Halligen Islands
With islanders, for islanders: Developing Nature-based Solutions on the Halligen
In the Schleswig-Holstein region of the Wadden Sea lies a unique cultural landscape, the so-called Halligen, where houses are built on dwelling mounds to protect residents and livestock when these low-lying marsh islands are regularly flooded during winter storm surges. Researchers found that these floods transport valuable sediments onto the islets, contributing to the vertical surface growth – a process that is urgently needed in times of accelerating sea-level rise. At the same time, the system remains fragile. Additional measures and innovative solutions are needed to increase this surface growth and to protect the Hallig shoreline from ongoing erosion.
Based, among other things, on the findings of the Lüttmoor Project (2019-2021) conducted by the University of Göttingen, the ECOHAL project (October 2023 to September 2026) is looking for ECOsystem-based protection of the HALligen under increasing sea-level rise. The motto “with islanders, for islanders” describes the project quite well, as it uses a multi-stakeholder approach to incorporate local knowledge and builds strong local acceptance for the measures and solutions developed in the project. Under the guidance of the State Agency of Coastal Protection, National Park and Marine Conservation Schleswig-Holstein (LKN.SH), numerous workshops and events are organized to provide a platform for Hallig communities, where residents, representatives of nature conservation organisations, associations, and the administrative authorities can share their ideas and thoughts and collaborate on innovative and future-proof solutions. The overarching objective of ECOHAL is to find sustainable, long-term nature-based solutions that both protect the Halligen shorelines from erosion and increased surface growth.
Why is it a NbS (with regards to IUCN Definition)?
Addressing a societal challenge: sea-level rise. Making use of natural processes (surface growth through sediment supply from storm surges) for long-term and sustainable adaptation.
Purpose of the NbS
Coastal safety: Protection of the Halligen (sediment accumulation to increase surface growth of the islets, protect the Hallig shoreline from erosion)
Context
Part of the EU Interreg Project MANABAS Coast (MAinstreaming NAture-BAsed Solutions through COASTal systems)
Further information on this NbS:
MANABAS COAST Interreg Project
