Hyundai Motor Launches 'Forests Without Names' Campaign to Protect Marine Forests

On May 6, Hyundai Motor Company announced the launch of a new social contribution campaign, "Forests Without Names," aimed at raising awareness about the importance of preserving marine forests around the world.

Unveiled ahead of "Marine Planting Day" on May 10, this campaign seeks to draw public attention to marine forests, which have historically received less focus than terrestrial forests, by assigning names to them and including them in map services. The goal is to increase public interest in marine ecosystems.

Representative image of Hyundai Motor's "Nameless Forest" campaign. Hyundai Motor

원본보기 아이콘

Marine forests are ecological zones in coastal waters where seaweed thrives abundantly. These areas are vital marine ecosystems, serving not only as carbon sinks but also enhancing fisheries resources, providing habitats for marine life, and purifying pollutants, among other crucial functions.

According to the "Marine Forest Project Performance" report by the Korea Fisheries Resources Agency, marine forests absorb approximately 337 tons of carbon dioxide per square kilometer annually.

Furthermore, at the 63rd session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) held in Lima, Peru this past October, seaweed was officially recognized as a source of "blue carbon"-oceans’ carbon absorption. This has further highlighted the international importance of marine forests in responding to climate change.

Through this campaign, Hyundai Motor Company, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and the Korea Fisheries Resources Agency have assigned the name "Ullim Marine Forest" to one of the two marine forests created in Ulsan, specifically in the Jujeon-dong area of Dong-gu, and registered this name on the domestic map platform "KakaoMap."

This marks the first time a marine forest has been listed by name and location on a major map service. The name "Ullim" carries the dual meaning of "a new forest in Ulsan" (蔚林 in Chinese characters) and "a new resonance" generated by the marine forest toward environmental conservation.

In addition, with the participation of Ulleung County, not only Hyundai’s "Ullim Marine Forest" but also Ulleung County’s "Tonggumi Natural Marine Forest" have been registered on KakaoMap, further promoting public recognition of marine forests.

The campaign by Hyundai Motor Company is expanding beyond Korea to international locations as well.

In Argentina, a leading country in marine forest conservation, Hyundai has collaborated with local marine NGOs and community groups to name a marine forest "Auken Aiken." In Australia, after selecting candidate names for a local marine forest together with local marine experts and communities, the final name was chosen as "Yanggaa" through a global vote.

Moreover, Hyundai Motor Company plans to raise awareness about the necessity of preserving marine forests and marine ecosystems by releasing an official campaign video featuring behind-the-scenes stories, including interviews with NGOs, marine experts, and local residents. The video will be released on Hyundai’s official YouTube channel on May 7.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.