Mayor Lee Donghwan Presents Goyang's Urban Wetland as a Global Model at Ramsar Conference

Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang, Concludes Ramsar COP15 Schedule
Goyang City Establishes Global Partnerships with UNDP, ADB, and Others
Ramsar Secretary General: "Goyang City is a Model for the World"
Janghang Wetland Draws Global Attention as an Urban Wetland Policy Model

Lee Donghwan, Mayor of Goyang Special City, successfully completed his schedule at the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention (COP15) held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Africa, and departed for Korea on the 27th (local time). This conference is being evaluated as a stepping stone for Goyang City to emerge as a global leader in urban wetland policy.

Lee Donghwan, mayor of Goyang Special City, is presenting the excellent case of Janghang Wetland at the 15th Ramsar Convention COP15 ICLEI Urban Biodiversity Special Session held on the 25th in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Africa. Provided by Goyang Special City

According to Goyang Special City on the 28th, on the last day of the conference, Mayor Lee met with Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention, to share the international value of the Janghang Wetland and citizen-participatory conservation policies, and proposed strengthening cooperation with the Secretariat.

Secretary General Mumba praised the Janghang Wetland as an "exemplary case where citizens and administration have jointly protected an urban wetland," and remarked that "policies based on advanced technologies, such as drone-assisted feeding of migratory birds, are impressive models on a global scale."

She particularly highlighted the operational achievements of the Janghang Wetland Ecological Center, stating, "I hope that the education- and experience-centered wetland management model will be introduced as an international best practice at the next conference."

Lee Donghwan, mayor of Goyang Special City, is meeting with Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Ramsar Convention, to discuss cooperation for the sustainable use of Janghang Wetland. Provided by Goyang Special City

At this conference, Goyang City strengthened partnerships with various international organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), and the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP), achieving significant results in ecological diplomacy.

On the 24th, through meetings with UNDP and ADB, the ecological value of the Janghang Wetland and Goyang City's conservation strategies were shared, and ADB expressed its intention to participate in future joint research and conservation projects. In meetings with the UK RSPB and the city of Valdivia, Chile, discussions were held on expanding inter-city ecological cooperation and citizen-participatory governance models.

On the 25th, at the ICLEI Special Session on Urban Biodiversity, Mayor Lee attended as a representative of Korea and introduced the Janghang Wetland policy, which combines three key elements: drone-based migratory bird management, resource-circulating feeding, and citizen participation. These policies of Goyang City attracted international attention as an urban ecological innovation model.

Additionally, the Goyang Janghang Wetland promotional booth attracted significant interest during the conference, with more than 2,000 visitors from international NGOs, local governments, and experts. The drone-based ecological management system and citizen-participatory policies were highly praised as leading examples that suggest the future of urban wetlands.

Lee Donghwan, mayor of Goyang Special City, is presenting on "Feeding Migratory Birds Using Drones" at the 15th Ramsar Convention COP15 held on the 25th in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Africa. Provided by Goyang Special City

Before returning to Korea, Mayor Lee emphasized, "The practical efforts of Goyang as an urban wetland city have started to gain international recognition as a conservation model," and added, "In the face of global challenges such as responding to the climate crisis and achieving carbon neutrality, Goyang City will present urban-level solutions and stand at the center of international solidarity."