Editing Wadden Sea (section)

== Conservation ==
[[File:13-09-29-nordfriesisches-wattenmeer-RalfR-05.jpg|thumb|left|[[North Frisian Islands]], ([[Sylt]])]]
A number of human-introduced [[invasive species]], including [[algae]], plants, and smaller organisms, are causing negative effects on native species.<ref>Wolff W.J., Dankers N., Dilemma' K.S., Reijnders P.J.H., Smit C.J., [https://vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/212518.pdf Chapter 17: Biodiversity of the Wadden Sea (Denmark, Germany, The Netherlands): recent changes and future projections]. pp.342. DLO - Institute for Forestry and Nature Research. accessed on 29 July 2014</ref>

Each of the three countries has designated [[Ramsar site]]s in the region (see [[Wadden Sea National Parks]]).

Although the Wadden Sea is not yet listed as a transboundary Ramsar site, a great part of the Wadden Sea is protected in cooperation of all three countries. The governments of the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany have been working together since 1978 on the protection and conservation of the Wadden Sea. Co-operation covers management, monitoring and research, as well as political matters. Furthermore, in 1982, a Joint Declaration on the Protection of the Wadden Sea was agreed upon to co-ordinate activities and measures for the protection of the Wadden Sea. In 1997, a [[Trilateral Wadden Sea Plan]] was adopted.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://waddensea-secretariat.org/news/20th-anniversary-wadden-sea-plan |title=20th Anniversary of the Wadden Sea Plan &#124; Wadden Sea |website=waddensea-secretariat.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://waddensea-secretariat.org/trilateral-monitoring-and-assessment-programme-tmap |title=Trilateral Monitoring and Assessment Programme (TMAP) &#124; Wadden Sea |website=waddensea-secretariat.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://waddensea-secretariat.org/trilateral-wadden-sea-cooperation |title=The Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation |website=waddensea-secretariat.org |access-date=29 April 2010 |archive-date=27 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227154648/http://www.waddensea-secretariat.org/trilat/trilat.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1986, the Wadden Sea Area was declared a [[biosphere reserve]] by [[UNESCO]].<ref name=biospherereserve>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20210614173015/http://unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/environment/ecological-sciences/biosphere-reserves/europe-north-america/netherlands/waddensea-area UNESCO MAB Biosphere reserves directory]}} (last updated May 2012; accessed 2016-07-19)</ref>

In June 2009, the Wadden Sea (comprising the Dutch Wadden Sea Conservation Area and the German Wadden Sea National Parks of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein) was placed on the [[World Heritage]] list by [[UNESCO]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/jun/26/unesco-world-heritage-sites |title=World heritage sites: slave outpost and Buddhist mountain on the list – but Wales has to wait |website=Guardian.co.uk |date=26 June 2009 |access-date=7 July 2009 |last1=Kennedy |first1=Maev }}</ref> A minor boundary modification in 2011 added the [[Hamburg Wadden Sea National Park]] to the site, and the Danish part was added to in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://waddensea-secretariat.org/news/hamburg%E2%80%99s-wadden-sea-national-park-turned-30 |title=Hamburg's Wadden Sea National Park turned 30 &#124; Wadden Sea |website=waddensea-secretariat.org}}</ref> The [[Bremen (state)|state of Bremen]], covering part of the [[Weser]] River estuary, is not participating. Conservation efforts are coordinated by the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat, seated in [[Wilhelmshaven]].