On September 11, 2024, a UNESCO Field Mission visited Møns Klint to discuss the possibilities of designating the area as a UNESCO Heritage Site. While we at Møn Naturforening are also proud of the beauty and uniqueness of the cliffs, we are also concerned about the increase in tourism, the impact on the local nature and wildlife around the cliffs, and the political and economic motives behind the designation. Below is the letter we wrote to the delegation expressing our concerns about the designation. We will update on the process as we hear more.
Dear UNESCO,
We (Møn Nature Association) would like to raise concerns regarding the designation of Møns
Klint as a World Heritage site. Our primary apprehension revolves around the potential for
increased tourism leading to environmental degradation and negative impacts on local
communities, as has been experienced and well documented by previous WHS’s and is also a
matter of concern for UNESCO (see references below).
Regarding our concerns for the environmental impact, the association underscores the
protection already afforded to Møns Klint through the EU Bird Protection Directive and Habitats
Directive, which aim to preserve biodiversity and natural habitats within the EU. Projects like the
EU-Life Orchid, the setting up of areas for biodiversity, Klintholm Estate’s conversion of
agricultural land to beef cattle production with extensive grazing, and the National Nature Park
Ulvshale are well aligned with our commitment to sustainable practices and biodiversity
conservation and we believe will benefit Møn’s nature and culture.
However, we have concerns that the UNESCO Biosphere status is also being utilized primarily
for tourism marketing, particularly in areas that are supposed to be strictly protected. This is a
sentiment that has led to the withdrawal of several members of the Møn Naturforening from their
roles as Biosphere Ambassadors.
We expect that the UNESCO delegation will be won over by the beauty of Møns Klint, as almost
everyone does when they visit it for the first time. Until now, the areas around the cliffs have
been open to self-regulated traffic, but over the years the number of visitors has increased
significantly, mostly from one-day tourists who come by car. This causes congestion on the
public roads and increased wear and tear on the natural areas. With massive marketing of both
the UNESCO Biosphere and UNESCO World Heritage as well as the Fehmarn tunnel
connecting Denmark and Germany, which will give double-digit millions of Germans access to
Møn in less than 3 hours, we are worried that Møns Klint will end up like many other designated
areas with overcrowding and mass tourism, which is to the detriment of both nature and local
population.
We have attempted to work with the local representatives managing the tourism and businesses
to resolve these concerns, but we cannot get proper representation in the planning. This is a
closed group of local families, developers, politicians and business owners who profit directly
from tourism in the area and do not engage the local community or nature associations in the
decision making. Therefore, we are concerned that our voice and objections are not being
considered in this process.
In order to understand how decision-making paths and people are connected, it is necessary to
give a brief presentation of the most important players around the Geocentre and the process.
Chairman is Peter Scavenius (Klintholm Estate): Former owner of Møns Klint and large parts of
Easern Møn. Møns Klint was later ceded to the state (Naturstyrelsen) for conservation in return
for compensation and sale of land. Today, the next generation of the family, Inger Marie and Carl
Gustav Scavenius, run Klintholm Estate with tourism as a focal point, campsite, farm shop,
rental of houses, forest and agriculture.
Nils Natorp, director of Geocenter, previously (until April 2024 head of tourism Møn-Sydsjælland
Tourist Association, director of House of Møn (House of Møn is represented in Vordingborg
Erhverv) etc.
Jane Skov Lind, Skovrider Nature Agency, represents the landowner (the State). The Nature
Agency has administrative responsibility for the primary areas and the cliff itself.
Erik Bückert, one of the main players behind the upcoming holiday center Sukkerfabrikken, with
space for 500 holiday apartments and 25 holiday houses on stilts at Stege Havn. Appointed by
Team Møn APS, sits on the Geocentre’s Fund Board and is a strong advocate of increased
tourism.
Eliza Jarl Estrup, daily employed geologist at Geocenter, has been responsible for the Unesco
World Heritage application after the job advertisement.
Several of the above have, in addition to work, close private relationships, Eliza Jarl Estrup and
Nils Natorp form a couple privately, and are part of the “family” around Klintholm Estate, where
Jane Skov Lind has close private relationships with the young owners of Klintholm Estate.
In conclusion, while the recognition of Møns Klint as a World Heritage site could bring global
attention and conservation efforts, it is crucial to balance this with the need to protect the area’s
natural beauty and the well-being of its local inhabitants. Sustainable tourism, effective
management strategies, and the enforcement of existing environmental directives are essential
to ensure that Møns Klint remains a treasure for future generations without compromising its
ecological integrity or the quality of life for the local population. The Møn Nature Association’s stance highlights the delicate interplay between conservation, local interests, and the pressures of global recognition.
We hope that UNESCO will have a good trip to Møns Klint and will ask sharp questions to the
people behind the application, about nature, tourism, traffic, local population, etc. We are very
happy to be invited to the meeting but also wanted to submit this written position as it might not
be possible to get a fair voice, also in our limited English, on the day of the meeting. We thank
you for considering our concerns and we would welcome any further interactions and open
discussions here. We also stand at your disposal for any consulting or insight into the science
and legal considerations behind our position, as we would welcome the chance to be part of the
decision making process here.
We hope that the delegation will have a good trip to beautiful Møns Klint.
Sincerely,
Hans Henrik Erhardi
Chairman
Møn Nature Association
