Questions In what way (if any) do you currently deal with Wadden Sea World Heritage? How do you benefit from this? How can the Wadden Sea World Heritage be (further) activated for you? How do you feel you could benefit from the Wadden Sea World Heritage in the future? How do you feel the Wadden Sea Heritage could benefit from your involvement? What can a potential Partnership Center deliver to make the Wadden Sea World Heritage a success and to offer additional value? In what way could you envision contributing to the Partnership Center? How do you see your position in the governance of the Partnership Center? Annex 2. PC DG report – Denmark – focus group SME partners, 2016-12-02 By Peter Saabye Simonsen / Wadden Sea Nationalpark DK Introduction Wadden Sea National Park DK (NPV) invited delegates for the group interview by calling them on phone and when meeting our partners in different meetings in November 2016. It was clear that the interest for participating was rather low and especially amongst private partners (SME’s), so in the end we had a panel with partners, which all have a status as own private companies, but with some public funding. It is also that these partners are amongst those with the highest knowledge about the Wadden Sea, World Heritage in general and about the Trilateral Collaboration. So these partners should in principle belong to group of early adopters of the Partnership Centre idea. Profile of interviewee Fishery and Maritime Museum, Esbjerg, dir. David Dupont – Mouritzen Myrthuegaard, manager Jens Futtrup Tønnisgaard, nature ranger Tanja Rahbek One respondent / delegate did not show up. Furthermore the following were following the focus group interview: Wadden Sea Secretary (DK), consultant Anne Krag-Svendsen Danish Agency for Nature, forest manager Anders Hauge Rahbek Vadehavets Formidler Forum (Wadden Sea Interpretation Forum), coordinator Ditte Dyrbo Hviid Interviewer – members of PC DG Peter Saabye Simonsen (NPV)
How do you feel the Wadden Sea World Heritage could benefit from your involvement? the following aspects are mentioned: contribute to WH and sustainable tourism within their own fields of action; act as multiplier, extension of WH communication outreach towards guests and local inhabitants, reach different social and age classes; educational/interpretation offers; professional advice. Some add: support civil science or join-in environmental projects; market certified products and services; pay fees for logo use. What can a potential Partnership Center deliver to make the Wadden Sea Heritage a success and to offer additional value? Often it is mentioned, enhance awareness for WH, communication activities; network-facilitator/ being communication platform, establish new resp. enhance trilateral network level; organize events (in the regions, too), personal encounters, meetings, meetingrooms on offer; international exchange of knowledge and experience, competence centre for knowledge transfer, establishment of trilateral working groups; educational offers for tourism actors, f. e. foreign languages; integrate aspects of marine environmental protection. Some mention additionally, a trilateral Wadden Sea Foundation als financial instrument; Creation of a tangible, central point. function as guardian for the WS WH brand. In what way could you envision contributing to the Partnership Centre? Almost everyone mentioned involvement in exchange of experience, knowledge transfer and educational offers. There is a high willingness to work in trilateral working groups, thematic forums or projects. Some can imagine in addition, to contribute financially, communicate the PC-idea. Some prefer to contribute to the Wadden Sea Cooperation on local/ regional level, instead. How do you see your position in the governance of the Partnership Centre? Concerning organizing and steering, more than half of the representatives don’t see a role for themselves. Some can imagine to take on a role in a steering or advisory committee. 4. Result informal talks Jouke van Dijk Science and Research sector