Initiation of Comprehensive Plan Development Study
[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province announced on the 23rd that it has launched a study on the "Establishment of a Comprehensive Plan for the Conservation and Management of Tidal Flats," a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site.
This is to prepare sustainable utilization measures and discover new future values as the region with the largest tidal flats in the country.
The total area of the World Natural Heritage "Korean Tidal Flats" is 1,284.11㎢.
Among them, Sinan accounts for 1,100.86㎢, or 85.5% of the total, followed by Boseong and Suncheon with 59.85㎢ (4.6%), Seocheon in Chungnam with 68.09㎢ (5.3%), and Gochang in Jeonbuk with 55.31㎢ (4.3%).
The total tidal flat area in Korea is 2,482㎢, of which Jeonnam accounts for 153.7㎢, or 42.5%.
The research project will be jointly conducted for 12 months by the Korea Local Economy Research Institute Foundation, the Fisheries Policy Research Institute of the Korea Fisheries Association, and Coastal Management Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.
The main contents include ▲ analysis of the current status and conditions of tidal flats and surrounding areas ▲ designation of management zones by tidal flat usage and preparation of customized management measures ▲ activation of tidal flat ecotourism and dissemination of its value ▲ implementation plans for raising awareness of tidal flats and domestic and international cooperation. The focus is on expanding the value of tidal flat ecosystem services.
Tidal flat ecosystem services refer to the benefits humans obtain from ecosystems. These include "provisioning services" such as tangible products like seafood and water resources, "regulating services" such as air purification, carbon absorption, and disaster prevention, "cultural services" such as ecotourism and recreation, and "supporting services" such as habitat provision and material cycling that maintain nature.
The plan also includes measures to concretize customized projects prioritizing the new government's national agenda of creating "Tidal Flat Wetland Gardens" and attracting the "World Heritage Integrated Management Center" for Korean tidal flats to Jeonnam Province.
The Tidal Flat Wetland Garden is scheduled to be created from 2023 to 2028 with an investment of 500 billion KRW.
It will play roles such as expanding carbon sinks, establishing marine ecosystem management systems, and operating income-generating programs for local residents.
The World Heritage Integrated Management Center is planned to be launched as an integrated management organization for Korean tidal flats World Heritage from 2023 to 2027 with an investment of 45 billion KRW.
Additionally, through this research project, expert opinions will be reflected to discover policy projects that provide visible benefits to local residents who have conserved the tidal flats.
Choi Jeong-gi, Director of the Marine Fisheries Bureau of Jeonnam Province, said, "We will lay the foundation for local opinions on the wise conservation and use of the World Natural Heritage tidal flats to be adopted as government policy," adding, "Jeonnam will serve as the control tower from conservation to utilization of tidal flats."
Jeonnam Province established the "Tidal Flat Conservation and Management Promotion Team" in January this year, the first among metropolitan local governments. It has been fully committed to preparing conservation and management policies befitting the status of Jeonnam tidal flats, which have been recognized for their Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), by hosting the 2022 World Wetlands Day ceremony, restoring tidal flat ecosystems, and promoting vegetation creation projects.
Outstanding Universal Value is the UNESCO World Heritage inscription criterion.
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