Joint Strategic Environmental Assessment of cumulative impacts on the UNESCO Wadden Sea World Heritage Site

Joint Strategic Environmental Assessment of cumulative impacts on the UNESCO Wadden Sea World Heritage Site With this invitation to tender, the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS) of the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation on the Protection of the Wadden Sea (TWSC) of Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands is seeking a qualified consultancy or consortium of consultants to coordinate the trilateral collaborative process for the development of the joint Strategic Environmental Assessment on cumulative impacts affecting the UNESCO Wadden Sea World Heritage Site (joint SEA). The purpose of the joint SEA is to assess the potential impacts and cumulative effects originating in and around the site on the ecological attributes that convey the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the site, as well as on other related, particular heritage/conservation values. The joint SEA aims to provide information useful for future decision-making to support the reduction of (cumulative) pressures on the Wadden Sea. This initiative responds to a request by the World Heritage Committee. The selected consultancy or consortium of consultants should be able to demonstrate: - proven expertise in EU Strategic Environmental Assessment processes, including environmental baselines, impact analysis, and cumulative impacts assessments, - knowledge about World Heritage impact assessment requirements, relevant instruments, and - preferably a deep understanding of the Wadden Sea"s geology, ecology, biodiversity and human interactions with the ecosystem. A multidisciplinary, independent team with a solid background in conducting strategic environmental assessments according to the EU legislation will be essential. Bidders are encouraged to build a multinational consortium. Selected consultancies may also participate in developing the national SEA components. 1. Background The Wadden Sea, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2009 and extended in 2014, is recognised for its Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) as the world"s largest unbroken intertidal sand and mudflat ecosystem for its unique geology, ecosystem and biodiversity. Its largely undisturbed natural processes create diverse coastal features and provide critical habitats for specialised species and millions of migratory birds along the East Atlantic Flyway. To safeguard this unique ecosystem for future generations, Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands established the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation in 1978 to coordinate national and international nature conservation efforts. It is the commitment as well as the common responsibility of the states in the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation to do their utmost to maintain the OUV of the site. The Wadden Sea conservation area is protected as national parks, nature reserves, and Natura 2000 sites under national legislation. The present-day management system of the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site is almost entirely covered by EU law and international conventions, implemented by and in addition to national regulations. At its extended 45th session in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (10-25 September 2023), the World Heritage Committee, in Decision 45 COM 7B.23 , expressed concerns about different human activities within, near, or beneath the transboundary World Heritage Site "The Wadden Sea", and requested the three State Parties to conduct a joint Strategic Environmental Assessment (joint SEA) to assess the cumulative impacts on the OUV of the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site. The State Parties committed to carrying out the requested joint SEA and agreed that the best approach would be to base the assessment on EU legislation, which provides a common framework for all EU Member States. Therefore, the methods for the joint SEA are based on European guidelines that are implemented nationally in all three states. The joint SEA requires breaking new methodological ground, as it goes beyond standard environmental assessments under European Union legislation, particularly because it: - considers a multitude of projects, plans and programmes and other relevant human impacts that together form the subject of this SEA; - focusses on the OUV key values ; - and it follows the principles of the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context . As an initial step, the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation produced a draft Scoping Report (see Annex) which sets out the main targets, the approach and methodology to be used in the assessment of potential impacts and impacts from cumulative effects on the Wadden Sea"s OUV key values, attributes, and other relevant related values. The draft Scoping Report was subject to national stakeholder consultations as well as trilateral consultations with advisors from the environmental NGOs between April 2025 and 30 September 2025. It has been submitted to the World Heritage Centre and IUCN on 30 March 2025 for parallel review as requested in Decision WHC/24/46.COM/7B.51 adopted at its 46th session in New Delhi (21-30 July 2024). To complement these efforts, the Wadden Sea Board requested the Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) to provide an independent expert review of the draft scoping report. NCEA is an independent advisory body of experts dedicated to providing advisory services and capacity development on environmental assessment (EIA or SEA reports). NCEA holds a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Heritage Centre and IUCN. Suggestions from consultations as well as from the World Heritage Centre and IUCN, will be considered during the expert review process. The review is expected to be finalised by end of March 2026.