Conservation forum to begin today on Jeju

By Kim Se-jeong

The inaugural World Leaders’ Conservation Forum, a gathering of renowned experts on environment, will open Tuesday on Jeju Island.

During the three-day forum, 43 experts from NGOs, international organizations and governments will discuss the importance of nature conservation in achieving peace and the coexistence of people and nature, according to the Ministry of Environment.

“We hope the forum will contribute to finding solutions to environmental challenges that the global community is facing,” Choi Jong-won, a ministry official, said.

The forum is hosted by the ministry, the municipal government of Jeju and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The idea of launching this forum was agreed in 2012 at the World Conservation Congress in Jeju where participants agreed on a new dialogue channel for critical environmental issues.

The forum’s notable participants include Environment Minister Yoon Seong-kyu; IUCN Director General Inger Andersen; Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong; Ramsar Convention Secretary General Christopher Briggs; National Institute of Ecology President Choe Jae-chun; and Global Green Growth Institute Director General Yvo de Boer.

BirdLife International Chief Executive Patricia Zurita; World Wide Fund for Nature Korea Co-Chairman and CEO Jean-Paul Paddack; Japanese Ambassador for global environmental affairs Masahiko Horie; and Alan Weisman, the author of “The World Without Us,” will also attend the forum.

The forum is divided into three sections.

At the experts meeting Tuesday, participants will share expertise on topics including threats to biodiversity; nature conservation for sustainable development; and nature conservation in conflict areas. Seoul’s idea of setting up an ecological park on the Demilitarized Zone between the two Koreas will also be presented.

At the leaders dialogue Wednesday, participants will share their visions on nature conservation for peace-building; coexistence between humans and nature and the role of nature conservation; and developing resilient ecosystems and sustainable development. Minister Yoon will deliver an opening speech, Wednesday.

On Thursday, the participants will visit Jeju’s key ecological sites that are recognized by the UNESCO World Heritage Center and the Ramsar Convention.

The sideline events include a meeting on ecosystem conservation and sustainable development; a workshop on islands run on renewable energy; and a workshop on endangered species in Korea.

The forum takes place at the International Convention Center, and an on-site registration is available. For more information, visit www.wlcf.kr.