Suncheon, Republic of Korea

Monitoring, Maintenance, and Management

How has the initiative been designed and implemented so that long-term needs for management and maintenance are reduced and can be met?

Suncheonman National Garden, an eco-belt, was created in between downtown and Suncheonman Bay and the Suncheonman International Garden Expo was successfully held in 2013 which leads to a sustainable development system that has been established with profits from revitalized the local economy.

Accessibility of Suncheonman Bay’s ecological health is increased to the city centre and the entire city is ecologically remodelled.

Achievement

• It was designated as Korea’s first national garden in 2015.
• It becomes a representative ecotourism destination in Korea with more than 5 million visitors every year, and revitalizes the local economy linked to the city centre.
• The effect of dispersing visitors directly entering Suncheonman Bay (2.95 million in 2010 → 1.93 million in 2015)
• The effect of reducing natural disasters using wetlands by creating reservoirs in habitually flooded areas in case of heavy rains.

What protocols are in place to facilitate monitoring of results?

Monitoring hooded cranes wintering in Suncheonman Bay Wetland.

Suncheonman Bay was designated as a wetland protection zone in 2003, and Suncheon City joined The East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAAFP) since 2004 to conduct research and monitoring activities (operating programs to observe hooded cranes visiting Suncheonman Bay in winter) and exchange information on habitats.

How has the initiative been enhanced in response to monitoring of results?

(Disaster prevention) Creation of Suncheonman National Garden

• First, it serves as an ecological line, or eco-belt, to permanently preserve the natural ecosystem of Suncheonman Bay and prevent natural disasters such as habitual flooding in low-lying areas in the city.
• Second, as a sustainable 21st-century new urban growth model based on biodiversity, it contributes to improving the quality of life of citizens by presenting wetlands and gardens to the city center.
• Third, it is contributing to revitalizing the local economy by managing tour routes considering Suncheonman Bay’s ecological capacity and expanding visitors’ routes to the city centre and extending their stay time.

(Economic Effect) Economic ripple effect analysis

• According to academic presentations by experts, the value of ecotourism excluding the ecological value of Suncheonman Bay alone is analysed to be more than 299 billion KRW every year.
• As a result of estimating the total asset value of Suncheonman National Garden created for the preservation of wetlands in Suncheonman Bay. The total asset value of Suncheon Bay Garden is estimated to be up to 1.97 trillion KRW, at least about 738.9 billion KRW, including 235 billion KRW in basic assets, brand value, environmental value, and direct and indirect economic value.
• Suncheonman Bay Wetland and Suncheonman National Garden are important ecological resources to revitalize the local economy, and their economic value will increase over time.