare for adaptation to sea level rise in the Wadden Sea region?" pilot projects are being developed in which the possibilities for nature friendly adaptation of the Wadden Sea are scientifically researched and practically tested.
Against the background of climate change coastal protection and nature conservation must work together in order to achieve two key objectives:
- human safety against flooding
- protection of the World Heritage and National Park Wadden Sea against the impacts of the sea level rise.
In the long term, the overall objective and approach is the preservation of the Wadden Sea in its function, in its geographical extent, and in all its qualities and to enable a return of species which are absent nowadays. The Wadden Sea must therefore not be jeopardized by the impacts of sea level rise. To achieve this, the adaptation to climate change and the protection of nature must be taken into greater account by the coastal protection. New methods need to be found and evolved and there must be close cooperation between coastal protection and nature conservation.
Specific tasks for example are:
- Review of international examples from comparable regions for environmentally sustainable adaptation of the Wadden Sea.
- Involving the state and municipal level regarding the development and implementation of adaptation strategies and action plans for the Wadden Sea.
- Initiation and support of concrete pilot projects in the area, to gain experiences with a nature-friendly and sea-level rise adapted coastal protection. Such pilot projects can focus on the early support of planned coastal protection measures, on research or on future local workshops.
- Advising the three Wadden Sea countries Netherlands, Germany and Denmark in favor of a better climate change adapted Wadden Sea.
Content time
Research area/region
Country
- Germany
Region of implementation (all German federal states)
- Schleswig-Holstein
Natural spatial classification
- coasts: North Sea-/Baltic Sea coasts
Spatial resolution
Küste
Steps in the process of adaptation to climate change
Step 1: Understand and describe climate change
Approach and results
Consider current scenarios for sea level rise.
Parameter (climate signals)
- Sea level rise und storm surges
Step 2a: Identify and assess risks - climate effects and impact
Approach and results
The consequences of accelerated sea-level rise for tidal flats and embankment foreland are being considered: Sea-level rise is the greatest threat to the Wadden Sea in the long term, since it influences the Wadden Sea in its substance: mud flats, salt marshes, beaches, dunes and islands with their unique nature could get lost through erosion. Storm surges could become higher along the coast and endanger people.
Mudflats and salt marshes are able to adapt to the sea level rise in a natural way, since fine sea silt is being deposited on the surfaces with any flooding, leading to a growth in height. However this growth has its limits. If the rise in sea level is accelerated and the Wadden Sea cannot grow fast enough, then it is in danger of "drowning".
Step 3: Develop and compare measures
Measures and/or strategies
The ability of the Wadden Sea to "Growing with the Sea" is limited; it should be strengthened, for example, by supporting the natural transport of sediment in the Wadden Sea and not hindering the sedimentation. It may be necessary in the future to replenish additional sand from the North Sea in order to counter the rise in sea level in the Wadden Sea.
There are still no perfect solutions for climate change adaptation in the Wadden Sea - but it is time to look for it. Therefore, pilot projects are jointly being developed with the coastal protection and other partners to scientifically researched and test practically the opportunities for a nature-friendly adaptation of the Wadden Sea region. With its projects for "Growing with the Sea", the WWF is closely involved in the necessary discussion.
Time horizon
- 2071–2100 (far future)
Conflicts / synergies / sustainability
The project aims to make a contribution to resolving the conflicts between nature conservation and coastal protection.
Step 4: Plan and implement measures
Measures and/or strategies
Task of the WWF projects "Growing with the Sea" is a contribution to protect the Wadden Sea against the impacts of the accelerated rise in sea level and at the same time to protect the people on the North Sea coast from storm surges. These will be implemented in pilot areas in cooperation with the regional partners through so called pilot actions.
"PiKKoWatt - pilot measures for adaptation to climate change with communities in the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea region" is such a project: In the pilot areas North Frisian Halligen and islands as well as the Husum Dockkoog at the Schleswig-Holstein mainland coast new paths for nature-friendly adaptation of the Wadden Sea are trodden. At the end there shall be jointly supported concepts for a subsequent implementation.
Participants
Funding / Financing
The preliminary phase is sponsored by the environment lottery BINGO! Schleswig-Holstein. In cooperation with the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry of Environment, an international overview of options for a nature-friendly adaptation of the Wadden Sea will be developed. Since 2015 initial pilot activities are being developed together with partners which are funded by the Federal Ministry of Environment.
Project management
World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF)
Contact
WWF Deutschland, Wattenmeerbüro
Hafenstr. 3
25813 Husum
