Bernard Baerends, executive secretary of the CWSS, was invited to give a brief talk on the importance of international cooperation when it comes to nature conservation, at an online side event at the 44^th UNESCO World Heritage Committee Meeting, in Fuzhou China. This 44^th session takes place from 16 – 31 July 2021.

The 44th World Heritage Committee, meeting in Fuzhou, China, have inscribed the Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats on the World Heritage List, in recognition of its Outstanding Universal Value for migratory waterbirds as one of the world’s most significant wetland ecosystems.

26 June- this time 12 years ago, the Wadden Sea was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The excellent work, in support of education, carried out by the members of the International Wadden Sea School in the past 17 years was highlighted as part of this side event which was co-organised between Germany and South Korea.

The webinar examined the many aspects of preserving darkness in the Wadden Sea region, not least the conservation benefits. The event is the result of a close collaboration between the trilateral Partnership Hub and the Programme towards a rich Wadden Sea (PRW).

WG-Swimway and invited guests drafted a policy statement based on existing guidelines and regulations with a direct link to the Trilateral Fish Targets at European level and how these have been implemented per country and trying to analyse their contribution to the realization of these targets.

As Annika Bostelmann will be on parental leave until late autumn 2021, CWSS is joined by a new colleague, Ditte Hviid, to take over as temporary Communications and Outreach Officer.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the 32^nd meeting of the Wadden Sea Board, postponed from November 2020, was held online on 4 March 2021.

The transnational Interreg project “Prowad Link – Protect and Prosper” will be represented at the biggest tourism trade fair in the world, the ITB, which will take place digitally this year.