Amsterdam - The Dutch Wadden Sea Society welcomed Friday's decision by UNESCO to put the Wadden Sea on its World Heritage list.

The Wadden Sea, Europe's largest intertidal wetland, is situated between the mainland of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark and a string of islands.

"The UNESCO status gives global recognition to the importance of the Wadden Sea for our planet," director of the Wadden Sea Society, Hidde van Kersen, said in a statement.

The Wadden Sea Society said the world heritage status provides "new opportunities" to the region.

"Increased attention for this significant piece of nature will make nature more important for the local economy as well. This way UNESCO contributes to sustainable development of the area," van Kersen said.

The Wadden Sea is particularly important for the many birds who use the area to breed before travelling on to other countries.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage list contains around 880 sites from 145 countries, and is currently under review at a 21-member conference in Seville, Spain.(dpa)