2~4
12 Protectloll of processes in the Wadden Sea
the Wadden Sea ecosystem. Tidal basins contain all habitats and connect them by
the hydrographic regime. Thus, certain entire tidal basins should be designated as
zero-use nature reserves (Reise 1992, 1993a), where all human activities are restricted despite for guided tours. This recommendation is a compromise already,
suggesting to realize the protection of processes in certain areas of the Wadden
Sea while allowing a sustainable use in others.
When the recommendations for a new concept for the Wadden Sea National
Park in Schleswig-Holstein were published, they encountered violent resistance
from stakeholders. However, unlike sometimes stated in the media, no unrealistic
demands (e.g. to tear down the dikes) were proclaimed, but suggestions were
given to consider the reestablishment of sedimentation areas wherever it is possible, e.g. by opening a summer polder (Reise 1993b, Reise et al. 1998).
The protest against the reestablishment of natural processes has occurred in all
National Parks where the protection of processes was proclaimed. It is difficult for
the public to understand the idea of this conservation concept and to accept that
this approach is of benefit to nature although it is often not foreseeable where the
development goes. Scientists or conservation groups do not profit from the realization of the protection of processes. For a society where economy has a high
esteem, education measures have to accompany this conservation concept to increase the appreciation for a pristine nature and the acceptance of the idea to "let
nature be nature".
12.3
Arguments from ELAWAT for the Protection of Processes
The project ELA WAT focussed on the reaction of the Wadden Sea ecosystem to
disturbances and the identification of stability properties. The results of the synthesis were expected to contribute to the discussion about the protection of processes to ensure a natural development in the Wadden Sea, e.g. by recommendations to sustain processes essential for the properties of the system and
regeneration following disturbances (Dittmann et al. 1997).
The stability properties enumerated in Chap. 9 indicate resilience for many parameters of the Wadden Sea ecosystem on a certain temporal and spatial scale. To
ensure resilience in the future, the abiotic frame and especially all processes driven
by the tides, have to be undisturbed. As an example, the processes and components
of the system necessary for recolonization by benthic organisms are listed here:
• Source population: recolonization can only take place, when parts of a population are unaffected by a disturbance and can function as a source for recolonization. The probability for the existence of undisturbed parts of a population
grows with the size of the protected area and the variety of habitats. This includes also subtidal environments.
• Dispersal: both the annual settlement of benthic organisms and the recolonization depend on an undisturbed transport of larvae, juvenile and adult organisms
in the water column. Most species have mobile life stages where they are subject to dispersal and migration processes (Gunther 1992). The high mobility of
12 Protectloll of processes in the Wadden Sea
the Wadden Sea ecosystem. Tidal basins contain all habitats and connect them by
the hydrographic regime. Thus, certain entire tidal basins should be designated as
zero-use nature reserves (Reise 1992, 1993a), where all human activities are restricted despite for guided tours. This recommendation is a compromise already,
suggesting to realize the protection of processes in certain areas of the Wadden
Sea while allowing a sustainable use in others.
When the recommendations for a new concept for the Wadden Sea National
Park in Schleswig-Holstein were published, they encountered violent resistance
from stakeholders. However, unlike sometimes stated in the media, no unrealistic
demands (e.g. to tear down the dikes) were proclaimed, but suggestions were
given to consider the reestablishment of sedimentation areas wherever it is possible, e.g. by opening a summer polder (Reise 1993b, Reise et al. 1998).
The protest against the reestablishment of natural processes has occurred in all
National Parks where the protection of processes was proclaimed. It is difficult for
the public to understand the idea of this conservation concept and to accept that
this approach is of benefit to nature although it is often not foreseeable where the
development goes. Scientists or conservation groups do not profit from the realization of the protection of processes. For a society where economy has a high
esteem, education measures have to accompany this conservation concept to increase the appreciation for a pristine nature and the acceptance of the idea to "let
nature be nature".
12.3
Arguments from ELAWAT for the Protection of Processes
The project ELA WAT focussed on the reaction of the Wadden Sea ecosystem to
disturbances and the identification of stability properties. The results of the synthesis were expected to contribute to the discussion about the protection of processes to ensure a natural development in the Wadden Sea, e.g. by recommendations to sustain processes essential for the properties of the system and
regeneration following disturbances (Dittmann et al. 1997).
The stability properties enumerated in Chap. 9 indicate resilience for many parameters of the Wadden Sea ecosystem on a certain temporal and spatial scale. To
ensure resilience in the future, the abiotic frame and especially all processes driven
by the tides, have to be undisturbed. As an example, the processes and components
of the system necessary for recolonization by benthic organisms are listed here:
• Source population: recolonization can only take place, when parts of a population are unaffected by a disturbance and can function as a source for recolonization. The probability for the existence of undisturbed parts of a population
grows with the size of the protected area and the variety of habitats. This includes also subtidal environments.
• Dispersal: both the annual settlement of benthic organisms and the recolonization depend on an undisturbed transport of larvae, juvenile and adult organisms
in the water column. Most species have mobile life stages where they are subject to dispersal and migration processes (Gunther 1992). The high mobility of