The Ministry of Environment (Minister Kim Wansup) announced that it will hold the opening ceremony for the UNESCO Global Research and Training Centre for Internationally Designated Areas (GCIDA*) on the afternoon of April 29 at the Jeju Stone Park (located in Jocheon-eup, Jeju)

About 100 domestic and international officials, including Oh Young-hun, Governor of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Lee Sang-bong, Chairman of the Jeju Provincial Council, Antonio Abreu, Director of UNESCO’s Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences, and Tim Badman, Director at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), are expected to attend the opening ceremony.

The GCIDA was established on the second floor of the Obaek Janggun Gallery within Jeju Stone Park to strengthen the management capabilities of internationally designated areas* with the aim of achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The center will carry out research to build capacity for UNESCO member states, conduct education and training, and promote domestic and international cooperation projects. Through this opening ceremony, the center will declare its vision to become a “global hub for research and training for internationally designated areas.”

* World Natural Heritage Sites, UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, Global Geoparks, Ramsar Wetlands

Meanwhile, in connection with the opening ceremony, the Internationally Designated Areas Vision Forum will be held on April 30 at the Ocean Suites Jeju Hotel (located in Samdo 2-dong, Jeju City).

At the forum, domestic and international experts will discuss the sustainable conservation and development strategies for internationally designated areas. In addition, an international designated areas photo exhibition aimed at promoting the value of domestic internationally designated areas is being held from April 19 to July 6 on the first floor of the Obaek Janggun Gallery at Jeju Stone Park.

Jeong Eun-hae, Director General for International Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Environment, stated, “Internationally designated areas are a key foundation for preventing biodiversity loss and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.” She added, “We will actively support the UNESCO Global Research and Training Centre for Internationally Designated Areas so that it becomes a central hub in the international community leading the sustainable conservation and development of internationally designated areas.”

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division. 

Contact person: Gina Lee, foreign media spokesperson

Phone: +82-44-201-6055

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