The Trilateral Wadden Sea Youth Conference brought together 47 young people from Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark, to discuss the future of youth engagement for the conservation of the Wadden Sea World Heritage site.
The conference aimed to discuss common interests and visions for collaboration among young people across Germany, the Netherlands and Denmak. Selected participants later presented youth perspectives at the 14th Trilateral Governmental Conference in November 2022. The event was organized by the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS) on behalf of the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation and sponsored by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation with funds from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment.
In collaboration with the UNESCO Chair of Futures Literacy at Hanze University of Applied Sciences, our One Resilient Earth team facilitated a Futures Literacy Lab, integrating visual artworks and creative exercises. Additionally, we supported a youth-led follow-up process on the future of youth engagement for the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site in a changing climate.
The two-day workshop led to the drafting of a detailed report and was followed by a series of coaching sessions for the youth working on a vision for the site, before their presentation at the 14th Trilateral Governmental Conference from 28 November to 1 December 2022.
The conference introduced a dynamic reframe scenario, challenging participants to question their assumptions and expand their imagination. This exercise helped them explore alternative futures and highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary approaches to conservation. Participants engaged in creative activities, such as group drawings and writing letters from the perspective of the Wadden Sea, which deepened their emotional connection to the site and inspired innovative thinking. A participant reflected:
“There were a lot of different perspectives that came up regarding both negative and positive futures. I also guess what I learned is that there is a surge of positive energy that comes up in the group when you talk about the future we want.”
The conference concluded with the identification of priority areas for action and a strong commitment to continued youth involvement in the conservation of the Wadden Sea.
