Gochang-gun Recognized for Maintaining UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Status

Gochang-gun, the first administrative district in Korea to be designated entirely as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, has been recognized by UNESCO for maintaining its status.

According to the county on the 8th, the 36th UNESCO Man and the Biosphere International Coordinating Council (MAB-ICC) recently adopted periodic reports from 40 sites across 25 countries, including the Gochang Biosphere Reserve, at a meeting held in Agadir, Morocco.

Shim Deok-seop, the governor of Gochang County, is signing the regular report on the Gochang Biosphere Reserve on July 31 last year.
[Photo by Gochang County]

As a result, the county passed its first evaluation conducted 10 years after its designation as a biosphere reserve in May 2013, thereby maintaining its status as a "UNESCO Biosphere Reserve."

Biosphere reserves are programs aimed at pursuing sustainable development through ecosystem conservation in areas worldwide that have outstanding natural environments and rich biodiversity.

The council evaluated that since the designation of the Gochang Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, it has achieved results fulfilling all functions in the areas of conservation, development, and support.

The county and local residents preserved the ecological environment of the Incheon River estuary, which was at high risk of damage due to farming activities, and carried out restoration projects for habitats of flora and fauna.

In particular, six villages around the Ungok Wetland were designated as an ecotourism area, which has been highly praised as a successful model of ecotourism nationwide.

Earlier, Gochang-gun drafted the periodic report in July 2022, finalized the report after review by the Korean Committee for Biosphere Reserves, and subsequently submitted the report to UNESCO headquarters through the Korean Committee in September last year.

The main contents of the report include major changes in the biosphere reserve over the past 10 years, conservation, development, and support activities, as well as research, education, and promotional program activities.

The Gochang Biosphere Reserve covers the entire administrative area of Gochang-gun (671.52㎢). At the time of its designation in 2013, it was the first in Korea to designate the entire administrative district, followed by Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do, which was designated in its entirety in 2018.

The Gochang Biosphere Reserve is divided into core, buffer, and transition zones.

The core zone includes the Gochang Tidal Flat Ramsar Wetland, Ungok Ramsar Wetland, Gochang Dolmen World Heritage Site, Dongnim Reservoir Wildlife Protection Area, and Seonunsan Provincial Park, covering 91.28㎢.

The buffer zone consists of surrounding forests and rivers around the core zone, covering 265.54㎢, while the transition zone includes farmland and residential areas, covering 314.70㎢.

This year, the county is conducting a management plan project (2025?2030) to systematically conserve and manage the biosphere reserve and present a long-term vision.

County Governor Shim Deok-seop said, "We will do our utmost to preserve the county’s excellent ecological resources and operate based on a systematic management plan for sustainable development. Following the MAB-ICC recommendations, we will cooperate with related organizations to create synergy among UNESCO-designated biosphere reserves and collaborate more with other biosphere reserves worldwide."

Gochang = Kim Jae-gil, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy baekok@asiae.co.kr

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.