International Wadden Sea Research Programme

Under pressure of the triple planetary crisis and human activities, the Wadden Sea needs adequate protection and preservation to maintain its Outstanding Universal Value. In a joint research programme, the Netherlands and Germany are investing 15 million euros to help gain a better understanding of the complex pressures on the Wadden Sea to inform effective protection and management of the area. Five projects were selected to study the relation between ecological changes and human usage.

A sixth project initiates coordination and transfer activities. Led by Diana Giebels, University of Oldenburg, and Wander Jager, University of Groningen, WADcouple will organise overarching, joint activities and research to further raise the programme’s impact. 

Over four years, 2024-2028, these projects will explore key topics such as sediment dynamics, salt marsh processes, benthic ecology, terrestrial biology, landscape development, and legal frameworks. The findings will help shape actionable strategies and management measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Wadden Sea.

An external supervisory board monitors the projects’ progress and impact. Chaired by Janne Liburd (University of Girona), it further consists of Thomas Borchers (BMUKN), Olaf Ripken (BMFTR), Alex van Westerlaak (LVVN), Sascha Klöpper (CWSS), Jurre de Vries (Rijkswaterstaat), Vera Knoke (MEKUN-SH), Luca van Duren (Deltares), Ulrike Schückel (LKN-SH), Katja Philippart (Waddenacademie), and Bernd Scherer (TPC-WSR).

Managed by PtJ and NWO, the programme is funded by the German Federal Ministries for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) and Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), the Dutch Ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN), Infrastructure and Water Management (IenW) and Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK), Waddenfonds, the European Recovery and Resilience Facility (RFF), and the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA) of the Dutch Research Council (NWO).

The initial research call was developed with the support of the Trilateral Programming Committee Wadden Sea Research (TPC-WSR) and the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS). TPC-WSR consists of representatives from science and policy of the three states and was chaired by Dr Bernd Scherer. It was installed by the Wadden Sea Board (WSB) to serve as a focal point to foster scientific cooperation and applied research on the Wadden Sea World Heritage, and for discussions on how to implement, further develop and link a joint research programme to other national and international initiatives of relevance, taking into account the Trilateral Research Agenda (TRA).

Project updates

In late 2025, CWSS asked the project leaders to share updates on their progress. These can be explored below