The area around Blije, Holwerd, Ternaard; and Dokkum are looking into applying for the protected status
Translated by Thomas Ansell
As reported by the Omrop Fryslân, the Holwerda aan Zee working group is considering applying for UNESCO biosphere special status. The area includes a number of ancient ‘terp villages’ (on dwelling mounds), such as Hantum, Hiaure, Aaslum; Waaksens, Brantgum, Foudgum; Bornwird and Raard.
‘Biosphere status’ would mean a series of regulations protecting the natural beauty of the area; with agriculture having to keep to a series of rules that try to create ‘sustainable social and economic development in balance with nature’.
The status would also underline the character of the Wadden Coast, and it could also be a boon for tourism, says the working group. German tourists in particular seem to be fond of biosphere regions, with several popular parts of the Northern German coast having attained the status in recent years. Overall there are 714 of these spheres in 129 countries across the world.
More discussions and a decision will be undertaken at an online symposium being held on February 5 of 2021, which will also include input from the UNESCO commission with regards to their ‘Man & Biosphere Programme’. The Wadden Sea itself was a biosphere region, but after is was named a World Heritage site the biosphere status was defunct.
Image via Wikimedia user RomkeHoekstra. License here.
