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UNESCO announced its decision to extend its designation of a Biosphere Reserve in Sinan-gun County at the 28th session of the International Co-ordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme that took place in Lima, Peru, on March 19.
Sinan-gun County is composed of more than 1,000 islands, both habited and uninhabited, and the county is recognized for its preserved ecosystem. In 2009, part of the county became a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. In 2016, UNESCO expanded the designation of Biosphere Reserve to cover the whole county. Hongdo Island is one of the most well-known islands in the county.
Sinan-gun County is composed of more than 1,000 islands, both inhabited and uninhabited ones. The county is recognized for its pristine ecosystem, including virgin forests, wetlands, mudflats, salt ponds and fishing areas where people can catch a fish with their bare hands. UNESCO designated part of the county, such as Heuksando, Hongdo and Bigeumdo Islands, as a Biosphere Reserve in May 2009. Since then, residents have changed their notions about the environment and preserving the ecosystem, leading the whole community to work together at maintaining biological diversity in the region. As part of these efforts, Sinan-gun County formally asked UNESCO to expand its designation to cover the whole county.
Along with World Heritage and Global Geopark sites, Biosphere Reserves are ecologically significant regions that are home to well-preserved ecosystems all around the world and which are officially recognized by UNESCO. Thanks to this latest announcement, the designation now applies to all of Sinan-gun County, stretching across 3,238.7 square kilometers, expanded from 573.1 square kilometers in the past. UNESCO’s decision makes Sinan the second administrative district in Korea to be named a Biosphere Reserve, after Gochang-gun County in Jeollabuk-do Province. Currently, Korea has five UNESCO-enlisted Biosphere Reserves.
Uido Island in Sinan County is home to many sand hills and other stunning natural formations.
The Ministry of Environment said, “The widened Biosphere Reserve designation from UNESCO in Sinan-gun County will be a good model, as the local community led the expansion of the designation of a protected area, while at the same time focusing on the importance of having an internationally protected zone.”
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Sinan-gun County (Oh Huitak, Sim Chunseob, Kim Taeksu, Jeong Huiyeong)
arete@korea.kr
Sinan-gun County is known for its picturesque scenery and beautiful nature, and is a spot that many people want to visit.
Jeungdo Island, one of many islands in Sinan-gun County, is covered with flowers.
Sinan County has mudflats where the ecosystem is well-preserved.
Fishermen collect seaweed near the beach in Sinan-gun County.
Hauido Island in Sinan-gun County is called the ‘Great Stone Face' as from certain angles it looks like the profile of a human face.
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