National Heritage Administration to Sign MOU with Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Affairs, Korea Forest Service, and Jeju Province on the 19th
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Yena – The government and local municipalities are joining forces to properly preserve and manage Jeju’s natural heritage, which is known for its outstanding landscapes and value.
The National Heritage Administration announced on the 18th that it will sign a cooperation agreement on the 19th in Jeju with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences of the Rural Development Administration, the Korea Forest Service, and the World Heritage Division of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.
Natural heritage encompasses assets formed through interactions with natural objects or environments with significant historical, scenic, and academic value, including flora, fauna, landscapes, and geographical features.
Previously, various natural heritages were managed by different ministries or local governments according to respective laws. For instance, the National Heritage Administration has primarily handled natural heritage pertaining to natural monuments and scenic sites, the Korea Forest Service has been responsible for forest resources, and the Ministry of Agriculture has focused on rural and agricultural heritage.
However, in many cases, heritage spans multiple administrative regions or requires substantial coordination. To address this, the National Heritage Administration and others plan to form a “government-local government council for regional co-prosperity and the advanced management of natural heritage.” It is noted by the National Heritage Administration that this is the first council of its kind focused on discussions between the government and local governments around natural heritage.
In the council, the National Heritage Administration will manage designated natural heritage areas, the Korea Forest Service will undertake forest ecosystem restoration projects in buffer zones, and the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, and Jeju will review utilization projects in surrounding areas of natural heritage.
A representative from the National Heritage Administration explained that this initiative is an effort to proactively respond to the rapid increase in natural disasters due to the climate crisis and the emerging issue of local extinction.
The council’s secretariat will be established within the Jeju World Heritage Division. Based on the council’s achievements, the National Heritage Administration plans to expand the scope to regions beyond Jeju in the future.