Texel is the largest island in the Wadden Sea; it is characterized by wet and dry dune slacks, woodland, heathland, salt marshes and polders. The Site was formerly part of Ramsar Site 1252 (Waddeneilanden, Noordzeekustzone, Breebaart) which was divided in six Sites following Natura 2000 borders in 2014. The Site is of international importance for breeding and non-breeding waterbirds such as bittern and little tern that forage at low tide in the sandbanks and use the higher beaches and dunes for resting. The Site supports diverse and threatened species of flora such as fen orchid, fewflower spikerush and flea sedge, mosses, endemic mammals such as root vole and butterflies. All are important for maintaining the biological diversity of the Atlantic biogeographic region. The dunes act as a natural coastal defence against the erosive forces of the North Sea and provide freshwater supply. Human uses include tourism, farming, military training, conservation and research. The main threat to the site is bird disturbance caused by the military, tourist and recreation activities.