Nissum Fjord
Nissum Fjord is a natural area of international importance, which also contains a rich cultural history with a close connection to the landscape.
The fjord is also home to the Nissum Fjord Network, a locally based organization that works for the establishment of a Nature Park in the area as part of the Geopark to promote local development and sustainable tourism.
Natura 2000 area no. 65
Nissum Fjord itself consists of the three basins Bøvling or Yder Fjord, Mellem Fjord and Felsted Kog, which together cover an area of 6,500 ha. Together with the adjacent meadows and wetlands, a total of 10,967 ha have been designated as a Ramsar site, EC Bird Protection Area and Habitat Area, which is included in the Danish network of Natura 2000 areas as no. 65. The designation is based on the occurrence of 23 special bird species and 6 plant/fish and mammal species as well as 7 valuable habitat types. Among the seven habitat types, 5,930 ha of coastal lagoon is included - a habitat type that is considered to be of particularly high priority in the EU context. 13 of the 23 bird species are migratory birds, which occur in such large numbers that it has international significance for the management of these species.
Cultural history
The meadows around Nissum Fjord have played an important role in the breeding and export of steers, which have formed a strong economic basis for the local main farms such as Nørre Vosborg and Skærum Mølle, Pallisbjerg, Udstrup, Ulfsund and Rysensteen. Nissum Fjord was also rich in fish and several fishermen made their living from fjord fishing. The fish stocks have since become significantly smaller and most commercial fishermen have also disappeared. However, there are still many recreational fishermen who fish from the 7 small ports located around the fjord, and a great effort is made to promote the fish stocks and monitor their development. Hunting has traditionally also played a certain role and been an important source of food for the table, but today hunting has a more recreational significance.
The large areas of reeds around the fjord have been harvested for roofing for a long time and continue to be so. In modern times, tourism has taken on an increasingly important role in the development of the area. Nissum Fjord is considered one of Northern Europe's best locations for kite surfing, which attracts many guests to the area. Over the past 10 years, a strong effort has been made by local forces to establish the Nissum Fjord Nature Park and through this initiative to promote the development of sustainable tourism and the area as such.
Nature Park
The Nissum Fjord Network was started in 2006 with the aim of creating a Nature Park of a total of 24,500 hectares encompassing the fjord itself and the surrounding landscape. The network currently has 60 volunteers who, in collaboration with local partners, have established a 70 km hiking route and a bicycle and car route with 35 visitor sites around the fjord. Information boards, shelters, drinking water taps and campfire sites have been set up along the routes, and tours with local guides are offered. The nature park is being established according to the Outdoor Council's guidelines in formal collaboration with Lemvig and Holstebro Municipalities and with Geopark Vestjylland as secretariat. In 2016, the area achieved provisional status as a pilot nature park, and the goal is to achieve full recognition in 2018.
Collaboration with Geopark West Jutland
There is a large overlap between the purposes of the geopark and the nature park, and there will be extensive cooperation on secretariat services, courses for volunteers, promotion of local products and sustainable tourism, as well as information materials and outdoor facilities.