Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People

By Shin Boo-nam

It has been eleven years since Korea joined the Ramsar Convention, an agreement regarding wetlands of international importance especially those as waterfowl habitat. In the past, wetlands were considered ``wastelands'' and the reclamation and development of wetlands was thought to be the best way to use them.

However, following a few controversial wetland-related events such as the Saemangeum reclamation and Mt. Cheonseong tunnel projects, people started to look at wetlands differently and subsequently agreed on the need for wetland conservation.

Still, there is a long way to go. Therefore, it is very meaningful that the 10th Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP10) to the Ramsar Convention is held in Changwon, Korea this year.

What is COP10?

Representatives from about 160 Contracting Parties, nongovernmental organizations and international organization partners meet every three years to discuss the achievement of the previous three years and the policies and programs for the next triennium to further the implementation of the convention.

The 10th COP is going to be held in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, from October 28 to November 4. More than 2,000 participants are expected to join the conference, making it the largest COP 10 conference to be held so far.

The theme of COP10 is ``Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People." Considering the fact that most people highly depend on wetlands for their food and drinking water, the theme is an issue of common concern to all of us.

In addition to the general agenda to implement the convention, the 2009-2014 Strategic Plan on the conservation and wise use of wetlands will be approved during COP10, and emerging issues such as climate change, wetlands, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and human health will be discussed.

At the end of the meeting, Korea will seek to issue the ``Changwon Declaration'' to emphasize the extensive participation by stakeholders, the active utilization of advanced technologies, the need for effective communication between parties, and capacity building and financial support for developing countries.

Hosting such a large-scale international conference on environmental issues is a great opportunity for Korea.

The Ministry of Environment is taking this opportunity to upgrade wetland conservation policies and to raise public awareness of the value of wetlands. Currently, Korea has eight Ramsar sites and 20 wetland protection areas, and it is planning to increase the number of sites so that more people can visit well-conserved wetlands and recognize their value and beauty.

Although COP10 is held in Changwon, it should be considered a national event. The ministry will encourage other municipalities, especially those with wetlands, to actively contribute to COP10 by participating in the opening ceremony, exhibitions and wetland excursions.

We are also doing our best to make the conference environment-friendly. All office equipment will be eco-friendly certified, and we will also make full use of electronic documents to reduce paper waste. Compressed natural gas (CNG) buses and hybrid cars will be provided for transportation, and we are preparing bicycles for participants to borrow for free.

After COP10

Ramsar COP10 will not be just a once-off event. Korea proposed establishing a Ramsar Regional Center-East Asia in South Gyeongsang Province. It will act as a hub of wetland conservation efforts by enhancing cooperation, capacity building, and the wetlands information database in the East Asian region.

Also, Korea is the chair country of the Standing Committee for the next triennium (2009-2012), leading international discussion on wetlands. Such an experience will help Korea strengthen its environmental diplomacy and status around the world.

The development of sustainable tourism and eco-tourism industries will also be promoted. COP10 provides a great opportunity to develop various wetland eco-tour programs because an excursion to wetlands will be provided to the representatives of COP10. After Japan hosted COP5 in Kushiro in 1993, the Kushiro wetland, home to cranes in the winter, became one of the most famed eco-tourist spots in the world.

Now is the time to make conservation and the wise use of wetlands a top priority in our national environmental agenda. In this light, COP10 should be held as a festive event for the whole country. Therefore, your support and participation are essential.

Shin Boo-nam is director-general of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Environment. He can be reached at bnshin82@me.go.kr.