Continuous support to preserve the ecosystem and revive the regional economy

◇ Gyeonggi Province has been providing continuous support to develop Gwangneung Forest, the only repository of its unique ecosystem in the world, into a global tourist attraction. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News

Gyeonggi Province is endeavoring to develop Gwangneung Forest, the only repository of its unique ecosystem in the world, into a global tourist attraction.

Gyeonggi Province announced on February 28 that the province has been providing continuous support to develop Gwangneung Forest, which was listed as a biosphere reserve with UNESCO in June 2010, into a global tourist attraction in connection with World Heritage Gwangneung so as to preserve its unique ecosystem as well as to revive the regional economy.

After the Gwangneung Forest was listed as a biosphere reserve with UNESCO, the province enacted an ordinance regarding Gwangneung Forest biosphere reserve management in November 2010 to lay the groundwork for promoting rational management as well as preservation, control and support for the biosphere reserve.

Moreover, Gyeonggi Province established mid- to long-term plans to revive the regional economy by pursuing balanced development of nature and humanity, protecting biodiversity and the ecosystem, fostering the regional tourism industry and turning regional specialties into brands. To this end, the province has also been operating a consultative body by organizing a governing committee consisting of provincial assembly members, academic experts, NGO members, MAB Korea members, and civic group members.

A total of 11 organizations including Gyeonggi Province, the Korea Forest Service, Bongseonsa Temple and cultural organizations signed a business agreement to solidify a cooperative system with related organizations. Of particular note, with the utilization of the excellent natural environment of Gwangneung Forest, basic plans were formulated to build a trail that can be a global tourist attraction by integrating the ecosystem, landscape, culture and history so as to improve quality of life along with low-carbon green growth and promote national health.

Furthermore, the province developed the Gwangneung Forest biosphere reserve brand to place the forest on an equal footing with other outstanding world-renowned biosphere reserves, and registered the trademark this January.

“We will provide all possible support in order to develop Gwangneung Forest, the only repository of its unique ecosystem in the world, into a global tourist attraction,” said a related official of Gyeonggi Province. “With that, we will do our utmost to preserve the ecosystem and revive the regional economy.”

ⓒGyeonggi G-News | Chun Kyeong-nam ckn0403@kg21.net 

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201402281040207055C049&s_code=C049