CWSS visits Schleswig-Holstein National Park Authority for exchange

Upon invitation of the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park Authority (LKN.SH) and the Schleswig-Holstein Ministry for Energy Transition, Climate Protection, Environment and Nature (MEKUN), the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat travelled to Tönning on 22-23 September for personal exchange. Initiated by CWSS in 2016, the jour fixe with the National Park Authority usually takes place annually. Due to the pandemic, however, this was the first meeting since 2019. “The past years have not given a lot of opportunities to meet in person”, says CWSS Executive Secretary Bernard Baerends. “This must have been especially hard for new faces in the Cooperation. For instance, Michael Kruse took the LKN.SH Director’s office in 2020. And only now were all of us at CWSS able to get acquainted with him.”

The meeting was used to share the works of the LKN.SH and CWSS with each other. Current topics, such as the single integrated management plan, data handling and Wadden Sea World Heritage branding were discussed in depth. Vera Knoke and Maren Bauer of MEKUN also joined the meeting and shared views of the ministry.

“It was a fruitful meeting and I think each participant has gained quite a few new insights on the other”, resumes Baerends. “This goes to show that even in an age of online meetings and virtual meeting places nothing compares to a face-to-face meeting and coffee-break small talks.”