Sascha Klöpper appointed as new Executive Secretary of the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat
The Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation of Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands has appointed Sascha Klöpper as new Executive Secretary of the Common Wadden Sea Secretariat (CWSS). Klöpper will officially take office on 1 March 2024.
With a background in marine biology, Klöpper brings over a decade of experience within CWSS. He spearheaded the transition of the Wadden Sea Quality Status Report to an accessible online platform, enhancing transparency and accessibility of crucial environmental data. As secretary of the Trilateral Programming Committee Wadden Sea Research he has been a driving force in strengthening collaboration with the scientific community. For several years he has served as Deputy Executive Secretary. Since the term end of Bernard Baerends in June 2023, he has held the position of the Executive Secretary on an interim basis.
The selection committee, consisting of representatives of the Cooperation’s three member states and Anne-Marie Vægter Rasmussen, Chair of the Wadden Sea Board, gives the following statement on Klöpper’s appointment: “We are delighted that we have filled the Executive Secretary position with someone who is an exact fit with the competences required for this task. Sascha will be able to further develop the Secretariat’s team and its tasks in view of the current and future challenges for the Wadden Sea World Heritage Site for the benefit of the property and the Cooperation. With his broad expertise and engaging manner, he has contributed greatly to the Secretariat's current performance as a trustworthy partner. Sascha is also very well known, experienced, and appreciated in the Wadden Sea community. Since summer, Sascha has led CWSS with great competence and commitment. He has proven to work with the Board, partners, and stakeholders in a reliable and inspiring way. We are looking forward to cooperating with Sascha in his new role as well as with our partners and stakeholders in the Wadden Sea community.”
“I am very excited to move into the position as Executive Secretary”, says Klöpper. “Even though, I have had some practice already in the past months as interim, now I can fully immerse myself in strengthening CWSS as a vibrant team and as the first point of contact of the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation. I look forward to working with our member organisations and partners from this new position.”
The Common Wadden Sea Secretariat supports, facilitates, and coordinates the Trilateral Wadden Sea Cooperation. Located in Wilhelmshaven, the Secretariat was founded in 1987 by the Wadden Sea states Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. Further, CWSS is the secretariat of the Wadden Sea Seals Agreement, the first regional Agreement to be concluded under the auspices of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). It also deals with the implementation of the obligations derived from the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.