Public and Private Organizations Work Together to Preserve and Revitalize Gwangreung Forest 
(Published November 29, 2011)

-Gyeonggi Province signs MOU with nine institutions and organizations for preservation of Gwangreung Forest ecological conservation area
-Perimeter road establishment, ecological research, heritage preservation, advertisement, marketing for 5 years

– Gyeonggi Province signed agreements with nine institutions and organizations on November 29th in the Gwangreung Korea National Arboretum Special Exhibition Hall, including the Korea Forest Service, the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea, the cities of Namyangju, Uijeongbu, and Pocheon, the Gwangreung Forest Preservation Committee (an environmental NGO), the Cultural Plaza on the Way to Arboretum, (a cultural organization), Bongseonsa Temple, and regional residents. The signatories agreed to work together to preserve and revitalize Gwangreung Forest, which was recently selected as a UNESCO biosphere preservation area. (G-News Plus Heo Seon-ryang)

Gwangreung Forest was selected as a UNESCO biosphere preservation area in June of 2010. The public and private organizations will work together to preserve and revitalize the forest.

Gyeonggi Province and nine institutions and organizations including the Korea Forest Service, the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea, Namyangju City, Uijeongbu City, Pocheon City, the Gwangreung Forest Preservation Committee (an environmental NGO), the Cultural Plaza on the Way to Arboretum, (a cultural organization), Bongseonsa Temple, and regional residents signed an agreement on the preservation of the UNESCO Gwangreung Forest biosphere preservation area.

In accordance with the agreement, the institutions and organizations will work for the continuous preservation of Gwangreung Forest and the revitalization of the local economy over the next five years.

First, the province will establish and implement medium- and long-term development plans for the Gwangreung Forest biosphere preservation area, lead the partner institutions and residents, and manage related policies. Gwangreung Forest revitalization plans, including the establishment of a perimeter road and brand development, will also be drawn up.

The National Forestry Agency will strictly preserve and manage a buffer zone in the core region of Gwangreung Forest. While maintaining biodiversity, the agency will conduct ecological management and research with minimal intrusion. In addition, the agency will implement methods of revitalizing Gwangreung Forest such as creating rest areas in the forest and holding ecological education sessions.

The Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea will preserve the heritage assets in Gwangreung, host interfaced cultural events, and pursue the preservation and management of the forests within Neungrim Forest.

The cities of Namyangju, Uijeongbu, and Pocheon will undertake the advertising and marketing of Gwangreung Forest, encourage regional residents to participate in forest preservation, establish an eco-friendly agro and livestock production complex within the transition region, and promote sales of the complex’ produce.

Bongseonsa Temple will participate in heritage preservation and provide cultural contents, including historic cultural experiences as well as temple stay programs and religious cultural festivals.

Civilian organizations, cultural organizations, and regional residents will also participate in the preservation and revitalization of Gwangreung Forest. The Cultural Plaza on the Way to the Arboretum organization will conduct cultural and arts activities, while the Gwangreung Forest Preservation Committee will monitor business related to the forest. Resident representatives also voluntarily participate in the project for the preservation and marketing of Gwangreung Forest.

A representative of the province said, “This agreement is meaningful in that public institutions including the government and self-governing bodies have collaborated with ecological and cultural organizations and resident representatives in a bid to turn Gwangreung Forest into a globally renowned culture and leisure space that harmonizes ecology and cultural tourism. We expect the MOU to accelerate the establishment and implementation of medium- and long-term development plans for Gwangreung Forest.”

– Gwangreung Forest was recognized as a biosphere preservation area by UNESCO in June of 2010, making it the fourth place to receive such designation in Korea after Seorak Mountain, Jeju Island, and Jeonnam Sinan Dadohae. (G-News Plus)

Gwangreung Forest and the surrounding 24,775 hectare area was designated as a biosphere preservation area in June of 2010 after the province submitted an application in September of 2009 to the UNESCO headquarters to have the forest, which is located around Pocheon City and Namyangju City, certified as a UNESCO biosphere preservation area.

Gwangreung Forest is currently the only place in Korea where a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Gwangneung Royal Tomb) and biosphere preservation area exist side by side. Gwangneung Royal Tomb, the Royal Tomb of King Sejo, was designated as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2009. In addition to Gwangreung Forest, Seorak Mountain, Jeju Island, and Jeonnam Sinan Dadohae have been designated as biosphere preservation areas in Korea.

UNESCO designates globally superior ecological areas as biosphere preservation areas as part of its efforts to find solutions not only for the preservation of biodiversity but also to encourage local communities to live in symbiosis with natural resources. Depending on the usage, these areas are classified as Core Areas, Buffer Zones, and Transition Areas.

A Core Area is strictly protected to preserve ecological and oil resources; 755 hectares of Gwangreung National Forest belong to this category. A Buffer Zone permits healthy ecological activities such as environmental education, recreation, ecological tourism and basic/applied research; 1657 hectares of Gwangreung National Forest belong to this category.

A Transition Area permits housing and diverse agricultural activities; 22,053 hectares of private land around Gwangreung Forest – including Hwahyeon-myeon, Gunnae-myeon, Gasan-myeon, Naechon-myeon, and Soheul-eup of Pocheon City as well as Minrak-dong of Uijeongbu City and Byulnae-myeon of Namyangju City – belong to this category.

After the registration of Gwangreung Forest as a biosphere preservation area, the province enacted the Gyeonggi Province Gwangreung Forest biosphere preservation area management ordinance following the passage of applicable legislation by the provincial council, and announced the ordinance in November of 2010. A management committee was formed with provincial assembly members and professionals.

In addition, the province plans to invest KRW 54 billion by 2020 for Gwangreung Forest preservation and revitalization based on the Gwangreung Forest medium- and long-term development plan research results developed by the Gyeonggi Research Institute in May of 2011.

– G-News Plus News | Nam Gyeong-u echo2008@kg21.net 

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201111291623067055C049&s_code=C049