Gochang-gun Hosts Tidal Flat Visit for World Heritage Experts from 18 Countries

[Gochang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jae-gil] World heritage experts from 18 countries around the world visited the Gochang tidal flat to observe and learn about cultural heritage preservation management cases.

According to the county on the 11th, the Cultural Heritage Administration, Korea National University of Cultural Heritage, International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property, and the World Conservation Union jointly conducted the "2022 People-centered Natural and Cultural Heritage Conservation Management Training Course (PNC)" at the Gochang tidal flat on the 4th and 8th of this month.

A total of 34 people participated, including 21 world heritage officials from 18 countries and 13 world heritage expert instructors from 8 countries.

In the lecture held at the Ramsar Gochang Tidal Flat Center on the 4th, the conservation system of the Gochang tidal flat world natural heritage, stakeholder participation methods, differentiated heritage tourism programs, and the education and exhibition programs of the Ramsar Gochang Tidal Flat Center were introduced and shared.

Participants experienced special explorations using tractors and electric vehicles, on-site education on halophytes and blue carbon at the tidal flat botanical garden, and healing tidal flat education by walking directly on the tidal flat to learn about the ecology, repeatedly exclaiming "wonderful" and "amazing."

The county is focusing efforts on attracting the conservation headquarters by emphasizing excellent geographical accessibility located at the center of all tidal flats in Korea, balanced regional development through hosting national institutions, and the characteristics of tidal flats where all types of tidal flats can be observed in one place.

Also, a plan for establishing the world's only conservation headquarters, including seawater circulation and salt marsh restoration of the 550,000-pyeong salt field, was established by foregoing economic benefits such as solar power development.

By utilizing the entire salt field site as an ecological space and a buffer zone for wetlands such as salt fields, they are dreaming of creating the most nature-friendly tidal flat management space within wetlands in the world to manage tidal flat heritage and pass the heritage intact to future generations.

The county is expected to play a significant role in attracting the World Natural Heritage Conservation Headquarters as the only one among the five registered areas that includes the Gochang tidal flat.

A county official said, "We are encouraged and energized by world heritage experts who support and wish for the attraction of the Gochang tidal flat world natural heritage conservation headquarters," adding, "We will do our best in the upcoming competition and participate fairly in the evaluation to surely attract the conservation headquarters and meet expectations."

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

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