Due to the delay of DHL courier service the Baltic Clint proposed by Estonia as this year’s candidate to the list of UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage was left out of the list of candidates. The applications of candidates to the list had to reach the UNESCO World Heritage Centre by 1 February. Since the Centre usually asks additional questions from the applicant, the Ministry of the Environment was well ahead of schedule and sent the application of the Baltic Clint already in December. The World Heritage Centre did indeed ask further questions about the Baltic Clint and requested to have additional materials such as English translations of the management plans of protected areas submitted, maps of all sections of the clint on a scale of 1:20,000 in addition to all other maps submitted, and slides to complement the photos that were sent in the electronic format. As the preparation of additional materials was a labour-intensive process, quite many people were involved in it during the entire January: a translator, mapmakers and geologists. All people involved worked hard and the work was finished on time. When preparing additional materials, the Ministry of the Environment counted on the internationally renowned DHL courier service to deliver the materials by the due date. DHL offers an express service within the European Union, which guarantees the delivery of parcels by the end of the next business day. On the homepage of DHL it is written that the European Community Express Service offers overnight, door-to-door delivery of any type of shipments – documents or parcels – within the European Union. With a dedicated fleet of 80 aircraft in Europe and an extensive road network, DHL can deliver goods door-to-door by the end of the next business day. The Ministry of the Environment ordered the service from DHL and was ready to hand over the parcel to DHL in the morning of 31 January. A DHL courier came to collect the parcel in the afternoon. We specifically instructed DHL that the parcel had to reach the destination at the latest on 1 February and DHL promised to make sure that it does. Regretfully, the parcel containing additional material concerning the Baltic Clint arrived in Paris at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre a day later, on 2 February. Due to the delay of additional information, the Baltic Clint was left out of this year’s list of candidates for UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites. The World Heritage Centre assured the Ministry of the Environment that the candidacy of the Baltic Clint next year is definite. DHL has been discredited in the eyes of the Ministry of the Environment. The Ministry will file a claim with DHL concerning the poor service. Monika Kopti |
