Key Topics

There are aspects of the Wadden Sea region that require ongoing attention to maintain the OUV of the area, as it has a significant population and human use. Five aspects have been prioritised as key topics during the development of the SIMP. The term "key topics" does not imply that other topics (i.e. related to nature conservation) are not important or less important. The SIMP Key Topics are related to human activities that depend on ecosystem services and that take place within and adjacent to the World Heritage Site. The selected key topics are the result of a process endorsed by the Wadden Sea Board, which included the selection criteria presented in Annex 1 of the Leeuwarden Declaration, the recommendations of the Wadden Sea Site Managers in 2019, the Statement of Outstanding Universal Value and the prioritisation by the World Heritage Task Group.

The Outstanding Universal Value of the Wadden Sea is threatened by certain activities related to the key topics. At the same time, sustainable practices in the key topics can support the conservation of the area, Thus, addressing them at a trilateral level will leverage the opportunities.