Environmental Concern of St. Michaels, Md. recently hosted two French dignitaries for a conversation about wetlands, water quality, and coastal erosion. Damien Étienne Leonard, director of the Energy-Climate branch of the École Polytechnique and Électricité and Mr. Nicolas Thierry, political advisor to the European Parliament toured the Environmental Concern campus and spoke with local experts as part of their United States visit. Environmental Concern was chosen as a host site because of their reputation as a leader in wetlands restoration and expertise in working with governments, non-governmental organizations, private enterprise and individual citizens to address wetland and water quality issues.
“Environmental Concern was thrilled to host Mr. Leonard and Mr. Thierry last week and have a conversation about wetland issues at the international level,” comments Suzanne Pittenger-Slear, Environmental Concern’s President. “It was an eye-opening reminder that the wetland restoration work we do here for the Chesapeake Bay also has global implications. By sharing our knowledge and experience we are able to learn from each other and work toward our mutual goal of improving water quality around the world.”
Leonard and Thierry traveled to the United States as part of the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, which is managed by the Institute of International Education. Their goals were to examine best practices on sustainable development and environmental protection in the United States, including air, water, resources and wildlife; understand how environmental policies are formulated in the U.S. at the federal, state and levels; explore the role of non-government organizations in building environmental awareness; and observe how various regions have implemented sustainable development practices.
About Environmental Concern
Environmental Concern is a public non-profit established in 1972 that exists to promote public understanding and stewardship of wetlands with the goal of improving water quality and enhancing nature’s habitat. The organization accomplishes its mission through wetland outreach and education, native species horticulture, and the restoration, construction and enhancement of wetlands. For the last 40 years, Environmental Concern has been known as the leading expert in the field of wetlands restoration, horticulture and education. Further, the public non-profit established the first native plant nursery in the nation. Environmental Concern’s campus is located at the head of San Domingo Creek in St. Michaels, Maryland, which is located on the Chesapeake Bay on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. To learn more, please visit www.wetland.org or call Suzanne Pittenger-Slear, president at 410.745.9620.