Wando-gun Hosts Youth Forum on Development of UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Areas

Marine Healing Experience and Exploration of Wando Arboretum

Wando County recently announced on the 18th that it held the '2024 UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Youth Forum' with about 150 participants in the areas of Wando-eup, Sinji-myeon, and Cheongsan-myeon.

The 'UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Youth Forum' was organized to help young people understand biosphere reserves and to support youth activities for the conservation and development of biosphere reserves, including research, ecotourism, and education.

Wando County held the '2024 UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Youth Forum' for local youth. Photo by Wando County

On the first day, the forum began with a welcoming speech by Kim Hyun, Deputy Governor of Wando, followed by expert lectures on the promotion of biosphere reserves by Jo Do-sun, Co-chairman of the UNESCO MAB Korea Committee (current Director of the National Institute of Ecology), and Son Jeong-im, Standing Vice Chairman (current Director of Resource Conservation at the Korea National Park Service).

Next, Lee Moon-gyo, a cultural tourism interpreter from Wando County, presented an introduction to the Wando Biosphere Reserve in the Dadohaehaesang National Park and shared examples of youth activities.

On the second and third days, participants experienced marine healing, marine cultural healing, and climate healing at the Wando Marine Healing Center. They also visited Wando Arboretum, Sangseo Premium Village ecological exploration in Cheongsan-myeon, Jangbogo Memorial Hall, Jangdo Historic Site, and Wando Tower.

On the final day, teams presented their assignments and conducted field surveys to examine biosphere reserves, including biodiversity conservation. They then discussed ways to revitalize youth activities in biosphere reserves and presented their results.

Han Ji-young, Director of the Culture and Arts Division, said, “We thank the young people who proposed the need for tourism infrastructure linked to biosphere reserves, youth participation projects, and youth networks,” adding, “Going forward, Wando will create a model case for biosphere conservation by ensuring sustainability where nature and humans coexist.”