Dear partners and friends of the Parks & Benefits project,
I am looking back to our successful final event on 10 October 2011 in Sellin / Rügen (DE) and the following last meeting of all project partners from 11 – 14 October 2011 in Lauterbach /Rügen (DE).

My overall understanding from the reflection of partners and from stakeholders outside the project is, that we did a great job and that the Parks & Benefits project did not only bring added value to those targets set within the project’s agenda, but even beyond that. And the results are well communicated by our publication “guide to sustainable tourism in protected areas”, by our article in the PARLIAMENT’s special issue of September 2011 and by contributions to various conferences, i.e. EUROPARC’s annual conference in September 2011 in Bad Urach (GER) and the EcoRegion-Conference in Gdynia (PL). Therefore I have to express my special thanks to all, partners and supporters, who contributed to the project’s success. This includes as well my thanks to our project coordinator, information manager and financial manager!

There are just some weeks to go but still some tasks to finalise until the project officially ends on 24 January 2012. So let’s keep on going! My best wishes to you for the New Year 2012 – may this year be blessed with health, happiness & wonderful new experiences!

Best regards,

Olaf Ostermann