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wanted to prevent further damming of the Wadden Sea so
he could try wading, but when he used the 1960s’ dawning
nature and environment discourse to justify and legitimise
his demands, his outcry led to the establishment of an as-
sociation for the protection of the Wadden Sea with a far
broader and nature protecting aim.
At first, the battle focused on explaining to the public
why
the Wadden Sea is a unique nature area. The argument
subsequently focused on arguing that such a nature area in
fact makes a positive contribution to our lives and society,
and that it is sometimes necessary to yield jobs and potential
economic gains so that society can preserve the immaterial
values which, according to the Association’s supporters, are
to be found in nature.
Today, the Wadden Sea Association is still an active and
important participant in the Dutch Wadden Sea debate in
particular, and focus is still on protecting the Wadden Sea,
although this task is now viewed to a higher degree as a
question of moving the local communities along the Wad-
den Sea coasts in a sustainable direction when it comes to
recreation, tourism and ordinary business development.
Charlotte Jensen (f. 1965)
Etnograf, MA. Ekstern lektor ved Afdeling for Etnografi og
Socialantropologi, Aarhus Universitet. Forfatter til en række
artikler om de politiske og demokratiske processer, der om-
gærder forvaltningen af de af vore omgivelser, som vi klas-
sificerer som
”
natur
”
.
Waddenhuis − Vadehavsforeningens hus i Harlingen, Holland. Venligst udlånt af Vadehavsforeningen.
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