Coastal Protection

Coastal protection is critical in the Wadden Sea, as the area is vulnerable to sea-level rise and storm surges. The Wadden Sea is protected by a system of dikes and tidal basins, which help to reduce the impact of these threats. These structures must be maintained and upgraded to keep pace with the changing conditions and ensure the protection of the coastal communities and habitats. As rising sea levels threaten the already flood-prone Wadden Sea regions, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark seek to increase protection measures along their coastlines. These measures include physical structures, management and conservation efforts, and sustainable use policies, all of which help to ensure the long-term viability of this unique and valuable ecosystem. Coastal risk management includes man-made flood defences and the natural dunes of the Wadden Sea islands. It is vital for the region as its inhabitants depend on reliable coastal protection. A paradoxical effect of this activity can be observed in the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site. Nature undergoes changes which in turn contribute to the preservation of the Wadden Sea's Outstanding Universal Value.

Coastal flood management and coastal protection are covered to a large extent by international conventions. The EU Floods Directive gives considerable flexibility to the national and local level on this issue, in line with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality that define the EU's area of competence. For example, most coastal protection regulations are adopted by all three German federal states, Denmark and the Netherlands, which reinforces the coordinating role of the TWSC. According to the EU, Member States can decide whether coastal protection measures should be subject to an environmental impact assessment. All three Wadden Sea countries have adopted legislation making this assessment mandatory.

The database makes an inventory of the current, relevant regulations for the coastal protection of the Wadden Sea. It contains regulations in force at international, European, trilateral, national, and local levels. It gathers regulations otherwise dispersed among international organisations and countries and aims to give a detailed overview of the legal framework applicable to coastal flood defence and coastal protection and facilitates the analysis or comparison of the regulations. It is also a base for the reflection regarding an improved protection of the environment in the Wadden Sea.