- The Minister is the sponsor of the project "Klimahallig Norderoog"
Environment Minister Tobias Goldschmidt of Schleswig-Holstein visited Norderoog (North Friesland district) to learn about the "Climate Hallig Norderoog" project. The Green Party politician assumed the patronage of the project by the Jordsand association. The project aims to illustrate and inform the public about the impacts of climate change on the sensitive ecosystem of the Wadden Sea.
The small Hallig, measuring just under ten hectares, is located in the protection zone 1 of the Wadden Sea National Park and can only be entered outside the breeding season and then only with permission as part of guided tours. To enable as many people as possible to participate in the events on Norderoog, livestream cameras were set up in the winter, among other things. These allow the birds on the Hallig to be observed around the clock. Scientific activities are also accompanied by the camera and prepared in short educational films. These and other contents will also be presented in educational institutions and information centers.
Breeding and resting area for some rare bird species
Norderoog has been in the possession of the Jordsand association since 1909 and has been exclusively dedicated to bird protection since then. The Hallig is a breeding and resting area for many, including some rare bird species. According to the association, it is, for example, the last breeding site of the strongly endangered little tern on the Schleswig-Holstein North Sea coast. Every year, thousands of breeding pairs raise their offspring here. However, the Hallig has barely any fortified banks and lies only a few centimeters above sea level. It is directly exposed to the rough weather of the North Sea and the climatic changes.
Many impacts of climate change on the ecosystem and the seabirds can be observed on Norderoog Hallig, according to Jordsand. Data from recent years show that the number of summer storm surges during the breeding season has increased significantly. This also caused major losses and poor breeding success for the birds on Norderoog this summer.
The Commission has expressed interest in learning about the climate change impacts on Norderoog, given its role as a breeding and resting area for numerous bird species. The Green Party politician, Tobias Goldschmidt, recognizes the importance of the "Climate Hallig Norderoog" project in raising public awareness about these impacts.
