Asiana Airlines Protects Endangered Wild Plant 'Maehwamarum'

Signed MOU with Korea National Trust
Conducting Ecosystem Protection Activities for Rare Flora and Fauna Habitat 'Ganghwa Maehwa Mareum Community'

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunseok Yoo] Asiana Airlines has taken steps to preserve the environment of the ‘Ganghwa Maehwamarum Colony,’ the habitat of the endangered wild plant ‘Maehwamarum.’

On the 9th, Asiana Airlines announced that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the ‘Korea National Trust’ to protect the ecosystem of the ‘Ganghwa Maehwamarum Colony.’ The signing ceremony was attended by Youngseok Cho, Head of Management Division at Asiana Airlines, and Myungrae Cho, Chairman of the Korea National Trust, who agreed to jointly promote natural heritage conservation activities.

The ‘Ganghwa Maehwamarum Colony’ is the only domestic rice paddy wetland designated under the ‘Ramsar International Convention,’ which protects wetlands of high conservation value. It is the habitat of the endangered wild plant ‘Maehwamarum,’ which plays an important role in the aquatic ecosystem cycle, and is designated as ‘Korea’s No. 1 Citizen Natural Heritage’ site.

Asiana Airlines plans to protect the ‘Ganghwa Maehwamarum Colony’ in cooperation with the ‘Korea National Trust,’ which purchases conservation sites with donations from citizens and carries out environmental protection activities.

Under this agreement, Asiana Airlines will support eco-friendly farming methods to protect ‘Maehwamarum,’ provide rice seedlings, assist in producing rice packaging, and operate direct trade markets for employees to help the production and sale of ‘Maehwamarum Rice’ grown in the Maehwamarum habitat. Additionally, the company will help create a stable growth environment for wetland organisms in the rice paddy wetland to protect the ecosystem of the ‘Ganghwa Maehwamarum Colony.’ All proceeds from the sale of ‘Maehwamarum Rice’ will be used entirely for maintenance costs to preserve the Maehwamarum colony.

Youngseok Cho, Head of Management Division at Asiana Airlines, said, “Starting with this ecosystem protection activity, we will further strengthen ESG management through social contribution activities that can contribute to environmental protection in the future.”

Meanwhile, Asiana Airlines has accelerated its ESG management by establishing an ESG dedicated team and an ESG committee this year and selecting the ESG slogan ‘Better flight, Better tomorrow.’

In January, the company introduced upcycled products that recycle uniforms from various job categories, which would otherwise be discarded and incinerated, into pouches. In October, it produced reusable cups and distributed them to employees, conducting a campaign to reduce the use of disposable cups within the company. Furthermore, Asiana Airlines is carrying out various environmental campaigns, including fuel-saving and carbon emission reduction activities to respond to climate change.