Busan: The UNESCO World Heritage Committee decided on Saturday to expand the boundaries of South Korea's tidal flats on its World Heritage List. The committee supported the expanded inscription of Korean "getbol," or tidal flats, at its 48th annual meeting in Busan, located about 330 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the newly added areas include four coastal wetlands in Seosan in South Chungcheong Province, and Goheung, Muan, and Yeosu in South Jeolla Province. This expansion marks the second phase of the "Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats" inscription, initially recognized in 2021 for its importance as a biodiversity habitat and a crucial stopover for migratory birds.
The decision was anticipated as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the advisory body on natural heritage to the World Heritage Committee, had previously recommended the South Korean nomination. Recommendations from the IUCN often lead to approval.
Following the expansion, the UNESCO-listed Korean tidal flats will now be divided into six zones, encompassing various wetlands in regions such as Boseong, Suncheon, Yeosu, Goheung, Sinan, and Tando Bay in Muan, among others. South Korea currently boasts 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Seokguram Grotto, Bulguk Temple, and Jongmyo Shrine.
The non-profit foundation working towards the world heritage status for Korean tidal flats reports that the newly added heritage areas cover approximately 279.75 square kilometers, with an additional 247.95 square kilometers designated as buffer zones. The expansion has increased the overall area of the heritage site by 22 percent, according to an IUCN official.
The Seosan tidal flats in Garorim Bay, the northernmost of the newly inscribed areas, are recognized as a habitat for spotted seals and host around 170 bird species, including endangered black-faced spoonbills and Chinese egrets. Yeosu tidal flats are home to a range of species, including six endangered or legally protected wildlife species such as mudflat crabs, red-clawed marsh crabs, and milky fiddler crabs.
In Goheung, the tidal flats support 726 species, forming a rich ecosystem of fine mudflats and diverse marine algae. Meanwhile, the Tando Bay tidal flats in Muan, along with nearby Sinan flats, have been acknowledged as essential habitats for waterbirds. Hamhae Bay in Muan is particularly valued for hosting 17 internationally endangered bird species.
The World Heritage Promotion Team of Korean Tidal Flats stated that the expansion signifies "a process of completing ecological connectivity by linking migratory waterbird flyways and strengthening the overall protection system of tidal flats along the west coast."
Huh Min, head of the Korea Heritage Service, hailed the inscription as "a highly meaningful achievement that further strengthens the value of the Korean tidal flats for biodiversity conservation and their integrity."
Despite the expanded designation, key areas such as tidal flats in Incheon, Gyeonggi Province, and Ganghwa were not included. Civic groups from Incheon, Busan, and Hwaseong have called for a third-phase expansion to incorporate these regions.
The IUCN, in its June nomination review, recommended further analysis of additional Korean tidal flats with "outstanding universal value" for possible future inscription. Huh expressed hopes that the latest inscription would promote international cooperation for conserving "the Yellow Sea ecosystem and the East Asian-Australasian flyway for migratory birds."
The city government of Seosan, where one of the newly inscribed wetlands is located, embraced the decision. Mayor Lee Wan-seop stated, "The tidal flats have become a precious heritage that humanity must pass on to future generations," and pledged administrative efforts to preserve the marine ecosystem of the wetlands.