Joint Declaration On The Protection Of The Wadden Sea
Source: Unofficial Text
THE GOVERNMENTS of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Federal Republic of Germany and the
Kingdom of the Netherlands;
CONSIDERING that the Waddensea region is a unique natural area whose biological, scenic and
scientific significance is of international importance;
RECOGNIZING the special importance of the Waddensea region as a natural entity, as a vital
element in the west-palearctic flyway for migratory birds and as a nursery for marine organisms;
RECOGNIZING their responsibilities for the conservation of the ecosystem and the biological
values of this region and its components as well as its natural beauty;
BEARING IN MIND the obligations resulting from international legal instruments relevant in the
field of natural environment protection, in particular:
o the Convention on Wetlands of international importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar, 2 February 1971);
o the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Bonn, 23 June 1979);
o the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (Bern, 19 September 1979);
o the relevant EEC-Council Directives, especially that of 2 April 1979 on the protection of wild
o birds (supplemented by the council resolution of 2 April 1979);
DECLARE THEIR INTENTION
1 to consult each other in order to coordinate their activities and measures to implement the above
mentioned legal instruments with regard to the comprehensive protection of the Waddensea
region as a whole including its fauna (marine, terrestrial and avian) and flora with special
emphasis on
- resting and breeding areas for seals,
- areas being important as resting, feeding, breeding, or moulting grounds for waterfowl, both in themselves and in their interdependencies;
2 to this end to intensify and broaden the contacts between their responsible administrations. The
results of these consultations will be examined and, as appropriate, decided upon at Dutch-German-Danish meetings on governmental level about the Waddensea.
Done at Copenhagen in English this 9th day of December 1982 in three original copies each being authentic.
For the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark
Christian Christensen
For the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany
Hans Jürgen Rohr
For the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
G.J.M. Braks
