Ecology, Research, Management and Biodiversity of Wadden Sea Salt Marshes

Ecology, Research, Management and Biodiversity of Wadden Sea Salt Marshes assesses the transition of the UNESCO Wadden Sea World Heritage Site from agricultural land to protected nature reserve from the 1970s to present day. Bordered by Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands, the Wadden Sea is home to barrier island marshes, man-made foreland salt marshes, and estuarine marshes. This book explores the important question of how to prioritize the biodiversity of man-made and natural ecosystems during such a transition and how to effectively manage it. Written by leading experts in coastal marsh ecology, this book collates half a century of research along the Wadden Sea. It is systematically organized for effective delivery of its major themes. The first section of the book discusses the crucial mechanisms of differing salt-marsh ecosystems. The second section examines how various management regimes, including livestock grazing, drainage, cutting, and restoration, affect these mechanisms. The third section concludes the book by summarizing the results of unintentional and deliberate management efforts to maintain salt marsh biodiversity. Ecology, Research, Management and Biodiversity of Wadden Sea Salt Marshes comprehensively summarizes the multi-decadal collaboration between conservation agencies and universities from the Wadden Sea's bordering countries to examine the effectiveness and utility of various marsh management regimes. This book is an indispensable resource for researchers, land managers, and policy makers tasked with maintaining natural and man-made biodiversity and effectively ushering coastal marsh communities through land use changes.