WALTER (KB-14-005-028)

WaLTER ‘Wadden Sea Long-Term Ecosystem Research’ is an initiative from a number of institutes and organisations that carry out long-term measurements and research in the Wadden Sea. WaLTER is financed by the Wadden Fund. The objective of the project is to develop an integrated network for long-term monitoring for the important theme's that play a role in the Wadden Sea, such as: sea level rise, fisheries, and effects of large infrastructural changes. Attention is paid to the organisation of the monitoring network in such a way that it gives maximum use for actual decisions and a scientific sound interpretation of data. Moreover, a data portal will be developed that gice access to existing long-term data series.

The ultimate goal is to better understand the functioning of the ecosystem with respect to human use of the Wadden. This goal is reached by tuning existing research and monitoring programmes, to fill gaps in the present measuring network and to unlock data access. The common approach towards an integrated monitoring network is programmed in six (partly overlapping) steps. The alignment with the other two Wadden Sea countries is guaranteed by the participation of the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat.