There did not have to be a result at the end of the consultation process - the plan to pass a national park law is now known to be politically unacceptable in the black-green government coalition in Schleswig-Holstein.
Nevertheless, a meeting was held. Stakeholders from the fields of tourism, fishing, nature conservation, regional development, districts and municipalities, agriculture/water management/land use and, finally, water sports were asked for their assessment of the results to date and for suggestions on how to expand area protection in the Schleswig-Holstein Baltic Sea coastal region even without a national park. This was surprising in view of the original question, as reported in advance.
One of the participants at the meeting was the Flensburg lawyer Hans Köster, environmental officer of the Schleswig-Holstein State Sailing Association. He reported afterwards to our sister magazine YACHT:
"A good 40 participants attended. After the opening and presentation of the workshop tasks planned for the day, considerable criticism was voiced about the content and procedure. Although the votes of the individual groups were clear - the overwhelming majority of the workshops were against the establishment of a national park - the participants in the final interlinking workshop were asked to re-evaluate the individual results of the specialist workshops.
Displeasure with the procedure
The idea of the consultancy commissioned to carry out the consultation process to give politicians an idea of the opinion on the Baltic Sea National Park project in this way was strongly opposed; something as objectively recognisable as the clear opinions of the individual workshops no longer needed to be interpreted, the results spoke for themselves, according to the participants.
Nevertheless, the moderator succeeded in convincing all participants that the workshop should be continued so that the agenda and at least some of the results of this workshop could be recorded and made available for the further process.
Many representatives of individual specialist workshops once again clearly criticised the fact that they would have liked the previous consultation process on the national park project to provide clear statements on technical requirements and impacts as well as specific measures. On the basis of such knowledge, the individual representatives in their respective associations could have formed an opinion and received a concrete mandate for certain decisions and measures.
So if the discussion about the Baltic Sea National Park has achieved anything, it is that the issue of protecting the Baltic Sea is at the top of everyone's agenda." (Hans Köster)
Area protection even without a national park
It was precisely this topic that was discussed once again during the interlinking workshop - ideas and measures for improved area protection were to be developed. The participants were also asked again which association could implement which measures in order to contribute to improving the state of the Baltic Sea.
The answers were correspondingly cautious. The only thing everyone agreed on was that all stakeholders want to and will continue to be involved in the protection of the Baltic Sea. The water sports sector signalled its intention to continue supporting measures to improve the protection of the Baltic Sea in the future, to make full use of existing instruments and regulations and to approach the responsible authorities with its own ideas.
So if the discussion about the Baltic Sea National Park has achieved anything, it is that the topic of Baltic Sea protection is at the top of everyone's agenda, the current status has once again been emphasised and the need for protection measures is also supported by water sports."
Minister Tobias Goldschmidt is confident
In a statement to our sister magazine, Environment Minister Tobias Goldschmidt draws a positive balance:
"The dovetailing workshop for the Baltic Sea National Park consultation process took place yesterday. I would like to thank everyone who took part. In the upcoming evaluation, the strength of the arguments put forward will be decisive, not their volume.
The clear yes from almost all participants to more Baltic Sea protection is good news." (Tobias Goldschmidt)
The fact that almost all participants were clearly in favour of more Baltic Sea protection is good news. Alongside hopes, concerns and rejection were also expressed, which I take seriously. And interests have been represented that are being weighed up politically. We in the state government will discuss which specific measures are necessary and which instruments are appropriate in order to effectively protect the Baltic Sea as a natural environment. This goal is more important than ever, as the dramatic reports on the state of the Baltic Sea, which reach us almost on a weekly basis, make clear.
In Germany and around the world, national parks are a successful model for nature conservation in harmony with local people. Many supportive voices from the scientific community and positive feedback from the country confirm the opportunities that could be associated with a Baltic Sea National Park."
